Science Fiction

and Fantasy

Think-Time - Journal

• List some of the fantasy genre you have either read or watched .

• What characteristics do these works have in common?

• List some of the science fiction genre you have either read or watched.

• What characteristics do these works have in common?

Fantasy

Albert Einstein stated that “the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my Albert Einstein stated that “the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge”. talent for absorbing positive knowledge”.

Fantasy

• Fantasy is the fancy and imagination of humans; especially, the whimsical thought.

• Fantasy as a genre creates a fictional world where setting, characters, and events can be created that could not possibly exist in the real world.

Four elementsof the fantasy genre

• 1. Characters have special powers.• 2. Objects have special powers.• 3. There is a fight between Good and Evil.• 4. The story is set in or includes episodes from a distant time period.

Science Fiction

Elements of Science Fiction

Science Fiction Defined

• Science fiction is a genre of fiction in which the stories often tell about science and technology of the future.

Elements of Science Fiction

• Realistic and fantastic details

• Grounded in science• Usually set in the future• Unknown inventions• Makes a serious comment about the world• Often contains a warning for humankind

Science Fiction Settings

• Another planet• Under the oceans• Another dimension of existence• A Utopia (perfect society) or Dystopia• May be in the future• May time travel to the past (or future)• May take place in present, but alternate reality

Science Fiction

• Science fiction texts are often set in the future, in space, on a different world,

or in a different universe or dimension.

Science Fiction Characters

• Protagonist (Central Character)• Antagonist (Opponent or Villain)• These characters may be a being (human or other)

or may be a force• Protagonist or Antagonist may be a society’s laws,

a disease or other problem, technology, etc.• Creatures, robots, aliens, etc.

Science Fiction

• The plot creates situations different from those of both the present day and known past.

• Science fiction texts also include a human element, explaining what effect new discoveries, happenings and

scientific developments will have on us in the future.

Science is Important to the Story

• Advanced technology• Genetics• Disease• Exploration• Special powers or senses as a result of science• Science can be the savior or the root of the problem

Science Fiction

• It is important to note that science fiction has a relationship with the principles of science – these stories involve partially true – partially fictitious laws or theories of science

• It should not be completely unbelievable, because it ventures

into the genre fantasy.

Time Travel

• The “how” of time travel dictates whether a title is fantasy or science fiction. Inexplicable travel to another time is usually fantasy, whereas time travel using a machine or other scientific premise falls into science fiction.

Message or Warning for Humans

• Science Fiction stories often contain a message or warning about technology, mankind or society

• Consider your story’s message: pro or against technology, aliens, society, etc.:

• Is it a Cookbook?

Science Fiction Writers

• Early pioneers of the genre of science fiction include:

• H.G. Wells (The War of the Worlds)• Jules Verne (20,000 Leagues Under the Sea)

20th Century Science Fiction Writers

• Some well-known 20th century science fiction texts include 1984 by George Orwell

• Brave New World by Alduous Huxley• The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Writers continued

• In addition, the four most-popular and well-recognized 20th century authors are Isaac Asimov, author of the Foundation trilogy and his robot series.

• Arthur C. Clarke who is famous for Space Odyssey.

Ray Bradbury

• We will be reading some works by Bradbury who is known for Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451