Science Fiction
Far out dude!
What is Science Fiction?
• It was genre created a long time ago by
authors like Jules Verne, Edgar Allan Poe,
Mary Shelley and H.G. Wells but it didn’t
become widespread until the 1930s
• Some experts compare Sci-Fi in modern
times to magic in fantasy novels about
medieval times.
Why does it matter?
• Science fiction prepares the mind for
change.
• It allows writers to perform ―imaginary
experiments‖ to see how people react
before someone tries the real thing.
Most importantly…
Science fiction shows readers that our
actions today affect our future tomorrow…
…for better
…or for worse
What it should do
• Good science fiction presents ideas and
philosophies. It introduces themes of
personal integrity, relationships—human
and alien, other life forms and cultures,
and our responsibility to technological
change
Classic sci-fi titles
• Books • Movies
– The Time Machine – Star Trek
– War of the Worlds – Star Wars
– The Martian – E.T.
Chronicles – Wall-E
– Dune – 2001: A Space
– 1984 Odyssey
– Fahrenheit 451 – Terminator
– Stranger in a Strange – The Matrix
Land – Close Encounters
How can I identify it?
Science Fiction usually has three key
ingredients:
1. It is future-oriented (focused on
tomorrow, not today).
2. It is based on real scientific knowledge.
3. It is predictive – it is meant to show that
actions today have consequences
tomorrow.
Sci-Fi is not Fantasy!
What’s the difference?
• Fantasy stories include strange or
imagined characters, places or events
that could never exist in real life.
• Science Fiction is based on real or
imagined advances in technology and
often takes place in the future or on
another world.