Outline of science fiction

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An illustration by illustrator Frank R. Paul, of inventor Nikola Tesla's speculative vision of a future war.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to science fiction:

Science fiction – a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting.[1][2][3] or depicting space exploration. Exploring the consequences of such innovations is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".[4]

What is science fiction?[]

Main article: Science fiction
  • Definitions of science fiction: Science fiction includes such a wide range of themes and subgenres that it is notoriously difficult to define.[5] Accordingly, there have been many definitions offered. Another challenge is that there is disagreement over where to draw the boundaries between science fiction and related genres.

Science fiction is a type of:

  • Fiction – form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work.
    • Genre fiction – fictional works (novels, short stories) written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Also known as popular fiction.
    • Speculative fiction
  • Genre – science fiction is a genre of fiction.

Genres[]

Further information: Category:Science fiction genres

Science fiction genre – while science fiction is a genre of fiction, a science fiction genre is a subgenre within science fiction. Science fiction may be divided along any number of overlapping axes. Gary K. Wolfe's Critical Terms for Science Fiction and Fantasy identifies over 30 subdivisions of science fiction, not including science fantasy (which is a mixed genre).

Science[]

Genres concerning the emphasis, accuracy, and type of science described include:

  • Hard science fiction—a particular emphasis on scientific detail and/or accuracy.
  • Mundane science fiction—a subgenre of hard sci-fi which sets stories on Earth or the Solar System using current or plausible technology.
  • Soft science fiction—focus on human characters and their relations and feelings, often exploring psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science, while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws. In some cases, science and technology are depicted without much concern for accuracy.

Characteristics[]

Main article: List of science fiction themes

Themes related to science, technology, space and the future, as well as characteristic plots or settings include:

  • Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic science fiction
  • Biopunk — centered around biotechnology and genetic engineering in general, biopunk uses some both (post)cyberpunk elements and post-modernist prose to describe a typically dystopian world of biohackers, man-made viruses, mutations, designer babies, artificial life forms, bio-genetic engineered human-animal hybrids and bio-genetically manipulated humans.
  • Cyberpunk — uses elements from the hard-boiled detective novel, film noir, Japanese anime, and post-modernist prose to describe the nihilistic, underground side of a cybernetic society
  • Climate fiction — emphasizes effects of anthropogenic climate change and global warming at the end of the Holocene era
  • Dying Earth science fiction
  • Military science fiction
  • Steampunk — denotes works set in (or strongly inspired by) an era when steam power was still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian England — though with otherwise high technology or other science fiction elements
  • Time travel
  • Space colonization
  • Space opera — emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger-than-life characters
  • Social science fiction — concerned less with technology and more with sociological speculation about human society
  • Mundane science fiction

Movements[]

Genres concerning politics, philosophy, and identity movements include:

Eras[]

Genres concerning the historical era of creation and publication include:

  • Scientific romance — an archaic name for what is now known as the science fiction genre, mostly associated with the early science fiction of the United Kingdom.
  • Pulp science fiction
  • Golden Age of Science Fiction — a period of the 1940s during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published.
  • New Wave science fiction — characterised by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content.
  • Cyberpunk — noted for its focus on "high tech, low life" and taking its name from the combination of cybernetics and punk.

Combinations[]

Main articles: Genre fiction and Mixed genre

Genres that combine two different fiction genres or use a different fiction genre's mood or style include:

  • Alternate history science fiction—fiction set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally known
  • Comic science fiction
  • Science fiction erotica
  • Adventure science fiction—science fiction adventure is similar to many genres
  • Gothic science fiction—a subgenre of science fiction that involves gothic conventions
  • New Wave science fiction—characterized by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content
  • Science fantasy—a mixed genre of story which contains some science fiction and some fantasy elements
  • Science fiction opera—a mixture of opera and science fiction involving empathic themes
  • —fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and romance genres
  • —fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and mystery genres, encompassing Occult detective fiction and science fiction detectives
  • Science fiction Western—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and Western genres
  • Space Western—a subgenre of science fiction that transposes themes of American Western books and film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers.
  • Spy-fi a subgenre of spy fiction that includes some science fiction.

Related genres[]

By country[]

Further information: Category:Science fiction writers by nationality
  • Australian science fiction
  • Bengali science fiction
  • Canadian science fiction
  • Chilean science fiction
  • Chinese science fiction
  • Croatian science fiction
  • Czech science fiction
  • Estonian science fiction
  • French science fiction
  • Japanese science fiction
  • Norwegian science fiction
  • Polish science fiction
  • Romanian science fiction
  • Russian science fiction
  • Serbian science fiction
  • Spanish science fiction

History[]

Main article: History of science fiction

Elements and themes[]

Further information: List of science fiction themes

Character elements[]

Plot elements[]

Plot devices[]

  • Hyperspace

Setting elements[]

The setting is the environment in which the story takes place. Alien settings require authors to do worldbuilding to create a fictional planet and geography. Elements of setting may include culture (and its technologies), period (including the future), place (geography/astronomy), nature (physical laws, etc.), and hour. Setting elements characteristic of science fiction include:

Place[]

  • Parallel universes
  • Planets in science fiction
  • Hyperspace
  • Slipstream
  • Earth in science fiction

Cultural setting elements[]

Sex and gender[]

  • Gender in science fiction
  • Sex in science fiction
    • Pregnancy in science fiction
    • LGBT themes in speculative fiction
Technology[]
Main articles: Fictional technology and List of science fiction themes § Technologies
  • Computer technology
  • Transportation
    • Flying car (aircraft)
    • Space dock
  • Weapons in science fiction
  • Resizing
  • Simulated reality in fiction
  • Space warfare in fiction
    • Weapons in science fiction

Themes[]

Main article: List of science fiction themes

Style elements[]

Works[]

Art[]

Games[]

Computer games[]

Role-playing games[]

Literature[]

  • Science fiction comics
  • Speculative poetry

Novels[]

Short stories[]

Short story venues[]
  • Science fiction magazine
  • Science fiction fanzine

Video[]

Radio[]

  • Science fiction radio programs

Information sources[]

In academia[]

  • Science fiction studies
    • New Wave science fiction
    • Science in science fiction
      • Materials science in science fiction
  • Science fiction and fantasy journals
  • Science fiction libraries and museums

Subculture[]

Awards[]

The science fiction genre has a number of recognition awards for authors, editors, and illustrators.[6] Awards are usually granted annually.

International awards[]

Major awards given in chronological order:

Nationality-specific awards[]

Australian
British
  • Kitschies—for speculative fiction novels published in the UK
Canadian
  • Constellation Awards—for the best SF/fantasy film or television works released in Canada
  • Prix Aurora Awards—for Canadian science fiction
  • Sunburst Award— Juried award for Canadian science fiction
Chinese
Croatian
Dutch
Estonian
  • Stalker Award—for the best Estonian SF novel, given out on by , the Estonian SF society.
Finnish
French
German
Israeli
  • Geffen Award—Israel since 1999
Italian
Japanese
New Zealander
Pacific Northwestern
Polish
Romanian
Russian
  • Big Roscon award for outstanding contribution to science fiction[13]
Turkish

Themed awards[]

(Chronological)

New artists / first works awards[]

Career awards[]

  • Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award—associated with the Nebula

Influential people[]

Creators[]

Artists[]

Filmmakers[]

Authors abd editors[]

Science fiction scholars[]

Franchises[]

Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim (SWCA) - From Droid Builder's Club Room

There are a number of science fiction media franchises of this type, typically encompassing media such as cinema films, TV shows, toys, and even theme parks related to the content. The highest-grossing science fiction franchise is Star Wars.

Space science fiction franchises:

  • Alien (6 films since 1979 and 2 Alien vs Predator films since 2004)
  • Babylon 5 (2 television series, 7 TV movies since 1993)
  • Battlestar Galactica (5 television series and two TV movies since 1979)
  • Doctor Who (TV series since 1963, 2 Dr. Who films since 1965, and 1 1996 television film, five spinoff TV shows (K-9 and Company, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, K-9 and Class), video games and hundreds of books)
  • Dune (23 novels since 1965, 1 film in 1984, 3 comics since 1984, 2 TV series since 2000)
  • Godzilla (36 films since 1954 and 3 TV series since 1978)
  • Halo (since 2001, started from video game)
  • Independence Day (2 films since 1996)
  • Legend of the Galactic Heroes (2 novel series since 1983 and 3 anime OVA series since 1988)
  • Macross (4 anime TV series since 1982, 6 anime films since 1984, 3 manga series since 1994)
  • Mass Effect (since 2007, started from video game)
  • Men in Black (4 films since 1997 and animated TV series)
  • Mobile Suit Gundam (21 anime TV series since 1979, 7 anime films since 1988, successful model kits since 1980)
  • Neon Genesis Evangelion (1 anime TV series since 1995 and 5 anime films since 1997)
  • Planet of the Apes (9 films since 1968)
  • Predator (4 films since 1987 and 2 Alien vs Predator films since 2004)
  • Robotech (1 anime TV series and 5 anime films since 1985)
  • Space Battleship Yamato (5 anime TV series since 1974 and 7 anime films since 1977)
  • Space Odyssey (2 short stories since 1954, 2 films since 1968, 4 novels since 1968, 1 1972 book)
  • Star Trek (7 live-action TV series since 1966, 2 animated TV series, 6 Original Series films since 1979, 4 Next Generation films since 1994 and 3 reboot films since 2009)
  • Star Wars (9 episodic "Saga" films since 1977, 1 1978 TV film, 2 Ewok films since 1985, 1 2008 The Clone Wars film, 2 "Anthology" films since 2016, 3 canon animated TV series since 2008, 1 canon live-action TV series since 2019, 3 Legends TV series since 1985)
  • Stargate (4 TV series and three theater film since 1994)
  • The Expanse (8 novels and 1 television series since 2011)
  • Transformers (28 TV series since 1984, 4 animated films since 1986, 5 live action films since 2007, started from toy line)
  • Ultra Series (34 TV series since 1966 and 29 films since 1967)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Science fiction - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Definition of science fiction noun from Cambridge Dictionary Online: Free English Dictionary and Thesaurus". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  3. ^ "science fiction definition - Dictionary - MSN Encarta". encarta.msn.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2010. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  4. ^ Marg Gilks; Paula Fleming & Moira Allen (2003). "Science Fiction: The Literature of Ideas". WritingWorld.com.
  5. ^ For example, Patrick Parrinder comments that "[d]efinitions of science fiction are not so much a series of logical approximations to an elusive ideal, as a small, parasitic subgenre in themselves." Parrinder, Patrick (1980). Science Fiction: Its Criticism and Teaching. London: New Accents.
  6. ^ "Science Fiction Awards Index". Locus Magazine.
  7. ^ "The Hugo Awards". The Official Site of The Hugo Awards. Retrieved Sep 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Balrog Awards". Locus Magazine. Retrieved Sep 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "About Nommos". African Speculative Fiction Society. Retrieved Sep 14, 2021.
  10. ^ "Mike Resnick Memorial Award for Short Fiction". Locus Magazine. Retrieved Sep 14, 2021.
  11. ^ SRSFF
  12. ^ srsff.ro
  13. ^ "This is fiction: What is Roscon and why", mos.ru, 11 April 2017 (retrieved 15 September 2019)
  14. ^ "Emperor Norton Award". science fiction awards database. Retrieved 28 May 2019.

External links[]

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