The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to science fiction:

Science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

– a

genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting. Exploring the consequences of such innovations is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".

What is science fiction?

Definitions of science fiction There have been many attempts at defining science fiction. This is a list of definitions that have been offered by authors, editors, critics and fans over the years since science fiction became a genre. Definitions of related terms such as "sci ...

: Science fiction includes such a wide range of themes and subgenres that it is notoriously difficult to define. Accordingly, there have been many definitions offered. Another challenge is that there is disagreement over where to draw the boundaries between science fiction and related genres. Science fiction is a type of: * Fiction – form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work. **

Genre fiction Genre fiction, also known as popular fiction, is a term used in the book-trade for fictional works written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre, in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. A num ...

– fictional works (novels, short stories) written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Also known as popular fiction. ** Speculative fiction *

Genre Genre () is any form or type of communication in any mode (written, spoken, digital, artistic, etc.) with socially-agreed-upon conventions developed over time. In popular usage, it normally describes a category of literature, music, or other for ...

– science fiction is a genre of fiction.

Genres

Science fiction genre – while science fiction is a genre of fiction, a science fiction genre is a subgenre within science fiction. Science fiction may be divided along any number of overlapping axes. Gary K. Wolfe's ''Critical Terms for Science Fiction and Fantasy'' identifies over 30 subdivisions of science fiction, not including science fantasy (which is a mixed genre).

Science

Genres concerning the emphasis, accuracy, and type of

science Science is a systematic endeavor that Scientific method, builds and organizes knowledge in the form of Testability, testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earli ...

described include: *

Hard science fiction Hard science fiction is a category of science fiction characterized by concern for scientific accuracy and logic. The term was first used in print in 1957 by P. Schuyler Miller in a review of John W. Campbell's ''Islands of Space'' in the Novemb ...

—a particular emphasis on scientific detail and/or accuracy. *

Mundane science fiction Mundane science fiction (MSF) is a niche literary movement within science fiction that developed in the early 2000s, with principles codified by the "Mundane Manifesto"Geoff Ryman ''et al''. (2004), "The Mundane Manifesto". The manifesto was or ...

—a subgenre of hard sci-fi which sets stories on Earth or the Solar System using current or plausible technology. *

Soft science fiction Soft science fiction, or soft SF, is a category of science fiction with two different definitions, defined in contrast to hard science fiction. It can refer to science fiction that explores the "soft" sciences (e.g. psychology, political scienc ...

—focus on human characters and their relations and feelings, often exploring psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science, while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws. In some cases, science and technology are depicted without much concern for accuracy.

Characteristics

Themes related to science, technology, space and the future, as well as characteristic plots or settings include: *

Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic science fiction Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astr ...

* Biopunk — centered around

biotechnology Biotechnology is the integration of natural sciences and engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms, cells, parts thereof and molecular analogues for products and services. The term ''biotechnology'' was first used ...

and genetic engineering in general, biopunk uses some both (post)cyberpunk elements and post-modernist prose to describe a typically dystopian world of

biohackers ''Biohackers'' is a German techno-thriller television series created by Christian Ditter that premiered on Netflix on 20 August 2020. A week after its release, the series was renewed for a second season, which was released on 9 July 2021. Synop ...

, man-made viruses, mutations,

designer babies A designer baby is a baby whose genetic makeup has been selected or altered, often to not include a particular gene or to remove genes associated with disease. This process usually involves analysing a wide range of human embryos to identify ge ...

artificial life form Synthetic biology (SynBio) is a multidisciplinary area of research that seeks to create new biological parts, devices, and systems, or to redesign systems that are already found in nature. It is a branch of science that encompasses a broad ran ...

s, bio-genetic engineered human-animal hybrids and bio-genetically manipulated humans. *

Cyberpunk Cyberpunk is a subgenre of science fiction in a dystopian futuristic setting that tends to focus on a "combination of lowlife and high tech", featuring futuristic technological and scientific achievements, such as artificial intelligence and c ...

— uses elements from the hard-boiled detective novel, film noir, Japanese anime, and post-modernist prose to describe the nihilistic, underground side of a cybernetic society *

Climate fiction Climate fiction (sometimes shortened as cli-fi) is literature that deals with climate change.Glass, Rodge (31 May 2013).Global Warning: The Rise of 'Cli-fi' retrieved 3 March 2016 Generally speculative in nature but scientifically-grounded, wor ...

— emphasizes effects of anthropogenic

climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...

and

global warming In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

at the end of the

Holocene The Holocene ( ) is the current geological epoch. It began approximately 11,650 cal years Before Present (), after the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene togeth ...

era * Dying Earth science fiction *

Military science fiction Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction that features the use of science fiction technology, mainly weapons, for military purposes and usually principal characters who are members of a military organization involved in military a ...

* Steampunk — denotes works set in (or strongly inspired by) an era when steam power was still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian England — though with otherwise high technology or other science fiction elements *

Time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a ...

Space colonization Space colonization (also called space settlement or extraterrestrial colonization) is the use of outer space or celestial bodies other than Earth for permanent habitation or as extraterrestrial territory. The inhabitation and territor ...

* Space opera — emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger-than-life characters *

Social science fiction Social science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction, usually (but not necessarily) soft science fiction, concerned less with technology/space opera and more with speculation about society. In other words, it "absorbs and discusses anthropol ...

— concerned less with technology and more with sociological speculation about human society *

Movements

Genres concerning politics, philosophy, and identity movements include: * Christian science fiction *

Feminist science fiction Feminist science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction (abbreviated "SF") focused on theories that include feminist themes including but not limited to gender inequality, sexuality, race, economics, reproduction, and environment. Feminist SF ...

* Gay/lesbian science fiction * Libertarian science fiction

Eras

Genres concerning the historical era of creation and publication include: *

Scientific romance Scientific romance is an archaic, mainly British term for the genre of fiction now commonly known as science fiction. The term originated in the 1850s to describe both fiction and elements of scientific writing, but it has since come to refer to ...

— an archaic name for what is now known as the science fiction genre, mostly associated with the early science fiction of the United Kingdom. *

Pulp science fiction Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 to the late 1950s. The term "pulp" derives from the cheap wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed. In contrast, magazine ...

Golden Age of Science Fiction The first Golden Age of Science Fiction, often recognized in the United States as the period from 1938 to 1946, was an era during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published. ...

— a period of the 1940s during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published. *

New Wave science fiction The New Wave was a science fiction (SF) style of the 1960s and 1970s, characterized by a great degree of experimentation with the form and content of stories, greater imitation of the styles of trendy non-science fiction literature, and an emphasis ...

— characterised by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content. *

— noted for its focus on "high tech, low life" and taking its name from the combination of cybernetics and punk.

Combinations

Genres that combine two different fiction genres or use a different fiction genre's mood or style include: * Alternate history science fiction—fiction set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally known *

Comic science fiction Science fiction comedy (sci-fi comedy) or comic science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction or science fantasy that exploits the science-fiction (SF) genre's conventions for comedy, comedic effect. Comic science fiction often mocks or satirize ...

* Science fiction erotica * Adventure science fiction—science fiction adventure is similar to many genres * Gothic science fiction—a subgenre of science fiction that involves gothic conventions *

—characterized by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content * Science fantasy—a mixed genre of story which contains some science fiction and some fantasy elements * Science fiction opera—a mixture of opera and science fiction involving empathic themes * Science fiction romance—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and romance genres *

Science fiction mystery Science is a systematic endeavor that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe. Science may be as old as the human species, and some of the earliest archeological evidence for ...

—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and mystery genres, encompassing Occult detective fiction and science fiction detectives * Science fiction Western—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and Western genres * Space Western—a subgenre of science fiction that transposes themes of American Western books and film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers. * Spy-fi a subgenre of spy fiction that includes some science fiction.

Related genres

Fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...

* Science fantasy * Mystery fiction *

Horror fiction Horror is a genre of fiction which is intended to frighten, scare, or disgust. Horror is often divided into the sub-genres of psychological horror and supernatural horror, which is in the realm of speculative fiction. Literary historian ...

* Slipstream fiction *

Utopian and dystopian fiction Utopian and dystopian fiction are genres of speculative fiction that explore social and political structures. Utopian fiction portrays a setting that agrees with the author's ethos, having various attributes of another reality intended to appeal to ...

* Superhero fiction

By country

* Australian science fiction * Bengali science fiction * Canadian science fiction *

Chilean science fiction Science fiction in Chile began in the late 19th century with the publication of the books ''El espejo del mundo'' (Mirror of the World) in 1875 by the Englishman Benjamin Tallman, about the modernization of Valparaíso and Santiago, and in 1877 of ' ...

* Chinese science fiction * Croatian science fiction * Czech science fiction * Estonian science fiction * French science fiction *

Japanese science fiction Science fiction is an important genre of modern Japanese literature that has strongly influenced aspects of contemporary Japanese pop culture, including anime, manga, video games, tokusatsu, and cinema. History Origins Both Japan's history ...

* Norwegian science fiction * Polish science fiction * Romanian science fiction * Russian science fiction * Serbian science fiction * Spanish science fiction

History

History of science fiction films The history of science fiction films parallels that of the motion picture industry as a whole, although it took several decades before the Film genre, genre was taken seriously. Since the 1960s, major science fiction films have succeeded in pulling ...

Elements and themes

Character elements

List of stock characters in science fiction A stock character is a dramatic or literary character representing a generic type in a conventional, simplified manner and recurring in many fictional works. The following list labels some of these stereotypes and provides examples. Some charac ...

Extraterrestrials in fiction An extraterrestrial or alien is any extraterrestrial lifeform; a lifeform that did not originate on Earth. The word ''extraterrestrial'' means "outside Earth". The first published use of ''extraterrestrial'' as a noun occurred in 1956, during the ...

Plot elements

Plot devices

Hyperspace In science fiction, hyperspace (also known as nulspace, subspace, overspace, jumpspace and similar terms) is a concept relating to higher dimensions as well as parallel universes and a faster-than-light (FTL) method of interstellar travel. ...

Setting elements

The setting is the environment in which the story takes place. Alien settings require authors to do

worldbuilding Worldbuilding is the process of constructing a world, originally an imaginary one, sometimes associated with a fictional universe. Developing an imaginary setting with coherent qualities such as a history, geography, and ecology is a key task f ...

to create a fictional planet and geography. Elements of setting may include culture (and its technologies), period (including the future), place (geography/astronomy), nature (physical laws, etc.), and hour. Setting elements characteristic of science fiction include:

Place

* Parallel universes *

Planets in science fiction Planets in science fiction are fictional planets that appear in various media of the science fiction genre as story-settings or depicted locations. Planet lists For planets from specific fictional milieux, use the following lists: Literature ...

Slipstream A slipstream is a region behind a moving object in which a wake of fluid (typically air or mustard) is moving at velocities comparable to that of the moving fluid, relative to the ambient fluid through which the object is churning. The term sli ...

* Earth in science fiction

Cultural setting elements

Political ideas in science fiction The exploration of politics in science fiction is arguably older than the identification of the genre. One of the earliest works of modern science fiction, H. G. Wells’ ''The Time Machine'', is an extrapolation of the class structure of the Unit ...

World government in science fiction In both science fiction and utopia/dystopian fiction, authors have made frequent use of the age-old idea of a global state and, accordingly, of world government. Overview In tune with Immanuel Kant's vision of a world state based on the voluntar ...

World government in fiction In both science fiction and utopia/dystopian fiction, authors have made frequent use of the age-old idea of a global state and, accordingly, of world government. Overview In tune with Immanuel Kant's vision of a world state based on the voluntar ...

Religious ideas in science fiction Science fiction will sometimes address the topic of religion. Often religious themes are used to convey a broader message, but others confront the subject head-on—contemplating, for example, how attitudes towards faith might shift in the wak ...

** List of religious ideas in science fiction *

Religion in speculative fiction Religion is usually defined as a social- cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relates humanity to supernatural, ...

Xenology Astrobiology, and the related field of exobiology, is an interdisciplinary scientific field that studies the origins, early evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. Astrobiology is the multidisciplinary field that investig ...

Sex and gender

* Gender in science fiction * Sex in science fiction **

Pregnancy in science fiction Speculative and science fiction writers have often addressed the social, political, technological, and biological consequences of pregnancy and reproduction through the exploration of possible futures or alternative realities. Themes As real-wor ...

LGBT themes in speculative fiction ' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity. The LGBT term is an ...

= Technology

= * Computer technology ** Artificial intelligence in fiction **

List of fictional computers Computers have often been used as fictional objects in literature, movies and in other forms of media. Fictional computers tend to be considerably more sophisticated than anything yet devised in the real world. This is a list of computers that h ...

** Mind uploading in fiction * Transportation **

Flying car (aircraft) A flying car or roadable aircraft is a type of vehicle which can function both as a road vehicle and as an aircraft. As used here, this includes vehicles which drive as motorcycles when on the road. The term "flying car" is also sometimes u ...

Space dock A space dock is a hypothesised type of space station that is able to repair or build spacecraft similar to maritime shipyards on Earth. They remove the need for new spacecraft to perform a space launch to reach space and existing spacecraft ...

* Weapons in science fiction * Resizing *

Simulated reality in fiction Simulated reality is a common theme in science fiction. It should not be confused with the theme of virtual reality. Literature Theater * '' Possible Worlds'' (1990) and the 2000 film adaptation * ''World of Wires'' (2012), directed by Jay Sche ...

* Space warfare in fiction ** Weapons in science fiction

Themes

* First contact

Style elements

Works

Art

List of science fiction and fantasy artists This is a list of science fiction and fantasy artists, notable and well-known 20th- and 21st-century artists who have created book covers or interior illustrations for books, or who have had their own books or comic books of fantastic art with sci ...

Science fiction comics Publication of comic strips and comic books focusing on science fiction became increasingly common during the early 1930s in newspapers published in the United States. They have since spread to many countries around the world. History The firs ...

Games

Computer games

Role-playing games

Literature

Speculative poetry Speculative poetry is a genre of poetry that focusses on fantastic, science fictional and mythological themes. It is also known as science fiction poetry or fantastic poetry. It is distinguished from other poetic genres by being categorized by it ...

Novels

List of science fiction novels This is a list of science-fiction novels, novel series, and collections of linked short stories. It includes modern novels, as well as novels written before the term "science fiction" was in common use. This list includes novels not marketed as SF ...

Short stories

List of science fiction short stories This is a non-comprehensive list of short stories with significant science fiction elements. Award winning short stories The two main awards given in American science fiction are the Hugos and the Nebulas. Complete lists of the short stories ...

= Short story venues

= *

Science fiction magazine A science fiction magazine is a publication that offers primarily science fiction, either in a hard-copy periodical format or on the Internet. Science fiction magazines traditionally featured speculative fiction in short story, novelette, nove ...

** *

Science fiction fanzine A science-fiction fanzine is an amateur or semi-professional magazine published by members of science-fiction fandom, from the 1930s to the present day. They were one of the earliest forms of fanzine, within one of which the term "''fanzine''" wa ...

Video

* Science fiction film *

Science fiction on television Science fiction first appeared in television programming in the late 1930s, during what is called the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginar ...

List of science fiction television programs This is an inclusive list of television programs with science fiction as principal theme, or which contain at least one significant element of science fiction, even if some cross over into other genres.For television programs with fantasy, horror ...

***

List of science fiction sitcoms This is an inclusive list of science fiction television programs classified by genre. Listing by genre Aliens on Earth *Extraterrestrials in fiction *''3rd Rock from the Sun'' (1996–2001) *ALF (franchise): **''ALF: The Animated Series'' (198 ...

** U.S. television science fiction ** British television science fiction

Radio

* Science fiction radio programs

Information sources

* Baen Free Library *

Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase The Internet Speculative Fiction Database (ISFDB) is a database of bibliographic information on genres considered speculative fiction, including science fiction and related genres such as fantasy, alternate history, and horror fiction. The ISFDB ...

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, doing business as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, commonly known as SFWA ( or ) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. Whil ...

*''

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction ''The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' (SFE) is an English language reference work on science fiction, first published in 1979. It has won the Hugo, Locus and British SF Awards. Two print editions appeared in 1979 and 1993. A third, continu ...

In academia

Science fiction studies ''Science Fiction Studies'' (''SFS'') is an academic journal founded in 1973 by R. D. Mullen. The journal is published three times per year at DePauw University. As the name implies, the journal publishes articles and book reviews on science fic ...

** Science in science fiction *** Materials science in science fiction * Science fiction and fantasy journals *

Science fiction libraries and museums With the growth of science fiction studies as an academic discipline as well as a popular media genre, a number of libraries, museums, archives, and special collections have been established to collect and organize works of scholarly and historica ...

Subculture

Science fiction convention Science fiction conventions are gatherings of fans of the speculative fiction genre, science fiction. Historically, science fiction conventions had focused primarily on literature, but the purview of many extends to such other avenues of expre ...

s **

List of science fiction conventions This is a list of notable science fiction conventions, as distinct from anime conventions, comic book conventions, furry conventions, gaming conventions, horror convention Horror conventions are gatherings of the community of fans of various fo ...

List of fan conventions by date of founding The list of modern fan conventions for various genres of entertainment extends to the first conventions held in the 1930s. Some fan historians claim that the 1936 Philadelphia Science Fiction Conference, a.k.a. Philcon, was the first science fict ...

Science fiction fandom Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or fandom of people interested in science fiction in contact with one another based upon that interest. SF fandom has a life of its own, but not much in the way of formal organization (although ...

* Science fiction organizations

Awards

The

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

has a number of recognition awards for authors,

editors Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, or ...

, and illustrators. Awards are usually granted annually.

International awards

Major awards given in chronological order:

Nationality-specific awards

;Australian *

Aurealis Award The Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award. History The Aurealis Award was established in 1995 by ...

— Australian * Chandler Award—for contributions to Australian Science fiction *

Ditmar Award The Ditmar Award (formally the Australian SF ("Ditmar") Award; formerly the "Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award") has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention (the "Natcon") to recognise a ...

—for SF by Australians ;British * Kitschies—for speculative fiction novels published in the UK ;Canadian * Constellation Awards—for the best SF/fantasy film or television works released in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

Prix Aurora Awards The Aurora Awards (french: Prix Aurora-Boréal) are a set of primarily literary awards given annually for the best Canadian science fiction or fantasy professional and fan works and achievements from the previous year."Literary glow of Auroras lure ...

—for

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

science fiction * Sunburst Award— Juried award for

science fiction ;Chinese * The Galaxy Awards ''(银河奖)''—given by magazine ''

Science Fiction World ''Science Fiction World (Sci-Fi World; SFW)'' (, Kehuan Shijie), began in 1979, is a monthly science fiction magazine published in the People's Republic of China, headquartered in Chengdu, Sichuan. It dominates the Chinese science fiction magazi ...

'' for Chinese SF&F ;Croatian * SFERA Award—given by

SFera SFera is a science fiction society from Zagreb, Croatia. It was founded in 1976, thus marking the beginnings of organised science fiction fandom in the region. SFera is the official organiser of SFeraKon, an annual Croatian science fiction ...

, a Croatian SF society ;Dutch * Paul Harland Prize—for Dutch SF ;Estonian * Stalker Award—for the best

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

n SF novel, given out on Estcon by Eesti Ulmeühing, the Estonian SF society. ;Finnish *

Tähtivaeltaja ''Tähtivaeltaja'' (literally ''stellar wanderer'') is a Finnish language, Finnish quarterly science fiction magazine published in Finland. History and profile ''Tähtivaeltaja'' was started in 1982. The magazine is published by Helsingin science ...

Award—for the best SF novel released in Finland ;French * Grand Prix de l'Imaginaire—

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

since 1974 * Prix Jules-Verne—France 1927–1933 and 1958–1963 *

Prix Tour-Apollo Award The Prix Tour-Apollo was an annual French juried award established in 1972 by Jacques Sadoul with the assistance of Jacques Goimard. Its name was chosen in reference to the Apollo 11 rocket. The award was given to the best science fiction novel p ...

—

1972-1990 ;German * Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis— German SF award ;Israeli * Geffen Award ''(פרס גפן)''—

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

since 1999 ;Italian * Premio Urania—for Italian SF ;Japanese * Nihon SF Taisho Award (日本SF大賞)— Japan since 1980 ;New Zealander *

Sir Julius Vogel Award The Sir Julius Vogel Awards are awarded each year at the New Zealand National Science Fiction Convention to recognise achievement in New Zealand science fiction, fantasy, horror, and science fiction fandom. They are commonly referred to as the ...

—for SF by

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

ers ;Pacific Northwestern *

Endeavour Award The Endeavour Award, announced annually at OryCon in Portland, Oregon, is awarded to a distinguished science fiction or fantasy book written by a Pacific Northwest author or authors and published in the previous year. Pacific Northwest is home to ...

—for SF by Pacific Northwest author ;Polish * Janusz A. Zajdel Award—award of Polish fandom * Nautilus Award— Polish award ;Romanian *SRSFF Award—România ;Russian *Big Roscon award for outstanding contribution to science fiction ;Turkish * TBD Science Fiction Story Award—Turkey

Themed awards

(Chronological) *

Prometheus Award The Prometheus Award is an award for libertarian science fiction novels given annually by the Libertarian Futurist Society. American author and activist L. Neil Smith established the award in 1979, but it was not awarded regularly until the newl ...

—best libertarian SF—since 1979 *

Lambda Literary Award Lambda Literary Awards, also known as the "Lammys", are awarded yearly by Lambda Literary to recognize the crucial role LGBTQ writers play in shaping the world. The Lammys celebrate the very best in LGBTQ literature.The awards were instituted i ...

—since 1988 * Tiptree Award—since 1991 * Golden Duck Awards—best children's SF—1992-2017 *

Sidewise Award for Alternate History The Sidewise Awards for Alternate History were established in 1995 to recognize the best alternate history stories and novels of the year. Overview The awards take their name from the 1934 short story " Sidewise in Time" by Murray Leinster, in ...

—since 1995 *

Gaylactic Spectrum Awards The Gaylactic Spectrum Awards are given to works of science fiction, fantasy and horror that explore LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) topics in a positive way. Established in 1998, the awards were initially presented by the Gaylacti ...

—since 1999 *Emperor Norton Award—San Francisco—2003-2011 * Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards—2011-2014

New artists / first works awards

* Compton Crook Award—for best first novel * Jack Gaughan Award—for best emerging artist * John W. Campbell Award—for best new writer *

Writers of the Future Writers of the Future (WOTF) is a science fiction and fantasy story contest that was established by L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. A sister contest, Illustrators of the Future, presents awards for science fiction art. Hubbard characterized ...

—contest for new authors

Career awards

Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award The Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award is a lifetime honor presented annually by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) to no more than one living writer of fantasy or science fiction. It was inaugurated in 1975 when Rob ...

—associated with the Nebula

Influential people

Creators

Artists

Filmmakers

Authors and editors

* List of science fiction authors ** Women science fiction authors * List of science fiction editors

Science fiction scholars

Brian Aldiss Brian Wilson Aldiss (; 18 August 1925 – 19 August 2017) was an English writer, artist, and anthology editor, best known for science fiction novels and short stories. His byline reads either Brian W. Aldiss or simply Brian Aldiss, except for o ...

* Isaac Asimov—'' Asimov on Science Fiction'' * Brian Attebery * Everett F. Bleiler * John W. Campbell * John Clute—co-editor of ''

'' (with Peter Nicholls) * Samuel R. Delany *

Hugo Gernsback Hugo Gernsback (; born Hugo Gernsbacher, August 16, 1884 – August 19, 1967) was a Luxembourgish–American editor and magazine publisher, whose publications including the first science fiction magazine. His contributions to the genre as pub ...

—founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine ''

Amazing Stories ''Amazing Stories'' is an American science fiction magazine launched in April 1926 by Hugo Gernsback's Experimenter Publishing. It was the first magazine devoted solely to science fiction. Science fiction stories had made regular appearances ...

'', and the person who the Hugo Awards are named after. * David Hartwell *

Larry McCaffery Lawrence F. McCaffery Jr. (born May 13, 1946) is an American literary critic, editor, and retired professor of English and comparative literature at San Diego State University. His work and teaching focuses on postmodern literature, contemporary ...

Judith Merril Judith Josephine Grossman (January 21, 1923 – September 12, 1997), who took the pen-name Judith Merril around 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist, and one of the first women to be wid ...

Sam Moskowitz Sam Moskowitz (June 30, 1920 – April 15, 1997) was an American writer, critic, and historian of science fiction. Biography As a child, Moskowitz greatly enjoyed reading science fiction pulp magazines. As a teenager, he organized a branch o ...

* Peter Nicholls—co-editor of ''

'' (with John Clute) * Alexei Panshin *

David Pringle David Pringle (born 1 March 1950) is a Scottish science fiction editor and critic. Pringle served as the editor of '' Foundation'', an academic journal, from 1980 to 1986, during which time he became one of the prime movers of the collective whi ...

—editor of ''

Foundation Foundation may refer to: * Foundation (nonprofit), a type of charitable organization ** Foundation (United States law), a type of charitable organization in the U.S. ** Private foundation, a charitable organization that, while serving a good cause ...

'' and '' Interzone''; author of '' Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels'' *

Andrew Sawyer Andrew "Andy" Sawyer (born 1952) is a librarian, critic and editor, as well as an active part of science fiction fandom (although he himself has not written much science fiction). He was educated at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, Dover ...

Dorothy Scarborough Emily Dorothy Scarborough (January 27, 1878 – November 7, 1935) was an American writer who wrote about Texas, folk culture, cotton farming, ghost stories and women's life in the Southwest. Early life Scarborough was born in Mount Carmel, Te ...

Brian Stableford Brian Michael Stableford (born 25 July 1948) is a British academic, critic and science fiction writer who has published more than 70 novels. His earlier books were published under the name Brian M. Stableford, but more recent ones have dropped ...

Darko Suvin Darko Ronald Suvin (born Darko Šlesinger) is a Yugoslav-born academic, writer and critic who became a professor (now emeritusDavid JohnstonConvocation: Honorary degrees and emeritus professorships McGill Reporter, Volume 33, No. 05, November ...

* Gary K. Wolfe

Franchises

SWCA - From Droid Builder's Club Room (17016704829)

There are a number of science fiction media franchises of this type, typically encompassing media such as cinema films, TV shows, toys, and even theme parks related to the content. The highest-grossing science fiction franchise is '' Star Wars''. Space science fiction franchises: * '' Alien'' (6 films since 1979 and 2 Alien vs Predator films since 2004) * ''

Babylon 5 ''Babylon 5'' is an American space opera television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski, under the Babylonian Productions label, in association with Straczynski's Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Warner Bros. Domestic Tele ...

'' (2 television series, 7 TV movies since 1993) * '' Battlestar Galactica'' (5 television series and two TV movies since 1979) * '' Doctor Who'' (TV series since 1963, 2 Dr. Who films since 1965, and 1 1996 television film, five spinoff TV shows (K-9 and Company, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, K-9 and Class), video games and hundreds of books) * '' Dune'' (23 novels since 1965, 1 film in 1984, 3 comics since 1984, 2 TV series since 2000, 1 film in 2021) * ''

Godzilla is a fictional monster, or '' kaiju'', originating from a series of Japanese films. The character first appeared in the 1954 film '' Godzilla'' and became a worldwide pop culture icon, appearing in various media, including 32 films prod ...

'' (36 films since 1954 and 3 TV series since 1978) * ''

Halo Halo, halos or haloes usually refer to: * Halo (optical phenomenon) * Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head HALO, halo, halos or haloes may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Video games * ''Halo'' (franch ...

'' (since 2001, started from

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This fee ...

) * '' The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'' (1 film, 1 tv series, 1 game, 4 stage shows, 3 radio programs since 1978, 6 novels) * '' Independence Day'' (2 films since 1996) * ''

Legend of the Galactic Heroes , sometimes abbreviated as ''LOTGH'', ''LOGH'' or in Japanese (and also depicted as ''Heldensagen vom Kosmosinsel'' in the anime intro), is a series of science fiction novels written by Yoshiki Tanaka. In humanity's distant fu ...

'' (2 novel series since 1983 and 3 anime

OVA , abbreviated as OVA and sometimes as OAV (original animation video), are Japanese animated films and series made specially for release in home video formats without prior showings on television or in theaters, though the first part of an OVA s ...

series since 1988) * ''

Macross is a Japanese science fiction mecha anime media franchise/ media mix, created by Studio Nue (most prominently mecha designer, writer and producer Shōji Kawamori) and Artland in 1982. The franchise features a fictional history of Earth and th ...

'' (4

anime is hand-drawn and computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japanese, (a term derived from a shortening of ...

TV series since 1982, 6 anime films since 1984, 3 manga series since 1994) * ''

Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson, Drew Karpyshyn and Preston Watamaniuk. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the known unive ...

'' (since 2007, started from video game) * ''

Men in Black In popular culture and UFO conspiracy theories, men in black (MIB) are purported men dressed in black suits who claim to be quasi- government agents, who harass, threaten, or sometimes even assassinate unidentified flying object (UFO) witnesse ...

'' (4 films since 1997 and animated TV series) * ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' (21 anime TV series since 1979, 7 anime films since 1988, successful model kits since 1980) * '' Neon Genesis Evangelion'' (1 anime TV series since 1995 and 5 anime films since 1997) * ''

Planet of the Apes ''Planet of the Apes'' is an American science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control. The franchise is based on Frenc ...

'' (9 films and 1 TV series since 1968) * ''

Predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill th ...

'' (5 films since 1987 and 2 Alien vs Predator films since 2004) * ''

Robotech ''Robotech'' is a science fiction franchise that began with an 85-episode anime television series produced by Harmony Gold USA in association with Tatsunoko Production and first released in the United States in 1985. The show was adapted from ...

'' (1 anime TV series and 5 anime films since 1985) * ''

Space Battleship Yamato is a Japanese science fiction anime series produced and written by Yoshinobu Nishizaki, directed by manga artist Leiji Matsumoto, and produced by Academy Productions. The series aired in Yomiuri TV from October 6, 1974 to March 30, 1975 ...

'' (5 anime TV series since 1974 and 7 anime films since 1977) * ''

Space Odyssey The ''Space Odyssey'' series is a series of science fiction novels by the writer Arthur C. Clarke. Two of the novels have been made into feature films, released in 1968 and 1984 respectively. Two of Clarke's early short stories may also be co ...

'' (2 short stories since 1954, 2 films since 1968, 4 novels since 1968, 1 1972 book) * '' Star Trek'' (7 live-action TV series since 1966, 3 animated TV series, 13 Theatrical films: 6 Original Series films since 1979, 4 Next Generation films since 1994 and 3 reboot films since 2009) * '' Star Wars'' (9 episodic "Saga" films since 1977, 1 1978 TV film, 2 Ewok films since 1985, 1 2008 ''The Clone Wars'' film, 2 "Anthology" films since 2016, 3 canon animated TV series since 2008, 1 canon live-action TV series since 2019, 3 ''

Legends A legend is a historical narrative, a symbolic representation of folk belief. Legend(s) or The Legend(s) may also refer to: Narrative * Urban legend, a widely repeated story of dubious truth * A fictitious identity used in espionage Books, co ...

'' TV series since 1985) * '' Stargate'' (4 TV series and three theater film since 1994) *''The Expanse'' ( 8 novels and 1 television series since 2011) * ''

Transformers ''Transformers'' is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Tomy, Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the Autobots and the Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms ...

'' (28 TV series since 1984, 4 animated films since 1986, 5 live action films since 2007, started from toy line) * ''

Ultra Series ''Ultraman'', also known as the , is the collective name for all media produced by Tsuburaya Productions featuring Ultraman, his many brethren, and the myriad monsters. Debuting with '' Ultra Q'' and then ''Ultraman'' in 1966, the series is o ...

'' (34 TV series since 1966 and 29 films since 1967) * ''

The War of the Worlds ''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first serialised in 1897 by ''Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and by ''Cosmopolitan (magazine), Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US. The novel's first appear ...

'' (half a dozen feature films, radio dramas, a record album, various comic book adaptations, a number of television series, and sequels or parallel stories by other authors since 1897)

References

External links

Science Fiction (Bookshelf)
at

Project Gutenberg Project Gutenberg (PG) is a volunteer effort to digitize and archive cultural works, as well as to "encourage the creation and distribution of eBooks." It was founded in 1971 by American writer Michael S. Hart and is the oldest digital libr ...

SF Hub
��resources for science-fiction research, created by the University of Liverpool Library
Science fiction fanzines (current and historical) online

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
��their "Suggested Reading" page
Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame

Science Fiction Research Association

Science Fiction at the Internet Archive
*
Ковтун Е. Н. Художественный вымысел в литературе 20 века. — Высшая школа, 2008. — 1500 экз. —
. *
Жанры — рубрика журнала «Мир фантастики»
*

* ttp://fantlab.ru/bygenre Жанры фантастики на Фантлабе.* ttp://www.fantasy.ru/fz/class.htm Классификация фантастики на сайте «Фэнта Зиландия». {{DEFAULTSORT:Science Fiction

1 Science fiction outline

Science fiction themes The following is a list of articles about recurring themes in science fiction. Overarching themes * First contact with aliens *Artificial intelligence ** Machine rule/Cybernetic revolt/ AI takeover *Extraterrestrials in fiction *End of humanit ...

Science fiction genres