The History of Science Fiction

Pre 1920s Talkin’ about a revolution Industrial Revolution kicks things off American Revolution 1776 French Revolution 1789

Pre 1920s Talkin’ about a revolution 1818: Mary Shelley publishes Frankenstein 1863: Jules Verne pushes sci-fi into the mainstream – He is the father of science fiction 1895: HG Wells becomes more popular than Verne

1920s The War to End All Wars WWI 1914 to : Hugo Gernsback enters magazine publishing Radios are the primary form of home entertainment

1920s The War to End All Wars European science fiction: ruined civilizations American science fiction: optimism about future Technology out of control Familiar faces: John Carter of Mars and Tarzan of the Jungle

1930s Depressing Times Great Depression Adolf Hitler takes the stage Magazine readership increases – Quality of Gernsback’s publication declines

1930s Depressing Times Aldous Huxley publishes Brave New World C.S. Lewis writes Out of the Silent Planet Comic books and superheroes become popular Movies are made from classic sci-fi novels with great success Radio broadcasts gain popularity

1940s The Golden Age WWII and the Holocaust Formation of Israel in 1949 Suburban neighborhoods and college attendance increase in America Communism and the USSR

1940s The Golden Age Considered the Golden Age of Science Fiction – More believable technology – Women characters are no longer just damsels in distress – Familiar faces: Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clark, C.S. Lewis, and George Orwell

1950s Communism Strikes! Korean police action Numerous countries shake off colonial rule and declare independence Civil Rights movement Sputnik and the space race Joseph McCarthy and the Red Scare Rock and Roll!

1950s Communism Strikes! The post apocalypse is the most popular theme in science fiction T.V. and movies rise in popularity

1960s Times they are a changin’ Berlin wall erected 1960 Martin Luther King Jr. assassinated 1963 John F. Kennedy assassinated 1963 Vietnam War First man on the moon 1969

1960s Times they are a changin’ Book-length fiction Popular works/authors of the time: – Stranger in a Strange Land Robert Heinlein – Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse 5 Kurt Vonnegut – Dune Frank Herbert – Philip K. Dick short stories Feminism

1960s Times they are a changin’ Great movies make their debut: – The Birds, Alfred Hitchcock – Farenheight 451 (Based on the novel by Ray Bradbury) – Planet of the Apes – 2001: A Space Odyssey Sci-fi appears in T.V. series: – The Twilight Zone – Lost in Space – Star Trek

1970s Computers, computers, computers Space Race continues Microprocessor computer chip invented Nixon involved in Watergate scandal resigns

1970s Computers, computers, computers Computers become a popular device in sci-fi Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes a popular theme Sci-Fi board games and computer games Comic books and graphic novels become popular Popular TV shows: 6 Million Dollar Man, Wonder Woman, and Battlestar Gallactia Movies make the biggest improvements – Star Wars: A New Hope – Star Trek: The Motion Picture

1980s The cyberpunks are coming! Chernobyl 1986 Technological advances explode AIDS virus discovered Berlin Wall 1989 Rise of the cyberpunk movement

1980s The cyberpunks are coming! Movies of note: – Star Wars—War Games – Bladerunner—E.T – The Terminator—Batman Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (book) Watchmen (Graphic Novel) Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV)

1990s to present The Platinum Age The Cold War ends USA experiences a period of peace and prosperity Technology continues to expand: – Computers – Laptops – Ipods – Iphones

1990s to present The Platinum Age Video Games – Halo TV: – Star Trek —Deep Space Nine —X Files – Babylon Five —Star Trek: Voyager Movies: – Total Recall —Terminator 2 – Star Wars —Star Trek: Generations – Star Trek: First Contact — Frankenstein – Jurassic Park —Batman