1. Elements of Science Fiction

2. Definition:
Literature of the human species encountering change, whether it arrives via scientific discoveries, technological innovations, natural events, or societal shifts.

3. EARLY developments
Before 1500’s- elements found in early fantasy works
1500’s-1700’s (ish)- scientific discoveries characterized the Enlightenment
--Thomas More’s Utopia
--Johannes Kepler's Somnium (The Dream, 1634)
--Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels (1726)

4. 1800’s 19th Century sees science propelled forward Mary Shelley
--Frankenstein (1818) – “mad scientist” genre which experiments with putting human bodies together
--The Last Man (1826)- apocalyptic novel - future world that has been ravaged by a plague

5. The Grandaddies of Science Fiction - Verne and Wells
Jules Verne
H.G. Wells
Mixed adventure with technology in the modern day or propelled into the future
 Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)
 From the Earth to the Moon(1865)
 Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869) 
Uses science fiction to critique his society
Uses Darwinian evolution and Marxism
The Time Machine (1895)
The War of the Worlds (1898)

6. What does Sci-Fi do for us?
Offers Literature of ideas and philosophy
Provides an approach to understanding the universe
We can safely simulate experiments that we cannot or should not conduct in the real world.
Brave New World- we are not going to purposely dumb down people in order to work menial jobs
1984- we are not going to take away emotion
Cast with believable characters, and we can speculate what might happen if it were real
“What if?”
“If this goes on…”
Exploring ideas of what would happen to us as a group rather than developing a plot or character or what might happen to the individual

7. Advanced Technology Mutants and Zombies- X- Men, I am Legend
Robots and Androids- “Data”, “C3PO”
Mutants and Zombies- X- Men, I am Legend
Ray Guns - Star Trek
Teleportation Devices - Star Trek (A hypothetical method of transportation in which matter or information is dematerialized, usually instantaneously, and recreated at another.)
Space Ships- Star Wars, Serenity

8. Futuristic Setting Outer space Subterranean earth
Post-Apocalyptic- Following a large-scale disaster in which civilization has been destroyed or has regressed to a more primitive level
Alternate Timelines/ Parallel Universe

9. Space Travel Time Travel- Traveling from one time period to another.
Wormholes- shortcut connection between the two distinct regions of space-time.
Faster-than-light Speed- arriving at a destination faster than a beam of light traveling the same distance
Aliens- A being from another planet.
Paranormal Abilities- an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses

10. Themes in Science Fiction
Unexplained Phenomena- Stories featuring UFO’s, pyramid power, paranormal abilities, telekinesis, ESP, and other psychic possibilities and how these talents affect humans. (Super 8, Independence Day)
Telekinesis- The ability to move an object with the power of one's thoughts. (The Fire Starter)

11. The Individual versus Society-
Self- Knowledge-
Stories emphasizing the ability to know and accept our humanity. May include situations challenging gender identities or other preconceived notions. (X-Men, Speaker for the Dead.)
The Individual versus Society-
Tales where the society has certain
guidelines for compatible living, but
situations occur that the rules don’t
cover. A strong individual accomplishes
daring feats and sometimes this requires
breaking rules. (Hunger Games, The Giver,
Ender’s Game, I, Robot)

12. People in Time or Space-
Stories involving humans traveling in time or space. Situations include the beings humans encounter, and how the humans react to the unfamiliar surroundings. (Star Trek, Timeline, Back to the Future, Dr. Who.)
Humans and Technology-
Stories describing how humans interact with computers, nanotechnology, bioengineering, virtual reality, artificial intelligences, or other parts of technologically driven by society. These stories often question the concept of what it means to be human. (I, Robot, Terminator)

13. Science Fiction vs. Fantasy
Science Fiction- a form of fiction that draws imaginatively on scientific knowledge and speculation in its plot, setting, theme, etc.
Ender’s Game, Brave New World, The Wanting Seed, Hunger Games, Dune, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, “I am Legend”.
*It always ties back to science.*
Fantasy- stories set in fanciful, invented worlds, an alternate and more fanciful version of our own world, or in a legendary, mythic past. Fantasy fiction stories generally involve magic, mystical elements, or supernatural creatures.
Harry Potter, Twilight, Lord of the Rings, Eragon