Science Fiction Genre Research Assignment

1.   The origin of the Science Fiction Genre:

Science fiction is believed to have been around for a long time. It is suggested that it developed from scientists trying to explain the answers to Questions that were asked about the universe, all that it contains and different occurrences that happen. It is believed by many that it was developed during the Scientific Revelation from Galileo and Newton whilst trying to explain physics, astronomy and mathematics. Some say that the novel Frankenstein was the first science fiction book ever written, while others such as a man named Lester del Rey, have stated that the first work of science fiction was the first recorded work of literature, “The Epic of Gilgamesh”  which is dated back to about BCE ca. 2150-2000. There are many different types of genres in the world today, such as horror, westerns, and many more. I believe that these other genres have had an indirect influence on the science fiction genre. I think this is the case because the man whom wrote the first science fiction novel and people who continue to fantasise about the possibilities of space unconsciously want their stories to be different to the others that are so well known in our societies.

2.    Categories:

Science fiction can be narrowed down into many sub categories. These include the following:

Hard Science Fiction

Hard Science Fiction is usually recognised and characterized by an incredible amount of attention to accurate detail in quantitative sciences. Especially in physics, astrophysics and chemistry or on accurately imagined and displayed worlds that more advanced technology may make possible.

Soft Science Fiction

The description "soft" science fiction is usually described as being works based on social sciences such as psychology, economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology.  Soft science fiction usually is about stories focused primarily on character and emotion.

Cyberpunk Science Fiction

The Cyberpunk genre seem to come about in the early 1980s. It tied together the two aspects of both "cybernetics" and "punk.'' The term “Cyberpunk” was coined by author Bruce Bethke for his 1980 short story "Cyberpunk". The time frame of the story line is usually near-future and the settings are often dystopian.

Time Travel Science Fiction

Time travel stories have antecedents in the 18th and 19th centuries. 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 in the head.

Military Science Fiction

Military science fiction is set in the context of conflict between national, interplanetary or interstellar armed forces; the primary viewpoint characters are usually soldiers. Stories generally include detail about military technology, procedure, ritual and history military stories may use parallels with historical events and conflicts.

Superhuman Science Fiction

Superhuman stories tend to be about the co-existence of humans who have abilities beyond the normal capability of an average man. This can stem either from natural causes such or be the result of intentional augmentation.

Apocalyptic Science Fiction

Apocalyptic fiction deals with basically the world as we know it. It is usually generalized with the end of civilization through war, pandemic, astronomic impact, ecological disaster, or mankind's self-destruction or some other general disaster or with a world or civilization after such a disaster.

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.

Space Western Science Fiction

Space Western is a sub-genre 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 serving as stand-ins for the backdrop of lawlessness and economic expansion that were predominant in the American west.

Feminist Science Fiction

Feminist science fiction sets questions about social issues such as how society constructs gender roles, the role reproduction plays in defining gender and the unequal political and personal power of men and women.

New Wave Science Fiction

New Wave is generalized to science fiction writing characterised by a high degree of experimentation both in form and in content, and a highbrow and self-consciously "literary" or artistic sensibility.

Steam Punk Science Fiction

Steam punk is based on the idea of futuristic technology existing in the past usually the 19th century and often set in Victorian era England. But with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells,Jules Verne or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date.

Comic Science Fiction

Comic science fiction is a sub-genre that exploits the genre's conventions for comic effect.

Anthropological science Fiction

Anthropological science fiction is a sub-genre that absorbs and discusses anthropology and the study of human kind. Examples include Hominids by Robert Sawyer and Neanderthal by John Darnton.

  

3.    Conventions:

Science Fiction is a genre with many conventions. These conventions are what make this genre interesting and what attracts people into reading, watching and learning about it to begin with. To name just a few of these conventions would be say; robots, aliens, space, time travel, super humans, super heroes, and in most of these films and books we read there is an essence of dramatization, horror and suspense that keeps you intrigued, and makes you want to see what the rest of the story has to offer, to find the resolution, or to just find out what happens to these characters placed in our imagination.