AND THE CENTRAL CONCERNS By Andrew Montgomery SCIENCE FICTION AND THE CENTRAL CONCERNS By Andrew Montgomery

Science Fiction Science Fiction (SF) is a genre based on the ‘What If?’ of our world. It attempts to answer questions, and achieve the unattainable. It creates a story based on human problems with human answers, which would not have possibly been achieved without the ever- changing scientific content. It is one of the only genres that is constantly changing and expanding to compete with our constantly altering technological state.

What if? What if we made contact with aliens? What if time travel was possible? What if we could travel between planets? Science Fiction is a genre that attempts to answer all of these questions, and many more, in each author’s unique way. As humans develop as a race, and time continues on, more and more questions are asked. This means that there are yet more questions for SF, as a genre, to answer.

Man vs. Machine The idea of Man vs. Machine comes up quite often in SF, and usually involves at least one fight/battle scene. Majority of Man vs. Machine texts are set at some point in the future, when machines have been given consciousness, and some level of thought. Often, that small amount of thought evolves into something bigger, and results in machines questioning their position in society, and attempting to take control.

Time Travel Some Science Fiction texts involve characters travelling through time. Back to the Future is one such of these texts, where the characters not only travel into the future, but into the past. Time travel occurs in numerous SF texts, however they are also commonly taking place in a futuristic setting.

Politics Science Fiction often discusses politics under the guise of something else. Many texts, even if they don’t directly say so, have some influences of politics within them. Whether the author means to put their opinions into a text or not, they always make their way into setting, character, context, and many other aspects of a text.

Technology Technology is one of the biggest concepts of Science Fiction works, with many authors creating technology based on future ideas of current technology, or creating their whole new types of technology altogether. SF as a genre has led to innovations and inventions towards new technology.

Degradation of the Human Body Science Fiction discusses the value society places on the human body, and how easily they are happy to make changes to their human structure. The body has become subject to many fictional transformations and adaptations through SF as a genre. From adding microchips to the human brain, to further developing human senses, the body has become open to numerous experiments through SF’s genre.

Artificial (Non-Human) Intelligence Science Fiction discusses the evolution of knowledge into artificiality. It brings forth ideas of computers increasing the knowledge they are given, and discovering more information to expand their virtual minds. Artificial Intelligence is seen in Neuromancer with technology evolving to such a point, that computer programs are able to take on the form of humans, and influence others through their deception.

Apocalyptic Views Science Fiction discusses numerous apocalyptic ideals, viewing the countless possibilities of the end of the world. It demonstrates the ways that we, as humans, can lead to destruction of our own world, or how natural causes can exterminate our race.

Reproduction Ideals Science Fiction contradicts the regular reproduction ideals, and demonstrates numerous ways in which reproduction has transformed over the generations, in particular with aliens and other forms of life. From the simple sex, to countless other methods of reproduction, continuing species has changed over life forms.