Origins
Trace the development of the sci-fi genre. Explain where the genre came from. What did it grow from? Consider the role of other genres which had a direct or indirect influence on the development of sci-fi? Examples to consider include: westerns, horror, the heroes’ journey, other? (100words)
It is hard to pinpoint the exact origin of science fiction as the idea of science has changed though the ages. Science fiction began to emerge from fantasy fiction the first book to first emerge as a science fiction book by contemporary standards would be Frankenstein by Mary Shelley in 1818. Genres such as fantasy fiction and current scientific developments helped change and refine the science fiction genre that creates different settings and principles than other genres did. Scientific innovation and theories created new principles in science fiction e.g. time travel, space, aliens. Other ideas have been included in science fiction due the large imagination of individuals who constantly want to discover the allure of space and aliens.
Categories (500 words)
Science fiction can be broken up into a number of sub-categories. Identify and explain the various sub-categories and the features which make each distinguishable. Give examples of texts you are familiar with which may represent these sub-categories.
Science fiction has been broken up into a number of sub-categories and many books often include a number of these characteristics in them. Time travel is a common science fiction theme in many science fiction novels, the plot in these novels can be complicated and difficult to understand due the erratic change of setting and mechanics the plot uses. Life, the Universe and Everything uses time travel to change the setting of the book and the plot to make the audience think differently about the first book in the series (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams) complicating the book as for the audience to question the previous events. Alternate history changes previous famous events of the world's history e.g. Germany won world war 2. books that include alternate history often choose pivoting moments in history. The alternate history sub-genre is often included with time travel for more subtle changes in e.g. killing a small bug or moving an object. and for the rest of the novel the protagonist discovers the drastic changes this has inflicted upon the world. Sidewise in time by Harry Turtledove was one of the most famous books to include this sub-genre in the novel time is warping and manifesting itself in 1935 people from previous time periods are appearing at random intervals in 1935. The apocalyptic sub-genre focuses on the end of civilization and technology and the consequent anarchy after through a ecological disaster or by the hand of man itself. The novels including this sub-genre focus on the direct disaster, direct aftermath while post apocalyptic can deal with anything near the aftermath to hundreds to thousands of years in the future. Many famous movies and novels have been written about the destruction and aftermath of civilization such as 'The Road' by Cormac McCarthy. In 'The Road' it is focused upon the post apocalyptic civilization 375 years from the direct disaster. Military Science fiction involves wars that often space over different planets where the primary view is through the soldier fighting or commanding troops often wars are between a large alien force with superior numbers and/or technology or against other humans in a civil war.
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