Ok, I've got a science fiction story that has ghosts in it. They really are ghosts, but I'm afraid that because I set it up as a science fiction, no one will believe that they are ghosts, or that they'll think it's silly. Does anyone have any ideas about how to set up a haunted castle in a 300 years distant future?
Posted by kwsni (Member # 970) on :
What if there's something in the house that traps the ghosts there? Or that calls them there? Maybe only certain people can see them for one reason or another (like in Sixth Sense, or the skeletal horse things in Harry Potter 5). Then all you'd have to do is figure out a sci fi explanation for it.
Ni!
Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :
Is the only reason you're calling your story SF because it's set 300 years in the future? Or do you have another reason?
Not that it matters to me. Though I understand the "boundaries" between the sub-genres of speculative fiction--SF, F, and H--I don't allow myself to be limited by these boundaries. Personally I don't think the idea is silly at all.
On a slightly different note . . . I'm suspecting your ghosts are benign, not malignant; because if they're malignant then you have a horror story on your hands not a fantasy with ghosts.
If you have a haunted castle, you're putting yourself squarely within the supernatural gothic tradition, and part of this tradition (which you don't have to hold to) is that some unabsolved sin from the past has come back for retribution. So one thing you'll want to think about is the history of the castle: where is it? who lived in it? and, of course, why is it haunted?
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
Thanks, Balthassar. Actually, there is another reason it is science fiction besides the 300 years in the futures setting...the main character is 283 years old as a result of some genetic manipulations her parents did. (Hence the 300 years...and it also leads to the unresolved sin of the ghosts.)
[This message has been edited by Christine (edited June 22, 2004).]
Posted by GZ (Member # 1374) on :
I don't have a personal problem with ghosts in a Science fiction setting. You'll probably just have to give it a science twist, or admit how it doesn't fit the science. I think the only time you'd be really in trouble with SF + Ghosts would be in a Hard Science Fiction with a capital H; otherwise, there's some room to bend.
Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :
I think as long as you let the reader know about the ghosts early on -- or at least hint at something supernatural -- it shouldn't be a problem.
However, if I were reading a story I thought was science fiction in which ghosts showed up near the end, without any foundation, I'd be annoyed.
Posted by Lorien (Member # 2037) on :
I don't see why there is any problem putting ghosts there, like EJS says, as long as they don't just pop up unexpectidly or just for one scene.
Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :
I'm getting more and more intrigued, and if I have time I'd like to read it when and if you're ready for critques. Or even if you're NOT ready for critiques.
It sounds to me like the science is very much in the background of the story--if the only science element is the genetic alteration. I agree with GZ, so long as it's not Hard SF you can probably get away with anything.
By the way, is this a horror story? If it is you certainly picked a good age for your protagonist (283), because the numbers add up to thirteen. Was this intentional?
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
For those of you who haven't figured it out, the opening I put in F&F is the same is the story in question. The very next paragraph after my first 13 (and after the rest of the paragraph I cut off in the middle) is the following line:
"I hear this place is haunted," said....
That would probably be up-front enough, and from the reactions, no one thinks it's all that silly to put ghosts in a scifi story. Thanks guys.
Edit after reading Balthasar's post:
The number 283 were the random places my fingers went...actually, the 2 wasn't random, I knew she wasn't quite 300, and neither was the 8, cuz I knew she was close, but the 3 was VERY random.
No, this is not horror, although it might be more interesting if it was...hang on, I just had a thought and I'll get back with you.
[This message has been edited by Christine (edited June 22, 2004).]
Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :
From what I've read, I don't know that I would group it in the Sci-fi category at all. Firts of all, the sort of genetic manipuation you've referred to so far isn't so much fiction these days as it is future reality. Second of all, it sounds like the genetic manipulation is secondary, or even tertiary to other aspects of the story.
I think a more appropriate genre-ization would be Future Fantasy. Am I wrong? Am I totally off the mark? If so, I apologize. I think this story sounds intersting.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I don't know....the truth is if I was submitting it to someone I would only send it to markets who accept bot SF and F and let them decide. I just want to tell my story.
But there is another scifi aelement...a machine that can store the personalities and memories of people. And I still think genetic manipulation is SF. There is no such thing as future reality, IMO, no matter how realistic it may seem that it is coming. We have hardly ever guessed the future correctly, so unless it's now and it's true, it's SF.
Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :
I tend to agree. In fact, there is a lot of science fiction that uses paranormal phenomena. Ghosts are unusual, I'll admit, but telepathy, prescience and other similar phenomena are frequently used.
Posted by Alias (Member # 1645) on :
Science Fantasy ... Science Fantasy ... Science Fantasy ... the genre exists ... that's all I have to say.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
It certainly does....but that's not to say that mixing scifi and fantasy elements still doesnt' have to be done with a litle bit of skill. Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
I belive that everything has a scientific explanation. And I belive in ghosts. Therefore I belive that ghosts have a scientific explanation. (not that they would fit in the current scientific knowledge, unless someone has a theory i'd love to hear.) There was a castlevainia game set in the future. (Only about a hundred I think.) The castle would probably have technological preservations. (perhaps a full lucite coating?) And I think the ghost would have some real fun with the computers.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Assuming it was the sort of ghost that found computers fun...like those kids in Lost Boys, they had fun with computers. Or did you mean some other kind of fun?
Posted by ArCHeR (Member # 2067) on :
This sounds like another generic horror movie, but I'll try to help anyway.
One thing that could help you:
Sci-fi is NOT a genre unless you make it one. Sci-fi is simply a setting when done properly (IE: Ender's Game is sci-fi, but really only in setting, whereas a lot of the bad sci-fi novels that get published use sci-fi as a genre. Their stories are about the future, or the technology, instead of their stories being about the story).
Posted by Pyre Dynasty (Member # 1947) on :
Is there any other kind of fun? Wait don't answer that.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I thought this topic was dead.
Actually, I hate when the topics I start come back to life AFTER I sent the story out, as in this case. Story is done, wrapped up in a pretty package, and submitted to WoTF. It is in their hands. But just for the record, it is NOT a horror in any way, shape, or form. Ghosts do not necessarily equate to horror, especially not "generic horror" whatever that means. (Honestly, it sounds like an insult, but I'm having a bad day so it could just be my high stress level, frazzled nerves, and desire to lash out at the next person who annoys me because I cannot lash out at the people who's fault my bad mood is. )
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Um, SF isn't a genre. I'll keep that in mind
Okay, okay, actually I'd link to O'Doyle's Genre Rant about now, but I'm too lazy.
