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I would propose that there is a simple yardstick to measure whether your "supernatural" elements are making your story a fantasy story. Imagine stripping out the Sci-Fi elements and setting the st...
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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44070 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
I would propose that there is a simple yardstick to measure whether your "supernatural" elements are making your story a fantasy story. ## Imagine stripping out the _Sci-Fi_ elements and setting the story in the present. Is it a fantasy story now? That's your answer. A ghost story **in space** is not a fantasy story. It's still sci-fi. A story with religious faith and maybe a miracle or two **in space** is not a fantasy story. It's still sci-fi. Example: [Out of the Silent Planet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_of_the_Silent_Planet) A story about wizards and unicorns **in space** is probably a fantasy story. Example: [The Darksword Trilogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darksword) (On the other hand, maybe your story happens on a holodeck, maybe? But that's still probably going to appeal more to a Fantasy audience.) (Star Wars is a famous example of a story that would clearly be a fantasy story if it wasn't **in space** and **with robots** )