Terminology

 The 1940’s and the 1950’s are considered the golden age of science fiction.  An era during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published.  Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard  Campbell was a demanding editor who demanded higher standards in science fiction writing.

 During the early 50’s science fiction films became wildly popular  Invasion of the Body Snatcher  Them!  The Thing  The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

 Aliens were seen as playful not just mean  Frank Herbet’s Dune focused on the mystical and religious beliefs of a future galaxy.  Science Fiction began to melt with social commentary, religion, and spirituality.  Lots of experimentation.  Stanley Kubrick’s movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Doctor Strangelove, and A Clockwork Orange, explored the visual appeal of sci fi.

 Personal computers  Rebellion  Hacking  Focused on “punks” and their imagined future underworld  Science Fiction lost its optimism  Matrix  Orson Scott Card

 Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing powerful (and sometimes quite fanciful) technologies and abilities. Perhaps the most significant trait of space opera is that settings, characters, battles, powers, and themes tend to be very large-scale.speculative fictionscience fictionromanticmelodramatic  -wikipedia

 Issues:  terrorism, bio-terrorism, medical outbreaks, plagues, disease, environmental, terrorist, global warming/cooling, pollution, natural resources,  Technology:  cell phones, hybrids, MP3 players, stem cell research, robots, genetic engineering

 Space travel to and from other planets  (ie: Star Wars, Star Trek)  Time travel to the past and future  (ie: Back to the Future)  Psychological/biological changes to man brought about by scientific changes  (ie: The Incredible Hulk)  Supernormal powers/talents  (ie: Superman, Spiderman, Batman)  Science applied to human relations for constructive or destructive purposes  (ie: Weird Science)  Battle with alien life forms  (ie: Signs, Independence Day)  Alternate Universe  (ie: Star Wars)

 Science Fiction follows trends in science and technology, as well as historic and global issues.

Examples of Story Ideas:  The Last Man/Woman on Earth  The Robot  The First Landing Story  Time Travel  The Alternate World  The Lost Civilization  The Alien Encounter  The Colonization of a New Planet  The End of the World  The Long Spaceship Voyage  The Computer  From the point of view of an alien

 Examples:  Space  Time Travel  Technology  Robots  Computers  Science fiction is a writing style which combines science and fiction.  It is constrained by what we presently regard as the basic physical laws of nature.

 Literature that deals with uses plausible impossibilities as a theme.  Usually deals with magic and the supernatural.  HP  Twilight  Dawn of the Dead

In Science Fiction, there needs to be some possibility that the events could possibly happen. In Fantasy, the author can use far-fetched assumptions. ie; unicorns, three-legged creatures etc.

 Sci Fi that deals with modern science and technology.  Accurately predicts how technology can change the world  Utilizes physics, astrophysics, chemistry  Landing on Mars  Human Cloning

 Story that deals more with the human elements, rather than the science.  Stories that deal with the soft sciences:  Psychology  Sociology  Economics  Political Science  1984  Brave New World  Fahrenheit 451  Anthem

 Writer takes known scientific facts and imagines what might happen if certain events or circumstances evolve  Cloning of new species  Flying cars for general public  Space Travel  Star Wars  Star Trek

 Highly imaginative form of science fiction  Deals with stories that depict alternate universes and altered histories.  It changes our world and gives readers a glimpse of how life could be.  Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs  Back to the Future  Despicable Me  Twilight Zone

 Society that is characterized by misery and oppression.  Brave New World  District 9  Hunger Games  1984  Fahrenheit 451  Back to the Future #2  MegaMind  The Island  Aeon Flux  V for Vendetta

 System of political or social perfection.  “A perfect Society”  Often Utopias are only dystopias in disguise  “Looking Backward”  Story where EVERYONE works for the common good only doing what they WANT to do.

 A work with 2 levels of meaning, literal and symbolic  Stories with moral tale.  Underlying message  iRobot