fantasyscifi

Fantasyscifi is a term used to describe speculative fiction that blends elements of fantasy with science fiction. Narratives in this category feature magic and advanced technology coexisting, interacting, or being explained by pseudo-scientific mechanisms. Because it encompasses works sometimes read as neither pure fantasy nor pure SF, fantasyscifi is often described as a subgenre, a crossover, or a form of science fantasy or slipstream.

Common characteristics include worldbuilding that integrates magical systems with technological science, characters who navigate both enchantment and empirical explanation, and plots that hinge on their interaction. Settings may range from mythic landscapes enhanced by alien tech to near-future or alternate-historical worlds where sorcery operates alongside robotics or starflight. The tone can vary from epic to intimate or noir.

Notable works and authors often linked to fantasyscifi include Anne McCaffrey's Dragonriders of Pern (telepathy and dragons alongside human tech), Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun (a far-future world with mythic resonances), China Miéville's Perdido Street Station (weird fiction with scientific flavor), and Ken Liu's The Grace of Kings (epic fantasy infused with inventive technology). The category overlaps with science fantasy and speculative fiction and is used to discuss boundary-crossing works.

Reception and use: Although not a formally recognized genre, fantasyscifi has encouraged cross-genre experimentation and attracted readers who enjoy both magic and machines. Critics note the boundary between fantasy and SF is fluid, with fantasyscifi serving as a lens to examine belief, technology, and possibility in speculative worlds.