Does Margaret Atwood Write Science Fiction?

Hello Gentle Reader

It were to appear ever since the release of "Oryx and Crake," by Margaret Atwood; a famous and stunning Canadian author, that the great debate about whether or not Margaret Atwood writes science fiction has come about.

Yet a person now must wonder: "what is science fiction?"

Personally when I hear the term Science fiction, I think of complex theories, long winded stupid names, for technology, mankind’s pessimistic side of the distant future, as wells as mankind’s optimistic side of the distant future. Though there is more to it then meets the eyes that is for sure. Aliens, space squids, planets, space travel, time travel, "Star Wars," and "Star Trek," are among the quick idea's that pop into my head when I think of Science Fiction.

Though the question remains: "what is Science Fiction?"

According to this link here:

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GPEA_enCA289CA289&defl=en&q=define:science+fiction&ei=n6qZS5PWKIHqtQOhn_CuCQ&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title&ved=0CAkQkAE

Science Fiction is:

"Literary fantasy involving the imagined impact of science on society."

"Science fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative...”

"Fiction in which advanced technology and/or science is a key element; Technology which, while theoretically possible, is not yet practical."

Point taken; Science Fiction deals (generally) with individuals and societies, that deal with the impact of technology. Okay . . . that’s pretty vague in my opinion. Margaret Atwood's novel, does deal with the biological advancements, of a not too distant future, that is possible, of a super disease that could wipe out the entire world. Remember the swine flu scare? (No Mexico we still haven't forgiven you for that!) But at the sometime, it really doesn't primarily focus, on the characters interactions with technology in my opinion. It focuses on many different levels, with a lot of interaction with characters themselves, that don't even have to deal with technology all the time. Was "Oryx and Crake," science fiction? To some it may have been, to others not; and maybe to some I was even a "slipstream," novel that crossed the borders of two different literature worlds, and combined two elements to create a "genreless," novel.

Yet the debate has continued. Ursula K Le Guinn a science fiction and fantasy author (according to 'wikipedia) has even weighed on the debate. She disagrees with Margaret Atwood on the subject, and has said that she does think that Margaret Atwood does write science fiction (though not entirely) but cannot blame Margaret Atwood for not accepting the label and being thrown into the Literature Ghetto; by the Literary Bigots of the world.

However, a very famous novelists, who won the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007 had written a series of science fiction novels, and has not backed down from choosing to do so. her name? Doris Lessing.

Is Science Fiction placed in the Literature Ghetto? perhaps at times, but life has always shown that there are exceptions, and leniency to terms.

Yet the question remains: "Does Margaret Atwood write Science Fiction?"

The answer I find myself saying is this:

Does it matter? The point is Margaret Atwood writes novels. Her novels, are special and beautiful, and are her own, as are Stephen Kings, as are Ursula K Le Guin, as are Doris Lessing, as are Yukio Mishima, as are Jonathan Carroll as are William Gibson. The real debate is not whether or not Margaret Atwood writes science fiction, the real debate is for these people in my opinion, is: Is Margaret Atwood selling out on us? Is she going to write bubblegum realism novels, for teenyboppers? Is she going to write the next Harry Potter franchise? that scares literary big wigs. they don't want a great author, going "Juvenille," in their eyes. they want a great author to remain where they are, and those Literature Bigots, see science fiction as a form of "Juvenille," literature. Which I highly disagree, some is yes. But not always. In fact, as Doris Lessing said in her own words:

"What they didn't realize was that in science fiction is some of the best social fiction of our time. I also admire the classic sort of science fiction, like Blood Music, by Greg Bear. He's a great writer."

Whether or not Margaret Atwood writes science fiction, is the problem; or perhaps the world of Literature is afraid of the outcome. But what does count is that Margaret Atwood is a great writer, and will continue to be that way. She has her own way of writing, and in my opinion defies, the pigeonhole, jam jar labels of her work as "science fiction," or "literary fiction," by simply being her. The debate of whether or not she is a Science Fiction is not what scares people, its than they are afraid that she maybe, and may no longer be the Margaret Atwood that they have come to love. When truth is told she is still being her, they just don't like how they labeled her. The bottom line on the matter is no Margaret Atwood is not a science fiction author. Margaret Atwood is just writing because that’s what she loves to do. She explores themes, in her novels, and social situations, some of them may be in a not so far future, and some maybe, in the present, the point is, Margaret Atwood writes, and her work is her work. They are novels. They have themes. They have memorable characters. They make us think. Margaret Atwood is who she is, and even if she did write a Science Fiction novel, I would still enjoy her work, because it’s just Margaret Atwood being Margaret Atwood.

Take Care Gentle Reader's
Morose-Mary