Delving into Science Fiction
If you look up the definition of science fiction you will get many different results, which is not surprising considering the vastness of this genre and its many different layers.
Below is a list of the different sub-catagories included within Science Fiction.
Hard Science Fiction
In hard science fiction a strong emphasis is placed on science and technology. A hard science fiction story should aim to be accurate and rigorous in its use of the scientific knowledge of its time, and later discoveries do not necessarily invalidate the label. Writers of this genre usually have a strong scientific background that allows them to write knowledgeably about science, based on the most current research.
Examples of Hard Science Fiction:
- Mission of Gravity (1953) by Hal Clement
- A Fall of Moondust (1961) by Arthur C. Clark
- The Two Faces of Tomorrow (1979) by James P. Hogan
- The Mars trilogy (Red Mars (1992), Green Mars (1993), Blue Mars (1996) by Kim Stanley Robinson
- Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clark
Soft Science Fiction/ Social Science Fiction
This sub-genre focuses more on social sciences then on technology and the “hard” science”. While technology may play a role, the emphasis is not so much on how that technology works, but how it affects individuals or social groups. The sciences of anthropology, sociology and psychology play large roles in these novels.
- The Final Circle of Paradise by H.G. Wells
- Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Examples of Soft science fiction:
Cyberpunk
A Cyberpunk novel usually takes place on earth, in a near-future in which science and technology have taken over society. The plots often center on a conflict among hackers, artificial intelligences, and megacorporations and focuses on the underground of society.
- Necromancer by William Gibson
- Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
- The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner
- Holy Fire (Bantam Spectra Book) by Bruce Sterling
- Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Cory Doctorow
Examples of Cyberpunk:
Military Science Fiction
In Military SF, the principal characters are members of a military service and an armed conflict is taking place, normally in space, or on another planet
- Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
- The Forever War by Joe Haldeman
- The Complete Hammer’s Slammers Volume 1 by David Drake
- Komarr (Miles Vorkosigan Adventures) by Lois McMaster Bujold
Examples of Military Science Fiction:
Space Opera
Space Opera emphasizes romantic, often melodramatic adventure, set mainly or entirely in space, generally involving conflict between opponents possessing powerful (and sometimes quite fanciful) technologies and abilities. Perhaps the most significant trait of space opera is that settings, characters, battles, powers, and themes tend to be very large-scale.
- The Lensman series by E. E. “Doc” Smith
- The Uplift Universe novelsby David Brin
- The Vorkosigan Sagaby Lois McMaster Bujold
- Revelation Space universe(2001-present) by Alastair Reynolds
- The Culture by Iain Banks
- Pandora’s Star by Peter F. Hamilton
Examples of Space Opera
Alternate / Alternative history
An alternate history novel explores a time period in the past that differs from true history.
According to Steven H Silver, alternate history requires three things: 1) the story must have a point of divergence from the history of our world prior to the time at which the author is writing, 2) a change that would alter history as it is known, and 3) an examination of the ramifications of that change.
- The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick
- The Plot Against America (2004) by Philip Roth
- The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
- Timeline-191 series by Harry Turtledove
Examples of Alternate / Alternative history
Science Fantasy
Science fantasy is a story that will contain elements of both science fiction and fantasy.
- The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
- Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
- Metropolitan by Walter Jon Williams
- Perdido Street Station by China Mieville
Examples of Science Fantasy:
Apocalyptic and Post Apocolyptic
Apocalyptic science fiction focuses on the end of civilization, either through nuclear war, plague, or some other general disaster.
Post-apocalyptic fiction is set in a world or civilization after such a disaster. The time frame may be immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the travails or psychology of survivors, or considerably later, often including the theme that the existence of pre-catastrophe civilization has been forgotten (or mythologized).
Post-apocalyptic stories often take place in an agrarian, non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered elements of technology remain. There is a considerable degree of blurring between this form of science fiction and that which deals with false utopias or dystopic societies.
- Emergence by David R. Palmer
- Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Examples of Apocalyptic and Post Apocolyptic SF:
Time Travel
Characters may travel to the past or future, or are visited by travelers from the future or the past.
- The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
- Lest Darkness Fall & To Bring the Light by L. Sprague De Camp
- Timescape by Gregory Benford
- The Big Time by Fritz Lieber
Examples of Time Travel SF:
Utopias and Dystopias
Utopias are paradise worlds where everything is perfect. Dystopias are warped societies characterized by poverty, oppression, war, violence, disease, and the curtailment of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness and suffering.
- Dune by Frank Herbert
- Foundation by Isaac Asimov
- Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke
Examples of Utopian Literature:
- Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- 1984by George Orwell
- The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
Examples of Dystopia:
First contact
First contact stories can take place in space or on earth and deal with the the initial meeting between humans and aliens. The results range from horrific tales of invasions to stories of benign visitors bearing the secrets of advanced technologies and world peace.
- War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
- Contact by Carl Sagan
- The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
- Blindsight by Peter Watts