Science Ficition: The Genre

            Science Fiction as a genre is very entertaining to certain types of readers. It mostly appeals to fantasists, due to the often inclusion of unrealistic or impractical situations and ideas, but it could possibly appeal to loose pragmatists because of the frequent everyday problems that occur within the plots. This genre may be far off, but it still connects with everyday human life. 

            The expectations of the genre are usually to be removed from the humdrum routine of everyday life into a new world of exploration and excitement...it also should consist of some sort of element of science. Also there should be a conflict, usually one of these: person vs. machine, person vs. other life form, person vs. post-apocalyptic surroundings, and/or person vs. time. 

            Science Fiction has many, many sub-genres, but I will only name a few of my favorites. First is apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic, in which a devastation of some sort has taken place and humans now try to survive the dangerous new age. Secondly is time travel, epics of humans traveling across the space-time continuum- to the past of future- coming across unexpected problems and excitement. Next is military Science Fiction where humans battle savage aliens, machines, and other wild creatures to survive in a hostile environment. Lastly is Cyberpunk, consisting of loners that live in a dystopian society where perilous information and technology have spun out of control.

            Many of the most popular novels in our society today are Science Fiction. Some of these include The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, Divergent, by Veronica Roth, Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card, and Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton. Many classic science fiction novels by authors such as Jules Verne and Stephen King have paved the way for the novels of today. They will truly take you on a journey you never expected.