One of the things I love about speculative fiction is the freedom I have to create a world not like any the average person has ever experienced.  The opportunity to step beyond simply creating technological advancements and strange creatures as in Star Trek, and stepping into a time warp that speaks to the Twilight Zone lover in me, is priceless.
There are so many wonderful stories that can be created, true to life and familiar, yet with an edge that takes us into another world. Speculative fiction is, for me, the zone where wild imagination meets modern social, spiritual and intellectual conversation and experience.
It is not always easy for a writer to find new ways to tell the same old story of love, life, exploration and adventure. Through speculative fiction, a door is opened to those who long for the freedom to tell their story a different way…a way that adds an unexpected and unique dimension to the work.
One of the many writers I find has the talent to work magic in this area is Octavia Butler. Her work dissects human nature from many aspects, including love, spirituality and social interaction. Through her speculative writing, she is able to communicate the very real concerns of people today, in our time and space, with a touch of speculative spice.
This is a strong genre that I believe has incredible possibility, and gives a much broader freedom than most genres that do not allow for even a sliver of science fiction.
Speculative fiction grounds science fiction in many ways. It brings it closer to home, by not taking us too far into space and technology, but by still allowing for some creative imagination by introducing things unknown to us.
It is one of my many beloved genres, and the one I’ve chosen to write in for the most part, even as I tinker with other genres. I hope other writers will explore the possibilities.
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