--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As both an essayist and science fiction…" description: "\"As both an essayist and science fiction and fantasy novelist, I write about and for the future. I talk about the past to remind us that what we believe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/kameron-hurley-2960_fantasy_as-both-an-essayist-and-science-fiction_1332219.jpg" --- # As both an essayist and science fiction and fantasy… ![“As both an essayist and science fiction and fantasy novelist, I write about and for the future. I talk about the past to remind us that what we believe has always been true - that men and women are somehow static categories, or that men in power has always been the default, or that same-sex love…” quote by Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/kameron-hurley-2960_fantasy_as-both-an-essayist-and-science-fiction_1332219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/kameron-hurley-2960_fantasy_as-both-an-essayist-and-science-fiction_1332219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/184/kameron-hurley-2960_fantasy_as-both-an-essayist-and-science-fiction_1332219.jpg) > “As both an essayist and science fiction and fantasy novelist, I write about and for the future. I talk about the past to remind us that what we believe has always been true - that men and women are somehow static categories, or that men in power has always been the default, or that same-sex love affairs were always taboo - has not always been thus.” [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She emphasizes that societal roles and norms are historically fluid, not fixed, urging forward‑looking imagination grounded in past lessons. **In simple terms:** Societal roles change; past informs future. Key Takeaway Question history, imagine new possibilities. Themes history society future identity power Mood reflective hopeful critical Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - activism - creative writing - policy making - education - community organizing Key Concepts social construct historical fluidity narrative agency Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance nostalgia with progress? - What assumptions about gender and power need re‑examining? A Different Perspective Past narratives can be romanticized, obscuring present complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men and women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-and-women/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [“Science fiction and fantasy, though they seem to be about the future or fictional worlds, are always at their core really about the problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-joseph-adams/science-fiction-and-fantasy-though-they-seem-to-be-about-the-future/) [John Joseph Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-joseph-adams/) > [Fiction is lies; we're writing about people who never existed and events that never happened when we write fiction, whether its science fiction or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin-2/fiction-is-lies-we-re-writing-about-people-who-never-existed-and/) [George R. R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin-2/) > [Part of the particular interest and beauty of science fiction and fantasy: writer and reader collaborate in world-making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/part-of-the-particular-interest-and-beauty-of-science-fiction-and/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [The difference between science fiction and fantasy … is simply this: science fiction has rivets and fantasy has trees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/the-difference-between-science-fiction-and-fantasy-is-simply-this/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I grew up a really nerdy kid. I read science fiction and fantasy voraciously, for the first 16 years of my life. I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-spaihts/i-grew-up-a-really-nerdy-kid-i-read-science-fiction-and-fantasy/) [Jon Spaihts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-spaihts/) > [Of the two, I would think of my work as closer to Science Fiction than Fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-m-auel/of-the-two-i-would-think-of-my-work-as-closer-to-science-fiction-than/) [Jean M. Auel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-m-auel/) > [In my early teens, science fiction and fantasy had an almost-total hold over my imagination. Their outcast status was part of their appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kunzru/in-my-early-teens-science-fiction-and-fantasy-had-an-almost-total/) [Hari Kunzru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kunzru/) > [The reality is that much of the stuff you see in film, television, comics, and children's cartoons got its start inside the inspired, disruptive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/the-reality-is-that-much-of-the-stuff-you-see-in-film-television/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [Historically, science-fiction and fantasy literature is no stranger to controversy, but it has learned how to adapt and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/historically-science-fiction-and-fantasy-literature-is-no-stranger-to/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [ “\[...\]i’m not a leftist trying to smuggle in my evil message by the nefarious means of fantasy novels. I’m a science fiction and fantasy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/i-m-not-a-leftist-trying-to-smuggle-in-my-evil-message-by-the/) [China Miéville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [Im a massive science fiction and fantasy geek.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/im-a-massive-science-fiction-and-fantasy-geek/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [I've always loved science fiction, fantasy, manga, comic books; so I guess, to some degree, those things influence my personal idea of what looks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goldman/i-ve-always-loved-science-fiction-fantasy-manga-comic-books-so-i/) [Jane Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goldman/) > [“Women create an idealized, hopeful vision for the future to inspire other women. Fiction and fantasy are the crucial first steps to changing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-rodale/women-create-an-idealized-hopeful-vision-for-the-future-to-inspire/) [Maya Rodale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-rodale/) > [I think if I was interested in writing on my own, I would be a novelist - then you could write about yourself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zal-batmanglij/i-think-if-i-was-interested-in-writing-on-my-own-i-would-be-a/) [Zal Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zal-batmanglij/) > [I think of myself as a songwriter, a weaver of story and imagination in a way that a novelist might write a book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pj-harvey/i-think-of-myself-as-a-songwriter-a-weaver-of-story-and-imagination/) [PJ Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pj-harvey/) ## More by Kameron Hurley > [I'm terribly particular about what I read: lush writing, secondary world or seriously far-out science fiction, strong worldbuilding, dynamic characters. I need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/i-m-terribly-particular-about-what-i-read-lush-writing-secondary/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“Living is the purpose, Roh. For however long we have to do it, we live. That's all. That's all the ever was." "We aren't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/living-is-the-purpose-roh-for-however-long-we-have-to-do-it-we-live/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“Nyx was a lot of things, but forgettable wasn't one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/nyx-was-a-lot-of-things-but-forgettable-wasn-t-one-of-them/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > ['The Stars are Legion' is part space opera, part thriller, about two warring families battling it out for control over a legion of organic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/the-stars-are-legion-is-part-space-opera-part-thriller-about-two/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“Nyx was not a nice woman. She knew she didn’t deal with nice women. But she also knew the worst sorts of things these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/nyx-was-not-a-nice-woman-she-knew-she-didn-t-deal-with-nice-women-but/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“We all create the stories we need to survive”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/we-all-create-the-stories-we-need-to-survive/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“independence is one of the greatest delusions of youth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/independence-is-one-of-the-greatest-delusions-of-youth/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [I understand that space travel and expansion is just as much about altering ourselves, our attitudes, our social structures, our very biology, as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/i-understand-that-space-travel-and-expansion-is-just-as-much-about/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [I want to be constantly in awe of the possibilities of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/i-want-to-be-constantly-in-awe-of-the-possibilities-of-the-universe/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [When I was a kid, I watched a lot of 'Twilight Zone.' My mother was obsessed with the show, as it was a staple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/when-i-was-a-kid-i-watched-a-lot-of-twilight-zone-my-mother-was/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [Short fiction isn't my natural form. It's taken a lot of work over the years to finally feel more comfortable writing stories under 80,000 words!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/short-fiction-isn-t-my-natural-form-it-s-taken-a-lot-of-work-over-the/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [Know that you're gonna screw up, and be OK with it, and do better next time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/know-that-you-re-gonna-screw-up-and-be-ok-with-it-and-do-better-next/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [I don't like to write about things that bore me, and that means I steer far clear of writing books that are just like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/i-don-t-like-to-write-about-things-that-bore-me-and-that-means-i/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“Rumour has it you've turned castration into an occupation." "You go cutting one guy's cock off and you never hear the end of it,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/rumour-has-it-you-ve-turned-castration-into-an-occupation-you-go/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) > [“Perhaps every society is a utopia when you fail to peel up all the layers and look at what's underneath”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kameron-hurley/perhaps-every-society-is-a-utopia-when-you-fail-to-peel-up-all-the/) [Kameron Hurley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) [Explore all 144 Kameron Hurley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kameron-hurley/) ## More Fantasy quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [I avoided nudity unless a film couldn't be told without those scenes. If you look at my films, few of them have that element,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-scacchi/i-avoided-nudity-unless-a-film-couldn-t-be-told-without-those-scenes/) [Greta Scacchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-scacchi/) > [We don't make glamorous movies today. Everything now is very realistic, artistic - and depressing. When is the last time you you saw a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-head/we-don-t-make-glamorous-movies-today-everything-now-is-very-realistic/) [Edith Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-head/) > [I like fantasy, but I don't live and breathe fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/i-like-fantasy-but-i-don-t-live-and-breathe-fantasy/) [Lauren Schmidt Hissrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-schmidt-hissrich/) > [“Metal makes everything magical. Just ask a unicorn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sybrina-durant/metal-makes-everything-magical-just-ask-a-unicorn/) [Sybrina Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sybrina-durant/) > [“(Evil people) do not believe in forgiveness. Their transgressions are either punished or not punished. That is the only result that matters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-mchugh/evil-people-do-not-believe-in-forgiveness-their-transgressions-are/) [Daniel McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-mchugh/) > [My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/my-first-three-manuscripts-were-epic-fantasy-like-high-fantasy-and/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [I'm a geek - I read fantasy novels, I play 'World of Warcraft,' I'm a massive gamer, I have 'Star Trek' outfits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kazinsky/i-m-a-geek-i-read-fantasy-novels-i-play-world-of-warcraft-i-m-a/) [Robert Kazinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kazinsky/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Perhaps Nesta will take up the blood-drinking habit, too. I certainly believe her threat to rip out my throat. Maybe she'll enjoy the taste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/perhaps-nesta-will-take-up-the-blood-drinking-habit-too-i-certainly/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [I like to play people that are real, a real person, and then something that's interesting with that person. I think it's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-bostick/i-like-to-play-people-that-are-real-a-real-person-and-then-something/) [Devon Bostick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-bostick/) > [It's a hindrance in trying to get a serious acting role. The minute a producer has a script and my name comes up, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbi-benton/it-s-a-hindrance-in-trying-to-get-a-serious-acting-role-the-minute-a/) [Barbi Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbi-benton/) > [No one will ever write a fantasy novel better than The Hobbit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/no-one-will-ever-write-a-fantasy-novel-better-than-the-hobbit/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've always loved sci-fi and fantasy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olly-alexander/i-ve-always-loved-sci-fi-and-fantasy/) [Olly Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olly-alexander/) > [“I will always be within reach if you need me, little one...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-von/i-will-always-be-within-reach-if-you-need-me-little-one/) [A.R. Von](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-von/) [Browse all 5,469 Fantasy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As both an essayist and science fiction and fantasy novelist, I write about and for the future. 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