--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Science fiction is not necessarily either…" description: "\"Science fiction is not necessarily either fiction or anything to do with science.\" — Judith Merril" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png" --- # Science fiction is not necessarily either fiction or… ![“Science fiction is not necessarily either fiction or anything to do with science.” quote by Judith Merril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png) > “Science fiction is not necessarily either fiction or anything to do with science.” [Judith Merril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science fiction blurs the line between imagined futures and scientific reality, challenging strict genre boundaries. **In simple terms:** Sci‑fi mixes imagination with science, not always true fiction. Key Takeaway Embrace genre fluidity. Themes genre imagination science literature Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - writing - reading - teaching - creative brainstorming Key Concepts speculative fiction genre theory Questions to Reflect On - How does blending fact and fantasy affect perception? - When does sci‑fi become pure speculation? A Different Perspective Genre labels can limit creative exploration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [There is no such thing as science fiction, there is only science eventuality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/there-is-no-such-thing-as-science-fiction-there-is-only-science/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [“All interpretation or observation of reality is necessarily fiction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/all-interpretation-or-observation-of-reality-is-necessarily-fiction-2/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Fiction is not necessarily about what you know, it's about how you feel. That is the truth about fiction, and the other truth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/fiction-is-not-necessarily-about-what-you-know-it-s-about-how-you/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [The type of mind that can understand good fiction is not necessarily the educated mind, but it is at all times the kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/the-type-of-mind-that-can-understand-good-fiction-is-not-necessarily/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) > [Good fiction necessarily encompasses our limited understandings of one another, and of ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-specktor/good-fiction-necessarily-encompasses-our-limited-understandings-of/) [Matthew Specktor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-specktor/) > [It had also been my belief since I started writing fiction that science fiction is never really about the future. When science fiction is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/it-had-also-been-my-belief-since-i-started-writing-fiction-that/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [Questions are fiction, and answers are anything from more fiction to science-fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-steinberg/questions-are-fiction-and-answers-are-anything-from-more-fiction-to/) [Saul Steinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-steinberg/) > [It's kind of a misnomer about science fiction that science fiction is about anything other than people. It's about people doing stuff, sometimes doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-bear/it-s-kind-of-a-misnomer-about-science-fiction-that-science-fiction-is/) [Greg Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-bear/) > [“That's science fiction shit," "It's only fiction until science catches up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-robb-fantasy-in-death/that-s-science-fiction-shit-it-s-only-fiction-until-science-catches-up/) J D Robb Fantasy in Death > [Everything I had read in the fields of fiction and science led me to a single, dark conclusion. Humans are screwed, and so is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annalee-newitz/everything-i-had-read-in-the-fields-of-fiction-and-science-led-me-to/) [Annalee Newitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annalee-newitz/) > [“When written correctly, science fiction is science prophecy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-stern/when-written-correctly-science-fiction-is-science-prophecy/) [Shawn Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-stern/) > [I'm fond of science fiction. But not all science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/i-m-fond-of-science-fiction-but-not-all-science-fiction/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Science always interested me, and science, real science, was more science fiction than science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hershman-leeson/science-always-interested-me-and-science-real-science-was-more/) [Lynn Hershman Leeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hershman-leeson/) > [Since I was really little, I've just always had an obsession with, not just science fiction, but science and space. And also because as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/since-i-was-really-little-i-ve-just-always-had-an-obsession-with-not/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [“If there's another writer, like Ross McDonald or Raymond Chandler, and all they're writing are mysteries, they won't be accepted," he said. "And that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/if-there-s-another-writer-like-ross-mcdonald-or-raymond-chandler-and/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) ## More by Judith Merril > [Canadian is both harder and easier to explain. Nobody knows what it is even supposed to be, let far-out-alone what it actually is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/canadian-is-both-harder-and-easier-to-explain-nobody-knows-what-it-is/) [Judith Merril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/) > [We have met the Alien and it is us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/we-have-met-the-alien-and-it-is-us/) [Judith Merril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/) > [We only really learn in conversation after sex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/we-only-really-learn-in-conversation-after-sex/) [Judith Merril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/) > [“There are not two cultures, only half-cultured individuals”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/there-are-not-two-cultures-only-half-cultured-individuals/) [Judith Merril](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/) [Explore all 5 Judith Merril quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) Coheed and Cambria > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. I could feel his breath on my face our lips were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eglinger/his-hands-on-my-waist-he-gently-pulled-me-n-embrace-i-could-feel-his/) [Nicole Eglinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eglinger/) > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Metafiction says something. It has to do with taking a large fiction itself and writing within it; that kind of self-reflecting writing that emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coover/metafiction-says-something-it-has-to-do-with-taking-a-large-fiction/) [Robert Coover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coover/) [Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Science fiction is not necessarily either fiction or anything to do with science.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Judith Merril" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-either-fiction-or-anything-to-do/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-either-fiction-or-anything-to-do/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e00/judith-merril-59931_fiction_science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-eithe_1137745.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Science fiction is not necessarily either fiction or anything to do with science.” — Judith Merril", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Judith Merril", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-merril/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Science fiction is not necessarily either...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-either-fiction-or-anything-to-do/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-merril/science-fiction-is-not-necessarily-either-fiction-or-anything-to-do/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```