sfée

sfée is a term found in francophone discussions of speculative fiction and genre studies. It describes a hybrid figure or concept that blends science-fiction elements with fairy-tale or magical motifs, essentially a portmanteau of science fiction (SF) and fée (fairy). The word is used to categorize works, characters, or phenomena that appear simultaneously enchanted and technologically plausible, highlighting a middle ground between magic and science.

Definition and scope: An sfée may be a being, a magical artifact, or a system whose powers derive from both mythic principles and scientific explanations. In narratives, sfées challenge simple binaries of science and magic, enabling worldbuilding where the boundaries between the possible and the fantastical are porous. The concept is flexible enough to apply to characters who wield technomagical abilities, ecosystems governed by coded or algorithmic magic, or technologies that function like charms within a believable scientific framework.

Usage and reception: The term is most common in francophone literary criticism and discussions of hybrid genres such as science fantasy, techno-fantasy, or magical realism in SF. It is not widely standardized, and its precise meaning can vary by author or critic. In scholarship, sfée is often used to examine questions of agency, ethical implication, and narrative tone when magic and technology intersect.

See also: genre blending, science fantasy, magical realism, technomancy, mythopoeia.