Science fiction, or sci-fi, is a genre that explores the impact of real or imagined science on society and the people within it. It is rooted in an exploration of what is or could be possible with scientific progress and the impact it would have on society. The science included may be possible or far-fetched - some authors invent completely new worlds and technologies, while others ground their stories in the world of their time.
Sci-fi and fantasy tend to be grouped together, but they are distinct genres. While fantasy explores the impossible, magical, and imagined, science fiction looks at what could happen if scientific discovery advanced in a certain way. In science fiction, there is no magic - deviations from reality are explained by science within the context of the story (whether it is true to our world or not). Both genres are considered speculative fiction, a term that encompasses literary genres that depart from reality in some way.
Alternate Societies/Histories
What would life look like if society developed in a different direction? If a certain scientific discovery was made earlier, later, or not at all? What if something in history didn't happen the way it did in reality? This theme explores how society may be different in those cases.
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Dystopia
Dystopian literature portrays societies that are dehumanized, totalitarian, and often fraught. Post-apocalyptic literature may also fall in this category, though it does not always portray dystopia.
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Time Travel
What's more science fiction than time travel? This is a staple of the genre. Time travel stories often explore different what ifs. What if you could change a moment in your personal history? What if you could see the future and use the knowledge to improve your present? And, the ever-present question: What if time traveling actually messes up the existing flow of time?
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Space Travel and Aliens
Similarly to time travel, what exists in outer space is another cornerstone of the genre. It's hard to think about science fiction without picturing little green aliens zooming around in rocket ships. There are many takes on the idea of space travel and other types of beings out there, and authors often use these stories and other worlds to explore parallels to humanity and social issues.
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Climate Fiction
Climate fiction explores the impact climate change could have on society and may also include elements of dystopian, utopian, or apocalypse fiction. It is a way to engage with ideas about threats to our climate and ways society may develop to change course, adapt, or react to them.
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Looking for your next science fiction read? The awards and reading lists below can be a good place to start for recommendations.