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[tinyjo]

Is magic the defining element of fantasy? Discuss.

Comments

[badasstronaut.livejournal.com]

I'd always thought fantasy was about the setting, in that the setting was an imagined context. That may or may not involve magic. I'm also inclined to think science fiction is a subset/flavour of fantasy though, and lots of people have disagreed with me on that.

[tinyjo.livejournal.com]

I waver between that view and not. It is interesting that one of the things that I've noticed tends to happen when trying to put a book on either side of that line is that the supernatural elements are examined as to whether they're magical or scientific and that's used as a divider.

[badasstronaut.livejournal.com]

Tricky though, because sometimes the only difference between magic and science is whether or not you understand how it works.