In an excellent essay on fantasy Teresa Nielsen Hayden elegantly points out the problem with trying to define fantasy literature:
That’s why my favourite definition of science fiction is Damon Knight’s: “science fiction is what I point to when I say science fiction” (or something like that). Most of us know what we mean when we talk about a certain genre, trying to narrow it down absolutely, and get other people to agree with you is futile—way more trouble than it’s worth.
Update: What Knight said was something like this: “Science fiction is what we mean when we point to it”.
What Damon Knight said: “Science fiction is what we mean when we point to it.”
To me, the difference between “we” and “I” is important here.
Thanks! It sure is important. I shall change my post accordingly.
There’s a world of community in “we” that there sure ain’t in “I”.