Random thoughts

[Brian Scott Allen]

I don't think what you mean is "small" extrapolation, I think you mean large or long extrapolation or even extreme extrapolation.

While it may seem a challenge in the abstract, practically speaking I cannot recall reading a book that I had a problem with classifying it as sci fi or not, at the time it was published.

So you're saying by that these genres are like porn and we'll know it when we see it?

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

I don't like dystopian/cautionary stories. Too many of them come true. I'll stick to fantasy, thank you.

Mine isn't a cautionary story...Often people see dystopian as "a future where things have gone bad" when really it's just the inverse of a utopia, the opposite of a perfect/ideal world. A world where society is as BAD as possible. Or, at least, really really really bad. Lord of the Flies is considered a dystopia, but I don't recall that it's futuristic. It explores the worst tendencies of human nature. That's what makes it a dystopia.

Of course, dystopia has a more slippery definition in common usage. It's often seen as a subdivision of sci-fi, which isn't right always. Most people think of it as "future world where the government is oppressive." But a world can be a dystopia regardless of government.

It's...well, a word with a lot of different definitions. But a dystopia isn't necessarily a cautionary tale/futuristic/etc.

In one of mine, the world appears utopian on the surface, but just below the surface it's horrible and dysfunctional. Then, when the characters overthrow the horrible, dysfunctional fake utopia, they discover that what it was protecting them from was arguably worse. It's both dystopian and fantasy.

 

[Russ]

So you're saying by that these genres are like porn and we'll know it when we see it?

Very close.

What I am saying is that while the definition may have some potential imperfections in theory, or in extreme hypotheticals, in practise it is really, really effective.

 

[Russ]

But a dystopia isn't necessarily a cautionary tale/futuristic/etc.

Isn't dystopian fiction a "cautionary tale" virtually by definition? The story you describe is surely a cautionary tale, perhaps two levels deep but a cautionary tale nonetheless.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

Clannad [the anime, not the band] can make starfish, teddy bears, a certain cat, snow, and dumplings seem like the saddest things ever.

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Isn't dystopian fiction a "cautionary tale" virtually by definition? The story you describe is surely a cautionary tale, perhaps two levels deep but a cautionary tale nonetheless.

What do you define as a cautionary tale, then? One that demonstrates an example of a society it wouldn't be nice to live in?

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Clannad [the anime, not the band] can make starfish, teddy bears, a certain cat, snow, and dumplings seem like the saddest things ever.

I'm curious. XD

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

^I suggest setting aside a day or two where nothing too much is going on, and watching all of Clannad Season 1 and 2 on Youtube [in English if you prefer, or in Japanese; I always watch anime in Japanese].

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

^I suggest setting aside a day or two where nothing too much is going on, and watching all of Clannad Season 1 and 2 on Youtube [in English if you prefer, or in Japanese; I always watch anime in Japanese].

I've always wanted to get into anime because many of them seem so weird and cool, but I have really no time for television

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

^Oh well. If you don't mind spoiling the entire series, here's the condensed version of Clannad in this video set to music from the anime.

Spoilers for all plot twists in this video [for anyone else looking at this post]:

 

[Tom]

I always thought Clannad sounded more like an epic set in the Scottish Highlands than an anime...

Anyway, tonight I'm writing my very first paper of the new semester. It's going...interestingly. I'm sick and overtired and it's Monday night. Always a good combination.

 

[Ireth]

I always thought Clannad sounded more like an epic set in the Scottish Highlands than an anime..

It does, doesn't it? XD The word means "family", which I think is what the anime is all about, so in that way it makes sense. (Though why they chose a Gaelic word instead of a Japanese one is beyond me.)

 

[Brian Scott Allen]

[video=youtube_share;zSCOYAJd2PE]https://youtu.be/zSCOYAJd2PE[/video]

Found my theme song for the past 3 months.

 

[Russ]

What do you define as a cautionary tale, then? One that demonstrates an example of a society it wouldn't be nice to live in?

Yup. Something that says...hey be careful, if you are not cautious we could end up in something like this.

Your story seems to have two levels of cautionary messages.

1) Hey this is repressive, we should strive not to live like this.

2) Make sure whatever is underneath the crappy system you are about to remove is not worse. The law of unintended consequences should be respected.

 

[La Volpe]

<snip>

Found my theme song for the past 3 months.

This is a hell of a catchy song.

 

[DragonOfTheAerie]

Yup. Something that says...hey be careful, if you are not cautious we could end up in something like this.

Your story seems to have two levels of cautionary messages.

1) Hey this is repressive, we should strive not to live like this.

2) Make sure whatever is underneath the crappy system you are about to remove is not worse. The law of unintended consequences should be respected.

Hmm. Well...I still don't know about that definition. You could get some "don't do this" lesson you can apply to real life out of any story. For example, Romeo and Juliet:

1) Don't marry someone you met eight hours ago.

2) When you find your lover apparently dead, wait 24 hours before committing suicide.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

I often stare incredulously when people sometimes refer to Romeo and Juliet as the 'greatest love story ever'.

 

[Russ]

Hmm. Well...I still don't know about that definition. You could get some "don't do this" lesson you can apply to real life out of any story. For example, Romeo and Juliet:

1) Don't marry someone you met eight hours ago.

2) When you find your lover apparently dead, wait 24 hours before committing suicide.

The purpose of a cautionary tale is to warn the audience of potential dangers. IF you think was the purpose of Romeo and Juliet then you are perfectly welcome to think of Romeo and Juliet as a cautionary tale.

 

[Ireth]

So I have yet another new story idea swimming around in my head. I have the very basics of political dynamics between three kingdoms written out, physical descriptions of natives versus immigrants from other nations, etc; and I know my MCs' genders and orientations as well as their relationship with each other (mostly).

The one thing I don't have? The aforesaid MC's names! *headdesk* Or their kingdom's names, for that matter. They're just A, B and C for now. The MCs are Princess A and Princess B.

 

[TheCrystallineEntity]

^I have two baby name books at my house. If I am totally stuck for a name and nothing's coming to me, I'll go from A-Z until the best names jump out at me.