Someone posed this question to one of my social networking groups recently and though the topic was very popular, I don’t know that an answer was ever given. I guess the question is a bit vague. It’s not like all fiction has actually become speculative, but this genre has become very popular as of late. The term speculative is so broad that it’s not too hard to understand its popularity. There is something there to appeal to a great many people across the board.
Speculative fiction encompasses sci-fi, fantasy, horror, supernatural, paranormal, and all sorts of alternative reality themes including those with historical, romantic, and political undertones. The Speculative fiction umbrella is so vast that many like it and don’t even know they do, while some think they like it and actually don’t. I think it’s the term itself that’s really been getting the buzz lately.
As popular as the myriad of speculative genres are, fiction still stands strong and stands strong all on its own. Depending on the circles in which one travels, Speculative fiction may not even exist. I know lots of people who read fiction and have no idea what Speculative is. These people read historical novels, crime and suspense novels, romance novels, and so much more. People do still write stories that tell the tales of ordinary every people without any undertones of supernatural happenings, or creatures, or technological wonders of the past, present, or future.
I think maybe that sometimes people get so involved in the happenings of their social circles that they forget that everyone isn’t a part of their world. I know I’ve been guilty of that many times. And while I’m content to continuing working my series of Speculative spiritual fiction, that doesn’t mean I don’t take the time to step out of that world and experience something else from time to time.
This is an unofficial Author Insights post.