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A matter of speculation
This month, Cornerstones’ Assistant Editor, Sarah Conkerton, discusses the often confusing ‘speculative fiction’, what agents and publishers mean when they use the term, and how and where it differs from traditional SFF
Sarah Conkerton
First things first – what is speculative fiction?
The term ‘speculative fiction’ can be a confusing one, and it can be difficult to define. Broadly, speculative fiction can refer to all forms of genre fiction – science fiction, fantasy, horror etc – but it often refers to a subgenre where these meet and merge with literary or general fiction. Essentially, speculative fiction can refer to any novel that deals with elements beyond reality.