Science Fiction

CHARACTERISTICS OF

SPECULATIVE FICTION

 Focus on social issues like overpopulation, AIDS, fear of technology, poverty, classism, racism, or environmental concerns. Setting is usually future or near future Earth, but can sometimes be an alternate dimension or another planet used as an allegory for contemporary Earth.

 Societal structure is often a complete dystopia or a utopia that is based on an ethically questionable act, such as ritual human sacrifice or Big Brother. Main character is usually in dissent with the society, even if he/she begins story at harmony with society. Political systems and various philosophies are often explored in a "petri dish" environment.

EXAMPLES:

1984 by George Orwell The Giver by Lois Lowry Anthem by Ayn Rand

CHARACTERISTICS OF

SPACE OPERA

 Stories are generally about people who live in, work in, or visit outer space and other planets on a regular basis. Scientific theory is not necessary to the telling of the story. The characters loves and lives are central to the plot, as opposed to how the aliens breathe or how the spaceship works.

 Often an alien society's culture such as their music, class system, family structure, etc.. is central to the plot. This sub-genre is usually more accessible to young adults and mainstream audiences. Pure space opera is becoming harder to find as stories bleed over into other science fiction themes

EXAMPLES:
Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard tells the story of Johnnie Goodboy Tylers fight to wrest control of Earth out of alien hands. Old Man's War by John Scalzi is a sci-fi romp in the classical sense. Plenty of laugh-out-loud moments pepper this story of a man finding his feet as he deals with a new body, a new life, and several interstellar combats. Acorna by Anne McCaffrey tells the story of an alien orphan's search for her past with the help of some big-hearted humans to help take care of her.

CHARACTERISTICS OF

HARD SCIENCE FICTION

 Stories are based on real scientific theories from many branches of study, such as physics, chemistry, and quantum mechanics. Plot devices hinge on the characters knowledge of scientific law and theory. Controversial speculation is often explored in areas where scientists are not currently in agreement, such as cloning and artificial intelligence. Scientific explanations are usually offered for all new technology introduced within the story, especially in areas of space travel and computers. Authors will often provide notes in the back of the book discussing the research done while writing the story.

EXAMPLES:
Contact by Carl Sagan. An astronomer who discovers an alien radio signal learns to balance science and spiritualism in Sagans only work of fiction. Foundation by Isaac Asimov. A system of statistical analysis changes the course of a galactic empire. Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke. A team of Earth astronauts explore a giant alien artifact traveling through our solar system. Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Charles Sheffield. A man is cryogenically frozen and awakened time and again through the end of the universe. Ringworld by Larry Niven explores what happens when humans encounter technology far in advance of anything they are capable of creating.

CHARACTERISTICS OF

TEMPORAL /DIMENSIONAL FICTION

 Time travel or alternate dimensions are used to explore cause and effect both large and small scale. Main characters often unwittingly alter their present or future for the ill. Often used as a vehicle to explore historically significant persons or events, such as the Civil War, Adolf Hitler, the Roman Empire, and presidential elections. The contrast between other timelines and our own is often used to illustrate social or moral insights. Characters will usually either never be able to meet themselves and strive to avoid it at all costs or be able to interact with themselves from other times/dimensions, sometimes with wild results!

 The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. A man journeys far into the future and is appalled by the degeneration of humankind. Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock. A mans journey into the Biblical past yields many surprises about the life of Jesus. Making History by Stephen Fry. A young scientists attempts to thwart the Holocaust teach him the nature of human destiny. Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold. Many time travel theories and clichs woven into a short novel. Replay by Ken Grimwood. A man wakes up to find himself young again and again. The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. The first in a series about time travelers. This one focuses on a trip back to the time of the Black Death.

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