Science FictionAlthough the term science fiction was not used until about 1930, science fiction tales have been told since before the invention of writing. One of the earliest science fiction writers was Lucian of Samosata who, around 100 BC, wrote a fantasy about a journey to the moon. Modern science fiction began to take shape in the nineteenth century.

Science FictionScience fiction is defined loosely as fiction that deals with the impact of science and technology on the world. Sometimes the technology is real, sometimes it is entirely imagined, and sometimes it has been imagined by an author and then brought to reality by scientists. Science fiction themes often warn of the potential for disaster when technology is abused.

The Literature of Change It's often said that Science Fiction is the literature of change. When a

culture is undergoing a lot of changes due to scientific advances and technological developments, and expects to undergo more, it's hardly surprising if stories about these changes become popular as a way of expressing people's feelings (optimistic or otherwise) about change. Note that the changes may be in our ability to control the world, or just in our understanding of it. For example, some "post-holocaust" portray cultures that understand and control less of the world than we do; the scientific element consists of our understanding of their world, and of how it arose out of our world. Other stories offer future technologies that we can hope for based on present-day science, but haven't developed yet, such as fusion-powered spaceships. Yet others go beyond this to dazzle us with future science that differs from what is now believed, but they retain some recognizable elements of the world we live in, so we can at least believe that the world depicted in the story might some day come to be.

Elements of Science Fiction.

science technology and invention the future and the remote past, including all time travel

stories extrapolation (speculation based on signs or omens) scientific method other places--planets, dimensions, etc., including visitors

from the above catastrophes, natural or manmade

a story with at least three of the above elements is generally perceived to be science fiction; stories with two elements were borderline; stories with one or no elements were not science fiction.

More Elements of Science Fiction

A time setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological record.A spatial setting or scenes in outer space (e.g. spaceflight), on other worlds, or on subterranean earth.

Characters that include aliens, mutants, androids, or humanoid robots.

Futuristic technology such as ray guns, teleportation machines, and humanoid computers.

Scientific principles that are new or that contradict accepted laws of nature, for example time travel,wormholes, or faster-than-light travel.

New and different political or social systems, e.g. dystopian, post-scarcity, or post-apocalyptic.

Paranormal abilities such as mind control, telepathy, telekinesis, and teleportation.

Other universes or dimensions and travel between them.

Key Themes in Sci-FiThe first theme:concerns the contention between the individual and

the larger society. Explores contemporary issues such as individual rights, social demands, our culture coming under increasing surveillance, popular culture, and rampant anti-intellectualism.

Key Themes in Sci-FiThe second theme we will explore looks into rapidly

evolving computer technology and artificial intelligence.

Related GenresUtopian Literature

The word utopia resembles both the Greek words "no place", "outopos", and "good place", "eutopos". A vision of an ideal society.

Dystopian LiteratureDystopia is defined as a society characterized by a focus on

mass poverty, squalor, suffering, or oppression. Most authors of dystopian fiction explore at least one reason why things are that way, often as an analogy for similar issues in the real world.

Ecotopian Literaturewhere the author posits either a utopian or dystopian world

revolving around environmental conservation or destruction.

Subgenres Related genresCyberpunkAlternate historySuperhumanApocalypticTime Travel

FantasyHorrorSuper hero fiction

Subgenres Related genresCyberpunkAlternate historySuperhumanApocalypticTime Travel

FantasyHorrorSuper hero fiction