Science Fiction LiteratureScience Fiction Literature

It’s not just spaceships It’s not just spaceships

and little green men!and little green men!

What does “Science Fiction” mean?What does “Science Fiction” mean?

The term “Science Fiction” is sort of an oxymoron, The term “Science Fiction” is sort of an oxymoron, a term that contradicts itself:a term that contradicts itself:

““Science” means that which is true and provable.Science” means that which is true and provable. ““Fiction” means that which is fabricated or false.Fiction” means that which is fabricated or false.

The truth is, both are true for Science Fiction, The truth is, both are true for Science Fiction, which must contain scientific principles and the which must contain scientific principles and the fictional treatment of its use. fictional treatment of its use.

Working DefinitionWorking Definition

““Science Fiction” shows POSSIBLE futures Science Fiction” shows POSSIBLE futures based on real life science, so we might based on real life science, so we might use this definition:use this definition:

The exploration of alternate realities taken The exploration of alternate realities taken from present day events.from present day events.

RealityReality Science FictionScience Fiction

ExaggeratedExaggeratedPresent Day IssuePresent Day Issue Version of that Version of that

Issue Issue

History of Science FictionHistory of Science Fiction

Hints of SciFi started earlier than you think! Hints of SciFi started earlier than you think! In In Gulliver’s TravelsGulliver’s Travels (1726), a flying island is (1726), a flying island is

used by its rulers to literally crush the island’s used by its rulers to literally crush the island’s foes.foes.

In In MicromegasMicromegas (1732), two giants from other (1732), two giants from other planets (the first aliens!) visit the earth and planets (the first aliens!) visit the earth and mock its human occupants. mock its human occupants.

But we don’t call these works SciFi…But we don’t call these works SciFi…

The First and The Best?The First and The Best?

Mary Shelley’s Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinFrankenstein (1818) (1818) is is considered the first SciFi considered the first SciFi novel (though it was novel (though it was considered horror considered horror literature at the time).literature at the time).

In it, a doctor creates a In it, a doctor creates a living man out of spare living man out of spare parts, using somewhat parts, using somewhat believable anatomy believable anatomy principles.principles.

And then came the masters…And then came the masters…

Jules VerneJules Verne Journey to the Center of Journey to the Center of

the Earththe Earth (1864) (1864)

20,000 Leagues Under 20,000 Leagues Under the Seathe Sea (1870) (1870)

Around the World in 80 Around the World in 80 DaysDays (1873) (1873)

H.G. WellsH.G. Wells The Time MachineThe Time Machine (1895) (1895)

The Island of Dr. MoreauThe Island of Dr. Moreau (1896)(1896)

The Invisible ManThe Invisible Man (1897) (1897)

War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds (1898) (1898)

It’s All in the TimingIt’s All in the Timing

You’ll perhaps notice that the works of these You’ll perhaps notice that the works of these two authors having to do with SciFi were two authors having to do with SciFi were published right around the time of the published right around the time of the Industrial Revolution. Industrial Revolution.

Why do you think that was?Why do you think that was?

Sub-GenresSub-Genres

As you might now be able to guess, SciFi As you might now be able to guess, SciFi isn’t always about spaceships and aliens. isn’t always about spaceships and aliens. In fact, it rarely is. In fact, it rarely is.

Though there are about 50 sub-genres of Though there are about 50 sub-genres of SciFi, 10 sub-genres are seen most often.SciFi, 10 sub-genres are seen most often.

Sub-Genre : Hard Science FictionSub-Genre : Hard Science Fiction

Stories feature Stories feature believable scientists believable scientists or scientific or scientific investigations.investigations.

The science must be The science must be VITAL to the story VITAL to the story and plausible given and plausible given today’s science.today’s science.

About the difficulties of adapting to humans To life on foreign planets

Soft Science FictionSoft Science Fiction

These stories are more These stories are more about the psychological about the psychological and social sciences and social sciences (anthropology, sociology, (anthropology, sociology, psychology, political psychology, political science ), rather than science ), rather than about the hard sciences about the hard sciences (for example, physics, (for example, physics, astronomy, or astronomy, or chemistry). chemistry).

Relationships, more than Relationships, more than science, are the focus of science, are the focus of the action. the action.

Talking animals present an allegory about

class warfare.

Alternate HistoryAlternate History

These stories show These stories show history as we know it history as we know it radically changed, such radically changed, such as Einstein never as Einstein never unlocking the power of unlocking the power of atomic energy or atomic energy or Germany winning World Germany winning World War II.War II.

Society is altered Society is altered because of these key because of these key changes.changes.

What if America had been an Axis power in World War II?

CyberpunkCyberpunk

These stories are set These stories are set in a computer-in a computer-dominated society, dominated society, usually in the near usually in the near future. future.

The “punk” is usually The “punk” is usually a character rebelling a character rebelling against the computer against the computer domination, often domination, often working underground.working underground.

a washed-up computer hacker hired by a mysterious employer to work on the ultimate hack.

Utopian FictionUtopian Fiction

In these stories, all of In these stories, all of society’s ills have been society’s ills have been solved and people live solved and people live near-perfect existences.near-perfect existences.

This is distinct from This is distinct from DYSTOPIAN literature in DYSTOPIAN literature in that the controlled that the controlled society is working in a society is working in a positive way.positive way.

A look into America’s future: pollution, homophobia, racism, and imperialism no longer exist.

Dystopian FictionDystopian Fiction

Like UTOPIAN fiction, Like UTOPIAN fiction, society is controlled and society is controlled and effort at perfection is effort at perfection is attempted.attempted.

HOWEVER, the result is HOWEVER, the result is distinctly negative, often distinctly negative, often in the form of lost in the form of lost freedoms and immoral freedoms and immoral leaders.leaders.

Pain and suffering are almost completely absent,but so are free choice and emotional maturity.

Apocalyptic and Post-ApocalypticApocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic

Stories are concerned Stories are concerned with the end of with the end of civilization through civilization through nuclear war, plague, or nuclear war, plague, or some other general some other general disaster. disaster.

The 19-day release and spread of a biological weapon leads to the struggle among a key few survivors.

SteampunkSteampunk

These stories are These stories are usually set in the time usually set in the time of steam-power of steam-power prominence. prominence.

Society is changed Society is changed radically by the radically by the advent of modern advent of modern inventions.inventions.

Like Cyberpunk, there Like Cyberpunk, there are often rebellious are often rebellious characters. characters. Set in 1832, it suggests a massive

change to society brought on by a “steam-powered computer.”

Fantastic VoyageFantastic Voyage

The hero is on a The hero is on a journey of discovery, journey of discovery, encountering foreign encountering foreign creatures, strange creatures, strange inhabitants, and inhabitants, and amazing sights. amazing sights.

So that’s what my colon looks like!

Space OperaSpace Opera

As opposed to Hard As opposed to Hard Science Fiction, the Science Fiction, the stories focus on romantic, stories focus on romantic, often melodramatic, often melodramatic, adventure.adventure.

The setting is almost The setting is almost exclusively space.exclusively space.

The conflicts are often The conflicts are often between two powerful between two powerful individuals with individuals with competing aims. competing aims. The beautiful vixen battles the evil

aliens, refusing the love of their king.

ThemesThemes

There are about five major themes that There are about five major themes that recur throughout Science Fiction novels.recur throughout Science Fiction novels.

These themes tend to have little to do with These themes tend to have little to do with space and are instead about how events space and are instead about how events affect the human experience (remember affect the human experience (remember that SciFi events are exaggerations of that SciFi events are exaggerations of modern day issues).modern day issues).

Theme 1: Unexplained PhenomenaTheme 1: Unexplained Phenomena

Stories featuring UFOs, pyramid power, Stories featuring UFOs, pyramid power, paranormal abilities, ESP, and other paranormal abilities, ESP, and other psychic possibilities are really about how psychic possibilities are really about how humans are affected by these possibilities.humans are affected by these possibilities.

How does man adapt to the unknown How does man adapt to the unknown and/or the unexplainable. and/or the unexplainable.

Theme 2: Self-KnowledgeTheme 2: Self-Knowledge

SciFi stories frequently focus less on the SciFi stories frequently focus less on the science and more on our ability to know science and more on our ability to know and accept our humanity with all of our and accept our humanity with all of our weakness and error.weakness and error.

This theme is found in stories dealing with This theme is found in stories dealing with the challenging of gender identities or the challenging of gender identities or other preconceived notions.other preconceived notions.

Theme 3: Individual vs. SocietyTheme 3: Individual vs. Society

Society has guidelines for acceptable living, but Society has guidelines for acceptable living, but the story poses situations where rules don’t the story poses situations where rules don’t cover or don’t apply. cover or don’t apply.

The strong individual arises to accomplish a The strong individual arises to accomplish a daring feat that may require breaking the rules. daring feat that may require breaking the rules.

From this, the hero and the reader understand From this, the hero and the reader understand the complexity and inadequacy of society’s the complexity and inadequacy of society’s restraints. restraints.

Theme 4: People in Time or SpaceTheme 4: People in Time or Space

Humans travel through space and/or Humans travel through space and/or through time, encountering the unknown.through time, encountering the unknown.

The theme revolves around how humans The theme revolves around how humans are able to react to unfamiliar are able to react to unfamiliar surroundings – will it be with fear or surroundings – will it be with fear or understanding?understanding?

Theme 5: Humans and TechnologyTheme 5: Humans and Technology

Stories revolve around how humans Stories revolve around how humans interact with computers, nanotechnology, interact with computers, nanotechnology, bioengineering, virtual reality, artificial bioengineering, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other aspects of a intelligence, and other aspects of a technology-driven society.technology-driven society.

The question of what makes us human is The question of what makes us human is answered when human is contrasted with answered when human is contrasted with technology.technology.