Science Fiction

Science Fiction is fiction based on science
that may or may not exist (Derek Buker)
It doesn’t have to be science which has
already been invented.
It just has to be treated within the story as
if it really works.

What If ?
Science Fiction has never really
aimed to tell us when we might
reach other planets, or develop new
technologies, or meet aliens.
Science Fiction speculates about why
we might want to do these things,
and how their consequences might
affect our lives and our planet.
(John Clute)

Is this stuff Sci-Fi, SF, OR
Skiffy?
Sci-Fi AKA Skiffy
http://www.sfwa.org/misc/skiffy.htm

SF Series
Most SF books are in series
Continuing storyline
Thus, usually need to read in order

Same Author, Many Series
Frequently the same author has more
than one series going at once
Could have science fiction, fantasy,
thriller, romance, etc. series
SF readers usually enjoy reading all books
by the same author (but may enjoy only
some of that author’s series)

Big Three
• Isaac Asimov (3 Laws of Robotics)
• Arthur C. Clarke (2001: A Space Odyssey)
• Robert Heinlein (Have Spacesuit-Will Travel)

Spaceship Not
Required

Non-ship SF Themes
Social SF Apocalyptic
First Contact (e.g.Nuclear,
Time Travel Environmental)
Alternate History Computers /
Robots
Telepaths /
Mutants

Space Opera
Adventures in space
Star Wars, Star Trek
Includes Military SF

SF for Reluctant Readers
Heinlein juveniles
Jupiter Novels series
Action-packed, good introduction to SF

SF Awards: Hugo
http://www.wsfs.org/hugos.html
Voted by the fans
Awarded at WorldCon (Labor Day
weekend)
Many categories: novel, novela, novelette,
short story, etc.

SF Awards: Nebula
• http://www.sfwa.org/awards/
• Voted by the writers themselves
• Awarded by the Science Fiction Writers of
America (SFWA) at annual banquet (April or
May)
• Again, many categories

Major SF Publishers
Baen - http://www.baen.com/
Tor - http://www.tor.com/tor.html
Starscape (teen) -
http://www.starscapebooks.com/

Current Awareness
• Author Web sites
• CAM-INFO - http://www.cam-
info.net/madwho.html
• Locus Magazine - http://www.locusmag.com/
• Sci-Fi Wire (Sci-Fi Channel) -
http://www.scifi.com/
• Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America -
http://www.sfwa.org/
• Internet Speculative Fiction Database -
http://www.isfdb.org/

Further Reading
Science Fiction & Fantasy Readers’
Advisory: The Librarian’s Guide to
Cyborgs, Aliens, & Sorcerers by Derek
Buker, ALA, 2002.
Science Fiction: The Illustrated
Encyclopedia by John Clute, DK, 1995.
Sci-Fi 101 by Kim G. Kofmel, Library
Journal, Sept. 1, 2004, pp. 46-47.

Margaret’s Must Reads
• I, Robot by
Isaac Asimov
• Ender’s
Game by
Orson Scott
Card
• Ship Who
Sang by
Anne
McCaffrey