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Speculating About Fiction

© Evelyn Keys

I was introduced to the term 'Speculative fiction' at University, while studying Australian fiction. It was a baptism by fire, but not entirely unpleasant. Speculative fiction, you see, is the intellectually acceptable term for fantasy and science fiction.

It wasn't much of a surprise at university when I found that some types of fiction were looked down upon: fantasy and science fiction included. I don't agree with it. I've been an English literature student for three and a half years and I've now read a lot of "respected" literature. I can honestly say some of the fantasy and science fiction I have read is written with far more talent, and will probably keep your eyes open at 2am.

The term speculative fiction however, seem to make the genre's acceptable. I made the assumption that the speculative fiction I would be reading would be similar to what I normally read. Glass Reptile Breakout and Other Speculative Australia Stories (ed. Van Ikin, 1990) cured me of that erroneous belief. For the most part those short stories were better than a lot of fiction I have read. Maybe I was just lucky enough to stumble on a very well done collection, I can't be positive at this point in time, but if I work it out I'll let you know.

I have only a few gripes with science fiction. At times I can get lost in the abundance of technology and the absolute division between the good and evil leaves me cold. Most of the stories in Glass Reptile Breakout avoided good vs. evil simplicity, and none of the stories gave way to well worn clichés. It was a refreshing experience. It was also great reading - even at 2am.

I'm reminded of one short story included called The Supramarket. Such a mundane topic you're saying how could it be interesting? That was what was running through my head before I read it, you'll be pleased to know it was amazingly done. The supramarket wasn't from the future. It was a present day shopping center that had mutated into a technological entity, shoppers becoming minor parts in the functioning of the bigger whole. Definitely disturbing, and somewhat deranged it was just my sort of thing. It also had that hidden social message going on in the background. Is mass consumerism a dehumanizing force? I don't know the answer, but it made me think more about it. To my mind that's something a piece of fiction should be doing - making you think.

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