Science Fiction or commonly called Sci-Fi is a wide genre of fiction that comprises creation of speculations from science and technology. Hence Science Fiction can be synonymous with the wide range of speculative fiction involving imagination of unattainable objects resulting in the creation of horror and fantasy. Science Fiction genre has been used in various media like literature, art, films, games, theatre and television.
Themes of Science Fiction Books
- Set in the background of an alternative time line or history
- Presence of aliens and outer space, super-humans powers
- Consequences of new scientific discoveries like cloning, mutation, genetic engineering, space travel, robots, cyborgs, telepathy and psionics
- Exploring the different political and social systems between the present and the past by some scientific means
Famous Science Fiction Books
- Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
- Cyteen by C. J. Cherryh
- The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
- Man Plus by Frederik Pohl
- Darwin 's Radio by Greg Bear
- The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
- Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
- The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein
- 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke
- Dorsai by Gordon R. Dickson
- Downbelow Station by C. J. Cherryh
- A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller
- Ringworld by Larry Niven
- Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
- The Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
- Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement
- Foundation by Isaac Asimov
- The Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C. Clarke
- Neuromancer by William Gibson
- Startide Rising by David Brin
- Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
The genre of Science Fiction is closely associated with fantasy. Though some argue that Science Fiction and fantasy are different genres, but in both of them imagination and “willing suspension of disbelief” (Coleridge) are the major responses from the authors and readers part respectively.
Science Fiction has evolved to some more sub-genres like hard science fiction, soft science fiction, military science fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fictions.
