Science fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that within the context of the story its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation. Exploring the consequences of such differences is the traditional purpose of science fiction making it a literature of ideas. Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about alternative possibilities. The settings for science fiction are often contrary to known reality.

Define Science Fiction Science fiction is difficult to define as it includes a wide range of subgenres and themes. Author and editor Damon Knight summed up the difficulty by stating that "science fiction is what we point to when we say it" a definition echoed by author Mark C. Glassy who argues that the definition of science fiction is like the definition of pornography. (Search Results Define Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction

History of Science Fiction As a means of understanding the world through speculation and storytelling science fiction has antecedents back to mythology though precursors to science fiction as literature can be seen in Lucian's True History in the 2nd century some of the Arabian Nights tales The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter in the 10th century Ibn alNafis' Theologus Autodidactus in the 13th century and Jules Verne's Voyage de la Terre à la Lune and Des états de la Lune et du Soleil in the 17th century. (Search Results History of Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction

Innovation Science Fiction While SF has provided criticism of developing and future technologies it also produces innovation and new technology. The discussion of this topic has occurred more in literary and sociological than in scientific forums. Cinema and media theorist Vivian Sobchack examines the dialogue between science fiction film and the technological imagination. (Search Results Innovation Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction

Subgenres Science Fiction Authors and filmmakers draw on a wide spectrum of ideas but marketing departments and literary critics tend to separate such literary and cinematic works into different categories or "genres" and subgenres. These are not simple pigeonholes works can be overlapped into two or more commonlydefined genres while others are beyond the generic boundaries either outside or between categories and the categories and genres used by mass markets and literary criticism differ considerably. (Search Results Subgenres Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction

Hard Science Fiction Hard science fiction or "hard SF" is characterized by rigorous attention to accurate detail in quantitative sciences especially physics astrophysics and chemistry or on accurately depicting worlds that more advanced technology may make possible. Many accurate predictions of the future come from the hard science fiction subgenre but numerous inaccurate predictions have emerged as well. Some hard SF authors have distinguished themselves as working scientists including Gregory Benford. (Search Results Hard Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction

Science fiction Writers The description "soft" science fiction may describe works based on social sciences such as psychology economics political science sociology and anthropology. Noteworthy writers in this category include Ursula K. Le Guin and Philip K. Dick. The term can describe stories focused primarily on character and emotion; SFWA Grand Master Ray Bradbury is an acknowledged master of this art. The Soviet Union produced a quantity of social science fiction including works by the Strugatsky brothers Kir Bulychov and Ivan Yefremov. (Search Results Science fiction Writers ) Scince Fiction

Time Travel Science Fiction Time travel stories have antecedents in the 18th and 19th centuries. The first major time travel novel was Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. The most famous is H. G. Wells's 1895 novel The Time Machine which uses a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively while Twain's time traveler is struck by lightning. The term "time machine" coined by Wells is now universally used to refer to such a vehicle. Stories of this type are complicated by logical problems such as the grandfather paradox. (Search Results Time Travel ) Scince Fiction Space Opera Science Fiction Space opera is adventure science fiction set in outer space or on distant planets where the emphasis is on action rather than either science or characterization. The conflict is heroic and typically on a large scale. Space opera is sometimes used pejoratively to describe improbable plots absurd science and cardboard characters. But it is also used nostalgically and modern space opera may be an attempt to recapture the sense of wonder of the golden age of science fiction. The pioneer of this subgenre is generally recognized to be. (Search Results Space Opera Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction Space Western Science Fiction Space Western could be considered a subgenre of Space Opera that transposes themes of the American Western books and film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers. These stories typically involve "frontier" colony worlds (colonies that have only recently been terraformed and/or settled) serving as standins for the backdrop of lawlessness and economic expansion that were predominant in the American west. Examples include Firefly and the accompanying movie Serenity by Joss Whedon as well as the animes Cowboy Bebop and Outlaw Star. (Search Results Space Western Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction Science Fiction Fantasy Fantasy is closely associated with science fiction and many writers have worked in both genres while writers such as Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley have written works that appear to blur the boundary between the two related genres. The authors' professional organization is called the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America SFWA. SF conventions routinely have programming on fantasy topics and fantasy authors such as J. K. Rowling have won the highest honor within the science fiction field the Hugo Award. (Search Results Fantasy ) Scince Fiction Horror Fiction Scifi Horror fiction is the literature of the unnatural and supernatural with the aim of unsettling or frightening the reader sometimes with graphic violence. Historically it has also been known as weird fiction. Although horror is not per se a branch of science fiction many works of horror literature incorporates science fictional elements. One of the defining classical works of horror Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein is the first fullyrealized work of science fiction where the manufacture of the monster is given a rigorous sciencefictional grounding. (Search Results Horror Fiction Science Fiction ) Scince Fiction Superhero Fiction Sci fi Superhero fiction is a genre characterized by beings with much higher than usual capability and prowess generally with a desire or need to help the citizens of their chosen country or world by using his or her powers to defeat natural or superpowered threats. Many superhero fiction characters involve themselves either intentionally or accidentally with science fiction and fact including advanced technologies alien worlds time travel and interdimensional travel; but the standards of scientific plausibility are lower than with actual science fiction. (Search Results Superhero Fiction Sci fi ) Scince Fiction