Origins
· Where did the genre come from
o The words ‘science fiction’ was first used by Hugo Gernsback. Science fiction has been used since the early 20th century. Science fiction comes from Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley´s Frankenstein. The book was a reaction to a scientific breakthrough and was not a supernatural horror book. The genre was called science fiction ‘because one of the genre’s characteristics is, besides a sense of wonder, a critical literary examination of the impact scientific and technical discoveries have on the human race.’
· Consider the role of other genres which had a direct or indirect influence on the development of sci-fi? Examples to consider include: westerns, horror, the heroes’ journey, other?
o As science fiction was started with Frankenstein it has to have elements of horror.
Categories
· Science fiction can be broken up into a number of sub-categories. Identify and explain the various sub-categories and the features which make each distinguishable.
o There are three subcategories of science fiction. These are:
§ Hard science fiction
· Hard science fiction has a particular emphasis on scientific detail and accuracy
§ Soft science fiction
· Soft science fiction focuses on human characters and their relations and feelings, not emphasising as much the details of technological hardware and physical laws
§ Social science fiction
· Social science fiction is concerned less with technology and space opera and more with sociological speculation about human society
o Apocalyptic Sci-fi – end of the world – 2012, terminator
o Post- Apocalyptic Sci-fi – what happens after the end of the world – Iron legend, 28 days after
o Military science fiction – combat in space, aliens – independence day
o Space travel sci-fi
o Super-human sci-fi
o Space opera
o Space colonisation
· Give examples of texts you are familiar with which may represent these sub-categories.
o The book Ender’s game has literally no emphasis on accuracy therefore is not hard science fiction.
o The book shows a lot of signs of soft science fiction as the book emphasises characters and their feelings, and not as much emphasis on technology.
o A little bit of science fiction is involved but the book is predominantly soft science fiction with a military aspect.
Conventions
· Explain in detail the conventions of the science fiction genre. The conventions should also include those frequently borrowed from other genres ie the heroic journey, horror, etc.
