ALL ABOUT

SCIENCE FICTION
LITERATURE

DIAMOS. ALFORNON.
VILLANUEVA
 01
WHAT IS SCIENCE
FICTION?
Science fiction, often called “sci-fi,” is a
genre of fiction literature whose
content is imaginative, but based in
science. It relies heavily on scientific
facts, theories, and principles as
support for its settings, characters,
themes, and plot-lines, which is what
makes it different from fantasy.
So, while the storylines and elements
of science fiction stories are
imaginary, they are usually possible
according to science—or at least
plausible.
 The origin of the term “science fiction” begins in 1920’s.
Journalist and magazine proprietor Hugo Gernsback
launches a pulp magazine which initially reprints tales by
Verne, Wells and Edgar Allen Poe.

The magazine calls its fiction “Scientifiction”, which

combines romance with prophetic vision and scientific
knowledge. Gernsback later coins “science fiction” in his
magazine Science Wonder Stories in 1929.
 02
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SCIENCE FICTION
● Fictional or narrative

● Tells about supernatural events

● Relies on scientific facts

● Speculates about the humanity’s future

● Settings in an alternate time and place

● The impacts of science and technology

on people.
 03
WHERE DID SCIENCE
FICTION REALLY COME
FROM?
Many argued that Science Fiction dates back from ancient and
early centuries. Others say it started in the 2nd century from the
work of a Greek satirist Lucian entitled “Trips to the Moon ” in
which “science” was used to satirize government, society, and
religion while evading libel suits, censorship, and persecution

However, this literary genre is diverse which affects how its exact
origin still remains a question and its history is still a debatable
topic among scholars and devotees.
 There are two broad camps of thought, one that identifies the
genre's roots in early fantastical works such as the Sumerian Epic
of Gilgamesh (. 2150–2000 BCE).

A second approach argues that science fiction only became

possible sometime between the 17th and early 19th centuries,
following the scientific revolution and major discoveries in
astronomy, physics, and mathematics.
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein: or, The
Modern Prometheus” in 1818.
But question of deeper origins aside, science fiction truly
developed and boomed in the 20th century, specifically it
gained popularity in the 1950’s, as the deep integration of
science and inventions into daily life encouraged a
greater interest in literature that explores the relationship
between technology, society, and the individual.
 04
EVOLUTION OF
SCI-FI
Science Fiction through the years changed drastically. In the ancient and early
century, precursors of sci-fi literature has the same recurring themes, satirizing
the government and using science as a way to express their revolutionary
sentiments.

During the 17th century to the early 19th century, the genre’s themes became
focused on the rise to utopia motif, space travels, speculative fiction and tropes
of recent science fiction.

In the 20th, the themes of sci-fi literature changed again and became more
focused on realism and psychological depth to its characters, deep integration of
science and inventions into daily life, space opera. Science fiction also appeared
in magazines and in televisions.
Now in the 21st Century, sci fi has been more into realism. Science fiction has
coincided with the developments of the modern world, and it’s more reflective of
our time than before. Sci-fi is also more popular now and is more accepted than
ever before. Long gone is the nerdy description people used to describe sci-fi
back in the days.
 05
POSITIVE AND
NEGATIVE CHANGES
Positive changes in sci-fi through are numerous but
the biggest is being the cyclical nature of sci-fi and real
science. Sci-fi inspired scientists to think outside the
box and ends up leading to new real science. Real
science breakthroughs inspire sci-fi authors to push
the envelope with new ideas and the cycle continues. It
also became more widely accepted now than in earlier
centuries.

Perhaps most horrifying and negative change is the

fact that most commercial SF nowadays no longer
seems to question. It doesn’t question contemporary
politics, it doesn’t satirise the issues of the day.
THANK
YOU!
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