Science Fiction and Fantasy

1. Science Fiction and Fantasy An overview

2. Agenre of fiction in which the stories often tell about science and technology of the future. • Has a relationship with the principles of science-involve partially true-partially fictitious laws or theories of science. Definitions of Science Fiction

3. Should not be completely unbelievable, because it then ventures into the genre fantasy. • Often set in the future, in space, on a different world, or in a different universe or dimension. From: http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson_images/lesson927/SciFiDefinition.pdf Definitions of Science Fiction

4. Pioneers • H.G. Wells (War of the Worlds) • Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea) • 20th Century • Isaac Asimov (Foundation trilogy) • Ray Bradbury (Martian Chronicles) • Arthur C. Clarke (2001, A Space Odyssey) • Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land) Famous Authors

5. Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the possible consequences, and the possible solutions. That branch of literature which is concerned with the impact of scientific advance upon human beings. • -- Isaac Asimov, 1952 Author definitions

6. Science fiction is really sociological studies of the future, things that the writer believes are going to happen by putting two and two together. --Ray Bradbury Author Definitions

7. 2001: A Space Odyssey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok32VyEQYYc Classic Science Fiction

8. Emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in outer space, usually involving conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_opera Space Opera

9. Star Trek http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLseLSMlzsk • Star Wars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvqpFbRKtQ Examples of Space Opera

10. Usually written by writers with a strong science background, frequently research scientists, who provide meticulously detailed future science in their work, consistent with the most current research. • Example author: Arthur C. Clarke Hard Science Fiction

11. Basically, the armed forces in space • Examples: • Starship Troopers, BattlestarGalactica, Halo Military Science Fiction

12. Fiction dominated by the feeling that man is dwarfed by machine in a technological world. Cyberpunk

13. "Cyber" pertains to information systems, like those in a computer. "Punk" refers to fractious youth. Together the two elements suggest an artificial human with torn clothes and spiky hair The term cyberpunk comes from the title of a short story by Bruce Bethke "Cyberpunk" (1983) Cyberpunk

14. Godfathers of cyberpunk include Philip K. Dick and William S. Burroughs. • The first cyberpunk novel is generally considered to be William Gibson's Neuromancer (1984), winner of both the Hugo and the Nebula. Other Key Works: • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick, basis for film Blade Runner • "Johnny Mnemonic" by William Gibson From: http://www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/beyond/subjects/sfsubgenres/cyberpunk.html Subgenres-Cyberpunk

15. The Matrix Trilogy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1GrMAqwWcI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGZiLMGdCE0 Cyberpunk

16. A sub-genre of science fiction that exploits the genre's conventions for comic effect. • Often mocks or satirizes standard SF conventions like alien invasion of earth, interstellar travel, or futuristic technology. From: http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Comic_science_fiction.html Comic Science Fiction

17. Examples: • Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams • Men in Black Trilogy • Spaceballs • Mystery Science Theater 3000 Comic Science Fiction

18. Mystery Science Theater 3000 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r31eE77b-9U Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbGNcoB2Y4I Comic Science Fiction

19. Merges the science fiction genre with alternate history and the design aesthetic of the 19th and early 20th Centuries. • Introduction of modern (or futuristic) concepts and technologies into an earlier setting, or vice versa. It focuses largely on ‘the age of steam’ and the perceived inventiveness of industrial engineers. Steampunk

20. In a steampunk timeline, for example, computers may have been invented several centuries earlier and used alongside, or even powered by, steam engines. From: http://www.scifilists.com/science-fiction-subgenre/ Steampunk

21. Steampunk Guy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlPMZyZf0JM Examples of Steampunk

22. Popularized by H.G. Wells with The Time Machine (1888). Characters travel to the past or future, or are visited by travelers from either end of the spectrum. • Topics range from "Let's go see what the Parthenon looked like," to issues of paradox (what if you traveled to the past and killed your own grandfather?) and "tampering" (could stepping on a butterfly in the Paleolithic profoundly alter the entire future?). • A variant of this subgenre is the "alternate universes" theme, in which each change in the timestream spins off a new universe. Time Travel

23. The Time Machine • Back to the Future trilogy • Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure • Dr. Who Examples of Time Travel

24. Big Bang Theory-the boys buy a time machine • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OHtb3lg5C8 Dr. Who http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uRjNhLSHlM Examples of Time Travel

25. I, Robot (Isaac Asimov) • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Phillip Dick) Robots Example