Definition

1. A form of fiction that deals principally with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals.

                                        (https://www.britannica.com/art/science-fiction)

2. A genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. It has been called the "literature of ideas", and often explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations.

                                                (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction)

3. According to Isaac Asimov, “Science fiction can be defined as that branch of literature which deals with the reaction of human beings to changes in science and technology.”

 4. Robert A. Heinlein wrote that “A handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.”

Science fiction, often abbreviated as "sci-fi," is a genre of speculative fiction that explores imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often based on scientific principles, theories, and technologies. It typically delves into the potential consequences of advancements in science, space exploration, technology, and the impact they might have on society, individuals, and the world as a whole.

Historical development of Science Fiction

The term science fiction was popularized, if not invented, in the 1920s by one of the genre’s principal advocates, the American publisher Hugo Gernsback. The Hugo Awards, given annually since 1953 by the World Science Fiction Society, are named after him. These achievement awards are given to the top SF writers, editors, illustrators, films, and fanzines.

The genre formally emerged in the West, where the social transformations wrought by the Industrial Revolution first led writers and intellectuals to extrapolate the future impact of technology. 

By the beginning of the 20th century, an array of standard science fiction “sets” had developed around certain themes, among them space travel, robots, alien beings, and time travel.

The customary “theatrics” of science fiction include

prophetic warnings,

utopian aspirations,

elaborate scenarios for entirely imaginary worlds,

titanic disasters,

strange voyages, and

Political agitation of many extremist flavours, presented in the form of sermons, meditations, satires, allegories, and parodies—exhibiting every conceivable attitude toward the process of techno-social change, from cynical despair to cosmic bliss.

Written during the Scientific Revolution and the Age of Enlightenment,

 Johannes Kepler's Somnium (1634), 

Francis Bacon's New Atlantis (1627),

Athanasius Kircher's Itinerarium extaticum (1656),

Cyrano de Bergerac's Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon (1657) and The States and Empires of the Sun (1662), 

Margaret Cavendish's "The Blazing World" (1666), 

Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels (1726), 

Ludvig Holberg's Nicolai Klimii Iter Subterraneum (1741) and 

Voltaire's Micromégas (1752) are regarded as some of the first true science-fantasy works.

Following the 17th-century development of the novel as a literary form, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1818) and The Last Man (1826) helped define the form of the science-fiction novel. 

Edgar Allan Poe wrote several stories considered to be science fiction, including "The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall" (1835) which featured a trip to the Moon.

Jules Verne was noted for his attention to detail and scientific accuracy, especially in Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1870).[

H. G. Wells one of science fiction's most important authors, or even "the Shakespeare of science fiction." His notable science-fiction works include:

The Time Machine (1895), 

The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), 

The Invisible Man (1897),

The War of the Worlds (1898).

 

Key characteristics of science fiction include:

Speculative Concepts: Science fiction often introduces ideas that are not yet possible or real, but are rooted in scientific understanding or extrapolation. These concepts can range from advanced space travel and time travel to artificial intelligence and genetic engineering.

Futuristic Settings: Science fiction stories are often set in the future or in alternative timelines where the world, society, and technology have evolved in unique ways.

Influence of Science and Technology: Scientific principles, theories, and technological advancements play a central role in shaping the plot, characters, and world-building of science fiction narratives.

Exploration of Societal Impact: Sci-fi frequently examines the social, ethical, and moral implications of technological advancements, often raising questions about how humanity interacts with these innovations and what consequences they might bring.

Imaginative World-Building: Authors of science fiction create intricate and imaginative worlds that can range from utopian societies to dystopian landscapes, providing readers or viewers with a glimpse into these fictional realities.

Sense of Wonder and Possibility: Science fiction often elicits a sense of wonder and curiosity about the potential of the unknown, encouraging readers and viewers to think about what might be possible in the future.

Exploration of Human Nature: Science fiction frequently explores human nature, behavior, and psychology under the influence of advanced technology or extraordinary circumstances.

Sub-Genres: Science fiction is a broad genre that encompasses various sub-genres, including cyberpunk, space opera, post-apocalyptic, time travel, alternate history, and more. Each sub-genre focuses on different aspects of science fiction storytelling.

 

Social influence

Science fiction's great rise in popularity during the first half of the 20th century was closely tied to the popular respect paid to science at that time, as well as the rapid pace of technological innovation and new inventions. Science fiction has often predicted scientific and technological progress. Some works predict that new inventions and progress will tend to improve life and society, for instance the stories of Arthur C. Clarke and Star Trek. Others, such as H.G. Wells's The Time Machine and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, warn about possible negative consequences.

In 2001 the National Science Foundation conducted a survey on "Public Attitudes and Public Understanding: Science Fiction and Pseudoscience." It found that people who read or prefer science fiction may think about or relate to science differently than other people. 

Carl Sagan wrote: "Many scientists deeply involved in the exploration of the solar system (myself among them) were first turned in that direction by science fiction."

As protest literature

Science fiction has sometimes been used as a means of social protest. George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) is an important work of dystopian science fiction. It is often invoked in protests against governments and leaders who are seen as totalitarian.

James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar was intended as a protest against imperialism, and specifically the European colonization of the Americas. Its images have been used by, among others, Palestinians in their protests against the State of Israel.