SPECULATIVE

FICTION
Speculative fiction is a broad umbrella
category of narrative fiction referring to any
fiction story that includes elements,
settings and characters whose features are
created out of human imagination and
speculation rather than based on attested
reality and everyday life.
That encompasses the genres of science fiction,
fantasy, science fantasy, horror, alternative
history, and magic realism.
At the turn of the millennium speculative fiction
got much needed boost when the country’s most
prestigious literary awards body, the Don Carlos
Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature added
the “Future Fiction” category (in both Filipino
and English languages)
Speculative fiction may
include elements of one
or more of the following
genres:
•Fantasy-Includes elements and beings
from human cultural imagination, such
as mythical creatures(dragons and
fairies, for example, magic and magical
elements, sorcery, witchcraft, etc.
Examples: The Lord of the Rings, Harry
Potter
Science fiction-feature technologies that
do not exist in real life (but may be
supposed to do in the future) including
time travel, interstellar, travel, flying cars,
and also beings and societies from other
planets (aliens).
Examples: Star Wars, Planet of the Apes
•Horror-Somewhat similar to fantasy, but
focusing on terrifying, evil, and often
powerful beings, such as monsters and
ghosts. Also aims to transmit actual fear and
confusion to the reader/viewer.
•Examples: Nightmare on Elm Streets, Case
39
• Utopia-Takes place in a highly desirable society,
often presented as advanced, happy, intelligent
or even perfect or problem-free.
• Dystopia-Takes place in a highly undesirable
society, often plagued with strict control,
violence, chaos, brainwashing, and other
negative elements
•Alternate history-Focusing on historical
events as if they happened in a different
way, and its implications on the present.
•Apocalyptic-Takes place before and during
a massive, worldwide disaster.
•Post-Apocalyptic-Focuses on groups of
survivors after a massive, worldwide
disaster.
IAN ROSALES CASOCOT
Was born in Dumaguete City in 1975, and studied in
the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan
and in Siliman University, where he graduated cum
laude with a Bachelor in Mass Communication degree.
He was a fellow for fiction in English in the National
Writer’s Workshops in Dumaguete, Baguio, Cebu, and
Iligan. He is currently working on a Master’s Degree in
Creative Writing at Siliman University, where he is a
faculty of the Department of English and Literature.
He has won several Don Carlos Palanca
Awards and an NVM Gonzalez Prize for his
fiction, and was chosen as one of the
authors for the UBOD New Writers Series
2003 by the Country’s National Commission
for Culture and the Arts (NCCA).
In 2002, he edited Future Shock Prose:
An Anthology of Young Writers and
New Literatures, which was nominated
as Best Anthology in the National Book
Awards given by the Manila Critics
Circle.
THE SUGILANON OF EPIFANIA’S
HEARTBREAK
• What is the story about?
• Did the male character fall in love with the
female character at the end?
• What is the theme of the story?
• How did you feel after reading the story?
• What type of speculative fiction is it?
THERE WILL COME SOFT RAINS
• What happened with the humans in the story?
• List three functions that the house performs?
• Does the view in the story fit with your idea of
the future world?
• How will you describe the setting in the story?
• Who is speaking in the story?