Science Fiction and Fantasy or Speculative Fiction

Making the Unreal Real

Early Influences on American Speculative Fiction (European)1516 Thomas More’s Utopia1587 Faust (1956 movie Forbidden Planet)The Age of Reason – The Enlightenment

Rapid scientific discovery and technological advances

Johannes Kepler – The Dream: First science fiction story? Trip to the moon.

Mary Shelley – Frankenstein

Jules Verne and H.G. Welles

1860’s - Jules Verne: A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Popular adventure stories based on up to date science or projections

1890’s - H.G. Welles: The Time Machine and War of the Worlds

Using scientifically futuristic stories to comment on current society.

Tension in Sci-Fi still exists:Realistic science vs. character and commentaryExciting story vs. making a point

Early American Speculative Fiction1835 - Edgar Allan Poe: short story, "The

Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall“ Flight to the moon in a balloon Poe often identified as America’s first true science

fiction author

1889 – Mark Twain: Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

In some ways predicts WWI

1900-1920 – L. Frank Baum: Land of Oz series

The Golden Age of Sci-Fi1940’s and 1950’s and Astounding Science

FictionIsaac Asimov and Arthur C. ClarkeScience Fiction becomes a seriously regarded

genre again after the pulp era.Lots of activities in other media as well

Young Adult Sci-Fi/FantasyHarry Potter

Best selling book series: 400 million copies; 67 languages

The top 50 young adult science fiction/fantasy bestsellers sold twice as many books as the top 100 adult science fiction/fantasy bestsellers.

The Hunger Games and expanding the audience via female protagonists.

Diversity in Science FictionFor the longest time, mostly written by white

menSub-genre: feminist science fiction

(Handmaid’s Tale, etc.) Largest change in young adult science

fiction: Hunger Games and others http://girlxoxo.com/book-lists/10-young-adult-scienc

e-fiction-fantasy-books-featuring-people-of-color-on-my-2012-reading-list.php

The Challenges of Writing Speculative Fiction

Making the incredible feel plausibleAuthor=AuthorityDescribing new science or new beings or

places in a way that is vivid and accessible.