Science Fiction or Realistic?

Hi Everyone,

I'm working on a novel in which three characters become vigilantes (with the whole mask and costume thing, by the way). They don't have superpowers, although one creates cool gadgets for them to use. It's set in current day, although probably about ten years into the future, but there are no major advancements in technology.

Would this be considered realistic fiction, since technically it could happen, or near-future sci-fi, since it never has?

P.S. This is a little like a debate my friend and I were having yesterday, about whether Batman (just Batman, not him workign with other superpowered heroes) would be considered science fiction or not. If you've got a response to this, too, please settle the debate.

Neither. It's a superhero story.

A realistic superhero story. Ten years later with no technological advancements isn't enough for sci-fi, but really, you should be less worried about the genre and more about actually writing/finishing a good story!

I'd say it isn't sci-fi unless the premise of the novel is actually the technology. Just like a book set in 2000 (where the time period isn't important) would not now be considered historical fiction. You don't need to worry too much about the genre unless you're in the process of looking for an agent/publisher.

Don't worry about the genre right now! Write the story, and see what happens. Sometimes stories evolve on their own, and you'll have a better idea of where to place it once you finish it. So write it! And then make that judgement.

I would say superhero stories are their own genre. It's obvious in comic books, just hasn't really breached the gap into written fiction officially.

And if you're looking for what genre to put it in here on YWS, you could always stick it in Action/Adventure.

Yeah, I was wondering for posting reasons.

MadameX wrote:Yeah, I was wondering for posting reasons.

For posting reasons: Probably Action/Adventure (for the superhero thing) or General Fiction. But if there's a lot of tush-kicking in it, I'd say A/A.