This present PPT contains the brief and comprehensive presentation on the most significant and emerging genre of Literature i.e. Science Fiction. This video talks about the Origin of Science Fiction, Definitions of Science Fiction, Types or Different Divisions of Science Fiction, Themes, ideas and issues/Sub-Genres of Science Fiction and some Popular Examples of Science Fiction.

1. Science Fiction
in Brief
Origin
Definitions
Sub-Genres
Types
Examples
Dr Sudhir Mathpati
(M.A.,B.Ed.,M.Phil.,Ph.D.,NET)
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Adarsh Mahavidyalaya, Omerga,
Dist. Osmanabad, MS

2. Science Fiction: in Brief
•Origin of Science Fiction:
- Science fiction itself is a very broad and diverse field.
- One of the oldest genres of literature.
- Many archeological elements and entry points.
- Epic of Gilgamesh, Arabian Nights, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
-The Ramayana and the Mahabharata
-Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)- The Man in the Moon (1638)
-Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein

3. Science Fiction: in Brief
- The term ‘Romantic’- Supernatural & Fantastic Elements.
-‘Off-trial stories,’ ‘impossible stories,’ ‘scientific stories,’ ‘different
stories,’
-‘Scientific Romances’ continued until 1929
-Mr. Hugo Gernsback – Scientific Fiction in 1929 for his stories.
Jules Verne, Hugo Gernback and H.G. Wells, is often popularly
referred to as the “Father of Science Fiction.”

4. Science Fiction: in Brief
•What is Science Fiction?:/Definitions:
-Frederik Pohl quotes that, “Science fiction is a characteristic way of
thinking about things.”
-Albert Einstein says, “Imagination is more important than
knowledge.”
-Isaac Asimov says, “Modern science fiction is the only form of literature
that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us, the
possible consequences, and the possible solutions.”

5. Science Fiction: in Brief
-Ray Bradbury states, “Science fiction is really sociological studies of
the future, things that the writer believes are going to happen by putting
two and two together.”
-Gene Wolf explains, “….all a matter of plausibility. Do people think, ‘The
future might be like this?’ If so, it’s science fiction. If they think, ‘This
could never happen’, that’s fantasy” (Wright,132).

6. Science Fiction: in Brief
•Types of Science Fiction / Division of Science Fiction:
Hard Science Fiction:
Soft Science Fiction:
Social Science Fiction:
Military Science Fiction:

7. Science Fiction: in Brief
•Types of Science Fiction / Division of Science Fiction:
Hard Science Fiction
- P. S. Miller in 1975.
-A sub-genre of science fiction which looks for the
natural scientific spirit rather than the supernatural
one
- Examples: Physics, Chemistry, Electronics, etc.
Harry Clement Stubbs’ The Mission of Gravity (1954)

8. Science Fiction: in Brief
Soft Science Fiction
- It is used to describe the use of sciences like
Psychology and Sociology.
- Examples: Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man (1953),
Philip K. Dick, J. G. Ballard, and Michael Bishop are other
well known Soft Science Fiction Writers.

9. Science Fiction: in Brief
Social Science Fiction
- It deals with sociological aspects rather than
technological ones. It concentrates more on human
behaviour and their overall lifestyle in the society.
- Examples: H.G. Wells is the first writer. Besides, Isaac
Asimov, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, Harlan Ellison, Brian
Aldiss, etc.
- Future Society or Society with Advanced Science and
Technology or Scientific Society Based on Fantasy .

10. Science Fiction: in Brief
Military Science Fiction
-It represents and talks about Military forces in the
context of conflicts or war.
- Examples: Peter F. Hamilton’s Night’s Dawn Trilogy- The
Reality Dysfunction (1966), The Neutronium Alchemist (1997)
and The Naked God (1999), Joe Haldeman’s Forever War
(1974) L. Ron Hubbard’s Final Blackout (1948), H. G. Wells’
masterpiece The War of the Worlds (1998).

11. Science Fiction: in Brief
•Different Themes, Ideas and Issues/Sub-Genres:
- Time Travel
- Super Hero
- Space Opera
- Robots
- Cyborgs
- Cyberpunk
- Utopia and Dystopia
- Aliens
- Apocalypse and Post-Apocalypse

12. Science Fiction: in Brief
•Popular Examples:
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (1949)
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1950)
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov (1950)
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne (1864)
 I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (1954)

13. Science Fiction: in Brief
Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein (1961)
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick (1962)
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick (1968)
The Stand by Stephen King (1978)
Neuromancer by William Gibson (1984)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)
The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters (2012)
•Popular Examples:

14. Science Fiction: in Brief
Thank you !
Dr Sudhir Mathpati
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Adarsh Mahavidyalaya, Omerga,
Dist. Osmanabad, MS