Crossing the Borders – Fantasy, Science Fiction and Horror

Horror has always gone hand in hand with fantasy and science fiction. Many classic horror stories are also fantasy or science fiction stories, and fantasy and science fiction stories often have horror elements. where would Lord of the Rings have they been without the Nazghul, undead kings dominated by the power of the rings? where would Alien have been without the alien? dracula Y Frankenstein Both are considered horror fiction, but dracula is also fantasy Frankenstein it clearly has early sci-fi elements. So what are the differences between horror and science fiction/fantasy in general? Here are some general guidelines to help distinguish the genders.

In general fantasy and science fiction, the main characters have abilities that are on par with the antagonists. Sadly, that’s often not the case. Frodo had Sting and his elven mail to protect him. In star trek The crew members of the Enterprise have their wits, their training and their equipment to face their enemies. In a zombie apocalypse, the main characters often have little or nothing to protect themselves except what they find lying around.

In general fantasy and science fiction, heroes usually have someone who knows what’s going on and can explain what they’ll be up against. In horror, this is rarely the case. Obi Wan Kenobi, Gandalf, Dumbledore or someone higher up in Starfleet command or a member of the ship’s crew can usually give the main characters at least an idea of ​​who they’re up against and how to beat them. Horrifyingly, if there is anyone who really knows what’s going on, he’s probably in an asylum or some other inconvenient place, and his warnings may not make sense until after someone has been eaten. Also, horrified wise old mentors have a disturbing habit of being wrong about very important matters. In a horror story, the protagonists are often responsible for their own survival and victory.

In general fantasy and science fiction, most, if not all, of the main characters turn out well in the end. In horror, the winners may well be scarred for life. That’s assuming any of them actually survive. How many main characters were dead at the end of Lord of the Rings? How many crew members not wearing red shirts die on average? star trek episode? Of course there are exceptions to this, but in many cases, even if a leader dies, he brings them back through some miracle of science or magic. Don’t count on this in horror. In a good horror story everyone is expendable. Even if there are survivors, they may still not be in good shape at the end. Many of Lovecraft’s protagonists found themselves long-term residents of mental institutions at the end of their stories. They were often considered the lucky ones.

In fantasy and science fiction in general, heroes have a chance to stop villains. In horror, this may well not be the case. Fantasy and science fiction provide a wide variety of means to combat a hopeless situation or impossible odds. In horror, if the ultimate evil really does make an appearance, it’s questionable if it can be stopped at all. Often the key is dealing with the fragile humans who are his allies before they can bring him into our world. If the heroes mess that up, it’s all over. At a minimum, ending the ultimate evil may require the sacrifice of everyone’s life or sanity or something equally valuable. The world wins, but the heroes lose.

So, if you’re interested in adding a bit of horror to your fantasy or sci-fi story, check out these guidelines and apply some of the horror ending to the plot. Adding fantasy or science fiction to a horror story is usually as simple as making the thing that haunts the protagonists a supernatural horror, whether it’s an alien from the afterlife or a demon from the afterlife. Try the mix of genres and you’ll add variety and some suspense to your stories and maybe make them a little more exciting.

Copyright Colin Neilson 2009

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