SCIFI FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction?

Science Fiction can be seen as a subgenre of speculative fiction, however not all scifi feats neatly fall under the Speculative Fiction umbrella. Speculative fiction, as the name suggests, speculates about the real-world implications of a fictional scenario. For, example, one of the best speculative fiction books of all time, Wild Seed by Octavia E Butler, creates a world where there are rare individuals with supernatural talents that can be passed down through genetics. The events occur as one might expect them to in such a world, and therein lies the speculation. Science Fiction books and short stories typically speculate on what would happen either in a futuristic society, or in a world where different technology exists. 

How do you come up with ideas for science fiction stories?

In my job as a data and machine learning expert, I come into contact with cutting-edge technologies on a daily basis. Even if I try to write a fantasy story, or some other writing prompt, science fiction always comes out! The future and technology and aliens are always on my mind, and so it makes sense that when I tell stories, they have those elements. If you’re looking for science fiction story ideas, you only need to look at the most recent science and technology news articles.

What are the main features of science fiction stories?

Science fiction, also often known as 'sci-fi', is a genre of literature that is imaginative and based around science. Science-fiction stories are usually full of action, adventure and plot twists that make up the structure.

Here are some of the main features of science-fiction stories:

  • time travel;

  • teleportation;

  • mind control, telepathy, and telekinesis;

  • alien life forms, and mutants;

  • space travel and exploration;

  • parallel universes

What makes Remy Welch different compared to other SciFi writers?

Remy is a neurodivergent author who perceives and processes the world through a unique neural lens, which leads to innovative expressions of creativity. She also works as a Machine Learning Specialist for Google, which adds to the veracity of her POV. Remy loves to create new and different worlds through storytelling and eccentric, three-dimensional characters.

What makes a science fiction story interesting?

Any good book should evoke a sense of wonder in the reader; this is one of the defining tenants of science fiction and a primary reason why people are drawn to the genre. To dream of traveling through time, seeing other planets and meeting alien species are all reasons why someone becomes a fan of sci fi to begin with.

What sci-fi short stories should you read?

Remy created the following 6 creative and refreshing short stories that you can freely access on her website:

  • The Root of All Evil

  • The Dating App

  • Apurna Meets God

  • The Phalereon Fable

  • The Last Heckle Barge

  • Souls on the Open Plane

Click the link below to read these scifi stories: remywelch.com/sci-fi-short-stories

What are the basic qualities of great science fiction you should read?

  • Builds up a sense of wonder: Any good book should evoke a sense of wonder in the reader; this is one of the defining tenants of science fiction and a primary reason why some becomes a fan of scifi stories to begin with.

  • Willing suspension of disbelief: The story described in scifi stories must be believable, or explained in such a way that makes it believable.

  • Entertainment Value and Quality of writing: The whole reason for reading a scifi story is to be entertained and the quality of writing should be great and choose stories that were developed by the author’s own style such as Remy Welch.

What's the difference between Hard Science-Fiction stories vs Soft Science-Fiction stories?

Science fiction is divided into two broad categories: hard sci-fi and soft sci-fi. These terms are vague and flexible, but they give readers a good idea of what to expect from the story before reading it. Here is the difference between these two types of scifi stories:

  • Hard sci-fi stories are based on scientific fact. They're inspired by 'hard' natural sciences like chemistry, physics, and astronomy.

  • Soft sci-fi stories can be either not scientifically accurate or they’re inspired by 'soft' social sciences like psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

What are the best science fiction books of all time?

One of the best and newest science fiction books of all time is the Council of Light that was written by Remy Welch. The Council of Light is about a ragtag group of bounty hunters explore the fringes of the known universe with the drug-addicted conman who’s seen beyond them.