It is difficult to give a definition to the genre of science fiction. Writing rarely sticks to the rules, which is why we love reading so much. Science fiction novels usually take place in either the future or the past, but neither is recognizable to the reader. Futuristic technology, time travel and advanced weaponry are all common themes of this genre. Imagine traveling faster than the speed of light and interacting with humanoid robots, or traveling through outer space to encounter alien characters, and you have an idea on the subject matter of the SF novel.
Early evidence of this genre can be found in ancient Indian stories such as Ramayana, which tells a story of a flying contraption that can travel in space and underwater, and has advanced weapons capable of destroying an entire city. Hindu myths speak of time travel, so it is apparent that science fiction was an idea long before it even had a name. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is no doubt one of the first SF novels, but it has been argued that it is not the very first. Jonathan Swift has often been given this credit for his novel Gulliver's Travels.
Sub genres also emerged. Time travel novels such as H. G. Wells The Time Machine was written in 1895, but it might be interesting to know that Mark Twain wrote a time travel novel entitled A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court. This was the first major time travel novel written. Cyberpunk novels were born in the 1980s. They take place in the near future and involve cyberspace and artificial intelligence. Popular authors include William Gibson, Pat Cadigan, and Neal Stephenson.
Other notable authors that make this an enjoyable art to read are Orson Scott Cards Enders Game, Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 51, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick.
We cannot forget the movies and television series that science fiction has given to us. In television, the popular series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Star Trek led to others such as, Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and X-Files. Today we see science fiction with a paranormal element being played out on television in the series Medium and Ghost Whisperer.
Television series like Star Trek gained popularity in the sixties. Star Trek was so popular that when an attempt was made to cancel it, the fans refused to hear of it, and it remained on the air for many years. Other popular SF television series includes Twilight Zone and X-Files.
Science fiction is a popular genre in novels, television, and on the big screen. It has many sub-genres, and many fans. It will be interesting to see how this genre grows and changes over the years with the next wave of authors bringing in a fresh perspective.
Early evidence of this genre can be found in ancient Indian stories such as Ramayana, which tells a story of a flying contraption that can travel in space and underwater, and has advanced weapons capable of destroying an entire city. Hindu myths speak of time travel, so it is apparent that science fiction was an idea long before it even had a name. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is no doubt one of the first SF novels, but it has been argued that it is not the very first. Jonathan Swift has often been given this credit for his novel Gulliver's Travels.
Sub genres also emerged. Time travel novels such as H. G. Wells The Time Machine was written in 1895, but it might be interesting to know that Mark Twain wrote a time travel novel entitled A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court. This was the first major time travel novel written. Cyberpunk novels were born in the 1980s. They take place in the near future and involve cyberspace and artificial intelligence. Popular authors include William Gibson, Pat Cadigan, and Neal Stephenson.
Other notable authors that make this an enjoyable art to read are Orson Scott Cards Enders Game, Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 51, Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick.
We cannot forget the movies and television series that science fiction has given to us. In television, the popular series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Star Trek led to others such as, Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and X-Files. Today we see science fiction with a paranormal element being played out on television in the series Medium and Ghost Whisperer.
Television series like Star Trek gained popularity in the sixties. Star Trek was so popular that when an attempt was made to cancel it, the fans refused to hear of it, and it remained on the air for many years. Other popular SF television series includes Twilight Zone and X-Files.
Science fiction is a popular genre in novels, television, and on the big screen. It has many sub-genres, and many fans. It will be interesting to see how this genre grows and changes over the years with the next wave of authors bringing in a fresh perspective.
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