Science Fiction An introduction

Science Fiction Chronology ► SF = subcategory literature of the fantastic ► Other literatures of the fantastic include horror and fantasy.

Science Fiction vs. Fantasy ► A Handbook to Literature: "A form of fantasy in which scientific facts, assumptions, or hypotheses form the basis, by logical extrapolation, of adventures in the future, on other planets, in other dimensions in time, or under new variants of scientific law" (Holman).

Science Fiction vs. Fantasy ► The same Handbook defines fantasy: "a work which takes place in a nonexistent and unreal world, such as fairyland, or concerns incredible and unreal characters... or employs physical and scientific principles not yet discovered or contrary to present experience as in science fiction and utopian fiction" (Holman).

Science Fiction vs. Fantasy ► Miriam Allen deFord explains the difference more succinctly: "'Science fiction deals with improbable possibilities, fantasy with plausible impossibilities" (Aldiss 26).

Science Fiction vs. Fantasy ► In Trillion Year Spree, Brian Aldiss explains that "[i]n its wider sense, fantasy clearly embraces all science fiction. But fantasy in a narrower sense, as opposed to science fiction, generally implies a fiction leaning more towards myth or the mythopoetic than towards an assumed realism" (26).

Science Fiction vs. Fantasy ► Fantasy is a conscious breaking free from reality; it applies to a work which takes place in a non-existent and unreal world, a world that is imaginary but not possible. ► See again: Miriam Allen deFord "'Science fiction deals with improbable possibilities, fantasy with plausible impossibilities" (Aldiss 26).

Extrapolation ► Science fiction adds technological imagery and is generally considered to attempt an extrapolation into the future of known concepts of science and technology. ► Extrapolation is the process of imagining relatively probable worlds of the future by utilizing logical extensions of scientific and cultural curves and trends.

Extrapolation ► It is a common science fiction convention that authors should not contradict known scientific fact (e.g., the boiling point of water at sea level on Earth), but may do what they wish with commonly-accepted scientific theory (e.g., theoretical barriers to moving matter faster than the speed of light). ► The author of fantasy does not feel such restraints.

Elements of Science Fiction Damon Knight’s attempt to quantify the elements of science fiction. ► science ► technology and invention (device) ► the future and the remote past, including all time travel stories ► extrapolation ► scientific method ► other places--planets, dimensions, etc., including visitors from the above ► catastrophes, natural or manmade

Elements of Science Fiction Qualification of SF according to Knight ► least three of the above elements is generally perceived to be science fiction ► stories with two elements were borderline ► stories with one or no elements were not science fiction ► ("What is Science Fiction?" in Bishop 4-5).

Broader Elements of Science Fiction ► Postulates a device based on scientific theory/fact ► Extrapolates from current theory ► Uses scientific speculation to comment critically on society ► Concerned with the process or means of how we got “there”

Fantasy ► SF uses EXTRAPOLATION using logical extensions of scientific and cultural trends and curves  Should not contradict scientific facts ► Fantasy is contrary to fact – usually magic or supernatural forces ► Modern SF is blurring the edges  Science Fantasy