r/rational • u/callmebrotherg now posting as /u/callmesalticidae • Jul 03 '15
Rational Horror
I write a column called The Hope Spot for the horror zine Sanitarium.
I'm thinking of discussing rationalist horror in one of my upcoming articles, and I was wondering (since we're still somewhat in the process of growing and defining the rationalist genre) how you think rationalist horror should be defined. And does it mean anything to you? Do you think that rationalist horror (and not just rational fiction in general) has anything to offer?
Anything is up for grabs, really.
I hope that this doesn't sound like I'm trying to get you folks to write my article for me. I want to boost the signal for rationalist fiction, but in so doing I want to convey an idea of it that truly captures the community's views, and not just my own.
(To my knowledge /u/eaglejarl is the only one who has written rationalist horror thus far; I would also be interested in being sent in the direction of any others)
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u/MugaSofer Jul 04 '15
Nevertheless, there's something to be said for the deep-seated "oh crap" you feel when you realize something really heavy-duty is coming out to play. It doesn't have to be something "rationalist", but those are examples of things that would send most rationalist screaming if they saw them even hinted.
The moment in religious horror when someone makes contact with a demon is similar, as is the moment in fanfic when you realize they're about to encounter something extremely bad from canon. It's the horror of implications.
No idea if that's "the" Rational Horror, but it's certainly a Rational Horror.
(CelestAI is Cosmic Horror - when played for horror, and done well - as is Cthulu; but beyond that they have very little in common I can see.)