There have certainly been many attempts at defining science fiction over the decades. Many readers and authors alike have accepted the definition “Science fiction is the genre of science and technology fiction.” This is only a partial listing of definitions which have actually been offered by contributors, editors, readers and fanatics over time because science fiction quickly became a very popular genre with readers and writers. Many definitions of related but overlapping terms such as “fantasy fiction” or “paranormal fiction” are listed where they are designed to illustrate the variety of themes that are central to science fiction.
The term “Science fiction” was first used in an article published in World Magazine (hereinafter called “World”) in November 1932. It was defined as “…an exciting type of imaginative literature, which regards science, or technological theories, as the theme of the work.” The article was written by Arthur C Clarke, the famous author who created such masterful science fiction books as “Rendezvous With Rama,” “The Best Laid Plans,” and “Rendezvous with Rama Again.” The author described science fiction as “…a sort of dramatic writing, which utilizes imagination to give vivid images of strange worlds, exotic places, and superhuman powers…” and he concluded that it “…depends largely upon the place, story, and individual interest.” The full meaning of this definition has become widely accepted as “an imaginative treatment of reality as it is experienced by the writer.”
A close cousin of science fiction is fantasy science fiction. Fantasy science fiction is a broad genre comprising science fiction, fantasy, and paranormal fiction. The distinguishing feature of fantasy science fiction is the use of fantastic devices and powers in order to tell a story. The most famous modern examples of this genre are “Lord of the Rings” and “disco science fiction series.” Both of these fictional works utilize fantastic weapons, creatures, and situations in order to tell fascinating stories of good vs. evil, or of the human world and other dimensions being revealed.
Fantasy science fiction is not, however, quite the same as science fiction. While both employ fantasy in their stories, the meaning of each word is different. Fantasy science fiction simply utilizes words that could have other meanings, and so is not considered a true science fiction work. ” UFOs” and “astronomy” would not be considered proper keywords in a definition of this type of fiction. On the other hand,” aliens”, “bases” and “gases” would definitely be considered proper keywords.
The essential difference between science fiction and fantasy science fiction is the subject matter. In order for a work of science fiction to qualify as science fiction, it must take place within a real, valid science. It must use science as a main basis for its story and its characters’ actions. This definition excludes works that simply take a popular concept, like aliens, and claim that it is science fiction, when in reality it is pure fantasy. For instance, although “Men in Black” is an interesting concept, it is completely unrelated to any type of physical science.
Another key difference between science fiction and fantasy fiction is that while a work of science fiction may incorporate fantasy elements, it cannot outright attempt to teach fantasy. A perfect example would be a work of fiction that tells the story of a voyage to distant planets by means of some advanced technology, but it does not present a theory or suggest that there are any theories. (The only exception would be “icators” which is often used in television science fiction, to describe various celestial factors.
The most important aspect of working definition of science fiction is the definition of the purpose of the work. Is the work purely entertainment? If so, it is science fiction, but it cannot be called science fiction merely for the purpose of entertainment. A work of fiction must have some definite purpose. For instance, if a work of fiction is to be science fiction, it must deal with an existing or future reality that can be explained by science.
Finally, in order to correctly apply the definition of science fiction to a specific instance, the definition must be analyzed within the framework of the larger definition. If for instance, a story is to be considered science fiction it is not merely a matter of whether or not it is technically feasible, but must also take into consideration what may not be possible within our current knowledge. Thus, for instance, the StarGate series by Orson Scott Card is technically feasible within a limited scientific context (i.e., a scientific mission to travel through wormholes in outer space), but Card’s use of the word “futa” in reference to the climax of the series indicates that he is taking his theme of “space-travel fantasy” to a more literal level. In this way, science fiction is more about using science to control fiction, rather than vice versa. In this way, the definition of science fiction is more a descriptive tool than a strict definition of the genre.
