Alexander Hermansen

 The elements of Science Fiction are quite often argued about.  Is Science Fiction its own genre? Or an offset of Fantasy?  Should it be judged by the same criteria as Fantasy, or should it be examined independently?  What differentiates SciFi from Fantasy? ▪ Is this enough to classify SciFi as its own genre?

 According to Tunnell, Jacobs, Young, & Bryan, there are sic basic Fantasy motifs:  Magic  Other worlds  Moral opposition (Good vs. Evil)  Heroism (evolution/ maturing of protagonist)  Special character types  Fantastic objects

 Fictional writing relating/pertaining to science and or technology.

 Science Fiction focuses on how scientific concepts and technological advances may possibly affect society in the future.  Science Fiction almost always contains partial truths regarding scientific possibilities.  These concepts are then expanded on, thus contributing to the fiction element of SciFi.  SciFi often features various ideas such as multiple forms of life, distant galaxies, and parallel realities.

 Often times, science fiction will utilize futuristic and highly advanced settings.  Time travel Is often present in many types of science fiction stories.  The concept of utopia/dystopia also constitutes elements of SciFi.  With more and more knowledge of technology, science fiction writing becomes drastically more detailed and intricate.  AI is becoming an extremely popular element in SciFi.

 Just as simply as fantasy can become science fiction, there too are a vast amount of subgenres within science fiction.  Robot Science Fiction  Steampunk  Space Opera  Superhero Fiction  Futuristic Fantasy Fiction  Zombie Fiction  Retro Futurism  Space Western  Dystopian Fiction

 “In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.”

 “In a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.”

 “Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.”

 Card, O. (1994, July 15). Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet, #1) by Orson Scott Card — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from  Collins, S. (2008, September 14). The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from games?from_search=true  Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (n.d.). SFE: Science Fiction Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from  Lowry, L. (2006, January 24). The Giver (The Giver #1) by Lois Lowry — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from  SciFi Lists (2012, January 2). A List of Science Fiction Subgenres / SciFi Lists. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from  Tunnell, M. O., Jacobs, J., Young, T. A., & Bryan, G. (2012). Children's literature, briefly(5th ed.). Boston: Pearson.  UDL Bookbuilder (n.d.). The Elements Of Science FIction. Retrieved April 9, 2014, from