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Science Fiction Genre
"Exploring the Final Frontier with literature"
Definition
What is Sci-fi?
A genre of literature that explores advanced technologies and science. It makes predictions of future changes and discoveries
Sci-fi explores
Concepts explored
time travel
space travel
extra-terrestrial life
Alternate universes and dimensions
As well as other science based topics
Hard Sci-fi novels are...
Hard Sci-fi
Novels based on true sciences
Realistic
Focus on chemistry, physics, and astronomy
Ex: The Martian, Gravity
Soft Sci-fi
Soft Sci-fi
Two types of soft-science fiction
1. Stories that use unrealistic science
Ex: Star Wars, Avengers
2. Stories that use the "soft" sciences like sociology and psychology.
Ex: Hunger Games, Flowers for Algernon
Science Fiction elements
What makes Sci-Fi special?
Elements and sub-genres
Classic Sci-fi elements
- Time travel
- Teleportation
- Mind control, telepathy, and telekinesis
- Aliens, extraterrestrial lifeforms, and mutants
- Space travel and exploration
- Interplanetary warfare
- Parallel universes
- Fictional worlds
- Alternative histories
- Speculative technology
- Superintelligent computers and robots
Typical elements
Typical themes
Themes
- What is life?
- What is intelligence?
- Dangers of reliance on technology
- Environmental dangers
- Warnings for the future
- Connections between different cultures and groups
A Sub-genre is a genre that is part of a larger genre
Sub-genre
1. Dystopian/Utopian
2. Space opera: sci-fi stories that take place in outer space and center around conflict, romance, and adventure.
3. Space western: Sci-fi stories that blend elements of science fiction with elements of the western genre.
4. Cyberpunk: Sci-fi stories that juxtapose advanced technology with less advanced, broken down society.
5. Steampunk: Sci-fi stories that blend technology with steam-powered machinery.
What to look for...
When you are analyzing Sci-fi?
What to look for?
Why is setting important to science fiction?
Setting
-Large part of marking the story as sci-fi is the setting
- Setting can be part of the conflict (whether as the antagonist or the cause of the conflict)
-Can be related to theme (think about the stories the warn about the future of the environment)
Like always, characters are significant to the plot development and theme
Characters
-Pay attention to details about characters and their background. (how might a character not being human influence the story?)
-Character backgrounds could be symbolic representations of other groups (think Avatar).
Don't forget the plot diagram.
Events
- Even though it is taking place in a different world, the story still follows the same plot structure.
- Look for how the actions impact the characters and setting.
- Look for how the actions reveal the theme.
- Remember- Sci-fi is just drama taking place in a different world.