A SciFi category question

[NotWise]

I'm writing a story that may end up as SciFi, but it's placed in the present time rather than in the spacey future. What I've seen in the SciFi/Fantasy section is either fantasy or futuristic space stuff. That's consistent with the category description.

Would readers in that category react well to a present day SciFi story, or would it be better off somewhere else (EC, for instance)?

I still have the option of excluding the SciFi slant entirely.

 

[scsinclair]

I'm writing a story that may end up as SciFi, but it's placed in the present time rather than in the spacey future. What I've seen in the SciFi/Fantasy section is either fantasy or futuristic space stuff. That's consistent with the category description.

Would readers in that category react well to a present day SciFi story, or would it be better off somewhere else (EC, for instance)?

I still have the option of excluding the SciFi slant entirely.

Does it work just as well without the sci-fi elements? Because if it does, maybe you don't really even need to include them.

In any case, sci-fi doesn't need to be set in the future or outer space to fit into that category. With technology and the ever-present prospect of the discovery of/contact with lifeforms from other worlds/times, a good sci-fi tale can take place this afternoon, yesterday morning, or a week from Sunday. Sci-fi isn't about setting; it's about fiction predicated on science fact & theory.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

I don't know how readers would react; I don't really write in that genre. Fiction about my field, forensics, however, includes much contemporary fictional science.

 

[sheablue]

I, too, believe that sci-fi is more a matter of theme and story elements than WHEN the story is set. However, for readers of sci-fi, there probably is an expectation of otherness, or the fantastic, even if the story is set in present day. I'm trying to think of good sci-fi set in the present, and can only think of Ex Machina. Did you ever see that movie?

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have written several Sci-Fi stories set in the present, but going back in time to the past.

I have also written several that deal with a current time catastrophe with the world going to hell in a hand basket...kind of 2012 blow stuff.

I have also written stuff set far in the future.

I have received no complaints about any of it.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I, too, believe that sci-fi is more a matter of theme and story elements than WHEN the story is set. However, for readers of sci-fi, there probably is an expectation of otherness, or the fantastic, even if the story is set in present day. I'm trying to think of good sci-fi set in the present, and can only think of Ex Machina. Did you ever see that movie?

That movie sucked. My opinion.

 

[NotWise]

I, too, believe that sci-fi is more a matter of theme and story elements than WHEN the story is set. However, for readers of sci-fi, there probably is an expectation of otherness, or the fantastic, even if the story is set in present day. I'm trying to think of good sci-fi set in the present, and can only think of Ex Machina. Did you ever see that movie?

Haven't seen the movie, but as far as SciFi in a current setting goes, Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain and The Shining come right off the top of my head.

Edit: It wasn't The Shining I was thinking about, but another Stephen King spectacular, The Stand.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Just to say, that EC can be a tricky category. I have had a story badly down-voted in there because it had a romantic ending, even though it involved different couplings along the way.

 

[NotWise]

Just to say, that EC can be a tricky category. I have had a story badly down-voted in there because it had a romantic ending, even though it involved different couplings along the way.

Agreed. My story with the lowest reader rating is on EC and it has what I thought of as a romantic ending. But maybe it isn't the ending that's the biggest problem.

 

[NaokoSmith]

Agreed. My story with the lowest reader rating is on EC and it has what I thought of as a romantic ending. But maybe it isn't the ending that's the biggest problem.

I think EC are a tricky audience! that's the biggest problem. It's a bit of a spillover from LC, I believe? Others with more EC experience may be able to comment more.

Do you have an editor? Do they have an opinion about a category your story could go in?

 

[NotWise]

I think EC are a tricky audience! that's the biggest problem. It's a bit of a spillover from LC, I believe? Others with more EC experience may be able to comment more.

Do you have an editor? Do they have an opinion about a category your story could go in?

Not for this story yet--I'm less than 1,500 words into it at this point. The main characters are scientists, so I have a lot of flexibility. I can make the story fantastic, or they can deal with more rational problems and solutions.

 

[sheablue]

That movie sucked. My opinion.

I LOVED it. My opinion.

 

[sheablue]

Haven't seen the movie, but as far as SciFi in a current setting goes, Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain and The Shining come right off the top of my head.

Edit: It wasn't The Shining I was thinking about, but another Stephen King spectacular, The Stand.

I would go along with you for Jurassic Park and Andromeda strain as present day settings for sci-fi (though, I paused at Jurassic Park, but what else would it be?) But I wouldn't call The Stand sci-fi, I would still call that horror, or post-apocalyptic horror.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

My "Becoming Marie..." is in sc/fi and is set in the present, more or less, but in an alternate universe. It has noncon elements, romance elements, mind-controlly elements, and other stuff I might not mix together today. You'd think it would have done poorly. It's currently at 4.78.

But - it's 18 lit pages long (so readers who didn't like it never voted), and it's got an unusual setting, so the fact that it's in the present almost doesn't matter.

Still, my take is that sci/fi is a reasonable genre for things regardless of when they are set, if the science is fictional. If I write a steampunk story, I'd likely put in there.

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

My definition of science fiction is that it's focused on some kind of science that isn't possible (yet) in the real world. It doesn't matter when that story takes place, it could be set in the present time or even be in the past. As long as your story relies on a piece of science or technology that you made up, I would say it would fit into the Sci-Fi category. If the science is more of a sub-plot or doesn't really play a huge roll in your story, you might want to post it into a different category. To be science fiction, I think the science should be one of the more important parts of your story.

PS: That's just my opinion on it

 

[Carnevil9]

The problem lies with Literotica's category description: "Erotic tales set in futuristic or fantastic worlds." That does not include all of science fiction. A large chunk of it, to be sure, but it misses out on near-future or present-day types of science fiction.

 

[TamLin01]

Sci Fi in a contemporary setting? District 9, ET, Close Encounters, Stranger Things, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Thing From Another World, Back To The Future (this one is half a cheat, but fine), The Fly, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Limitless, Contact, etc. It happens. Sci Fi is a theme, not a setting.

 

[NotWise]

Sci Fi in a contemporary setting? District 9, ET, Close Encounters, Stranger Things, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Thing From Another World, Back To The Future (this one is half a cheat, but fine), The Fly, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Limitless, Contact, etc. It happens. Sci Fi is a theme, not a setting.

Nice list. I'm sure there's more.

The tag on the category is "Erotic tales set in futuristic or fantastic worlds." I think most stories in the category are either either in the future or they're the medieval fantasy sort of thing.

My original question is probably moot at this point, because I found that the SciFi aspect of the story actually interfered with the erotica rather than providing tools and settings for it. I took the story in a different direction.

I really want to write something in SciFi, and in the current context, but I guess that won't happen right now.

 

[TxRad]

Nice list. I'm sure there's more.

The tag on the category is "Erotic tales set in futuristic or fantastic worlds." I think most stories in the category are either either in the future or they're the medieval fantasy sort of thing.

My original question is probably moot at this point, because I found that the SciFi aspect of the story actually interfered with the erotica rather than providing tools and settings for it. I took the story in a different direction.

I really want to write something in SciFi, and in the current context, but I guess that won't happen right now.

I read so much SciFi in my younger days, every idea I come up with sounds like something I read before. I've got one story up that is totally differwent from anything I ever read. I even had a reader comment on it being such a different idea. A Dance with the Devil

I have a couple more under construction but they are going slow for some reason. Lack of time for one and too much on my plate for another. SciFi for sex seems to run more to the parody side of things in most cases. Star Trek-The Literotica Episode is a good point in case.

I do have one novel out but it is more fantasy than SciFi even if it is set in the future.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I have a couple up, one set in the far, far, far future and one set in the here and now.

Warrior's Choice - set in the future.

Walking the Dog - takes place in the here and now, but there are stints into the past.

Walking the Dog does not contain any erotica.

 

[sheablue]

Sci Fi in a contemporary setting? District 9, ET, Close Encounters, Stranger Things, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Thing From Another World, Back To The Future (this one is half a cheat, but fine), The Fly, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Limitless, Contact, etc. It happens. Sci Fi is a theme, not a setting.

A most excellent list. With my suggestions of Ex Machina I was trying to think of the most recent example I could. But you've covered some favorites here, including District 9 and Eternal Sunshine. Eternal Sunshine is especially good as it doesn't involve something like the discovery of aliens in modern times, but creates a totally new technology that is not currently possible, but you could see how it could become so. Inception might be another example.

Hmmm ... looking at this list gives me all kinds of ideas. And you are absolutely right, sci-fi is a theme, not a setting. I said the same thing. I wrote a blogpost about why sci-fi and erotica fit so well together ... it's on my website if anyone cares to peruse.

 

[ThisNameIsntTakenYet]

A most excellent list. With my suggestions of Ex Machina I was trying to think of the most recent example I could. But you've covered some favorites here, including District 9 and Eternal Sunshine. Eternal Sunshine is especially good as it doesn't involve something like the discovery of aliens in modern times, but creates a totally new technology that is not currently possible, but you could see how it could become so. Inception might be another example.

Hmmm ... looking at this list gives me all kinds of ideas. And you are absolutely right, sci-fi is a theme, not a setting. I said the same thing. I wrote a blogpost about why sci-fi and erotica fit so well together ... it's on my website if anyone cares to peruse.

Great blog
I've been toying with some ideas of sci-fi erotica for a while, but somehow always ended up with the cliché sex-robots and aliens. Reading this thread and your blog certainly gave me some more ideas, some that are no doubt a lot more original and interesting than what I had before. Still want to do an alien story eventually though. So many ideas, so little time...

 

[PervOtaku]

I suspect a lot of "present day sci-fi" stuff turns up in the Nonhuman category, perhaps?

The way the categories here break down, it's difficult to pick the best one sometimes.