Rob Latham's 'Fiction, 1950-1963'

Star War, Star Trek, those are probably the names that pops into your head when you think of science fiction. However, for over a hundred years, artists and philosophers from all around the world, has never been certain of the true definition of Science Fiction. Although, individual definition of science fiction has erupted in the few decades, especially during the 19th century, when the idea of extraterrestrial surged the media. Today, there are numerous definition of science fiction, each different from one another in its own element. For example, science fiction stories, according to Ray Bradbury are a possibility that has happened in the past or will happen in time. This means that science fiction is the past, the present and the

Isaac Asimov examines that science fiction aids in understanding human nature when exposed to scientific advancement. While I agree that the inclusion of technological innovation plays an integral role in understanding the genre of science fiction, I believe that science fiction includes transforming an aspect of society in order to gain insight into human nature. Furthermore, science fiction challenges individual’s epistemological beliefs and how people gain knowledge. Scholars and intellectuals continue to debate on a singular, comprehensive definition that encompasses the science fiction

Science fiction is a genre of writing involving plots and themes related to future scientific advances and major social changes, often coming from the author’s imagination rather than from factual knowledge. With the advancement of Man’s knowledge resulting from the scientific revolution, fictional predictions about the future resulted in believable new works of science fiction. Some authors pictured future technologies that would benefit mankind in some way or would let mankind explore new boundaries that had previously limited the human experience. One of these authors was Jules Verne whose imagination allowed him to pen ideas about electrical submarines and solar sails. However, other authors envisioned a bleak dystopian world in which mankind has lost many important objects, and sometimes intangible values as well. Three examples of dystopian fiction are Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s two novels, Animal Farm and 1984. Through these and other

Extraterrestrial beings, dazzling light shows, and dangerous laser guns are among the many thoughts that go through a person's mind when the genre science fiction is brought up. It seems as if each piece is so different, and so unique. However, many science fiction pieces are extremely similar. The science fiction pieces "Anthem," "Fahrenheit 451," and "The Pedestrian," are similar in the fact that they all encompass an expansion of technology, a new perspective on the well being of society, and each author's purpose for writing the book.

Because the imaginary components of science fiction can be rationalized by potential scientific explanations, there are elements of non-fiction within this genre too. This combination of both fiction and non-fiction is well-suited for Bradbury’s purposes because although his book discusses a future society, it also mentions a great deal about how the world currently is and how it was to some degree when he wrote it in the fifties.

Science fiction is a genre of film that had the most “out there” storylines and slowly became a strong building block to the most iconic movies and characters that has appeared in a film. A lot has changed since Georges Melies’ story of lunar travel where a man meets a race of selenites and escape back to earth inside a rocket in the film Le Voyage Dans La Lune to the story of a man saving the human race from a famine by travelling through a wormhole to another planet that can support the human race in the story Interstellar written by Christopher Nolan. Science Fiction has become one of the top grossing film genres accumulating nearly 9 trillion dollars ($8,932,256,387) worldwide. In the future moviegoers will witness filmmakers push the boundaries for what the general public will recognize as “Science Fiction”. One of the interesting discoveries we made was that the “mid-future” (50-150 years in the future) is one of the most popular time periods when being used in the genre. With advances in technology it is very hard not to see the progress that these films have become and eventually will

[Thesis: The Space Race and it 's overall support from the general public can be credited to the prevalence of Science fiction in American pop-culture.]

Ray Bradbury is known as one of the most influential writers in the science fiction genre. His most famous works “Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes” incorporate common science fiction themes but are made to be something even more interesting with Bradbury’s unique style and ideas. Although he is most well-known for his science fiction novels, he also wrote within the genres of fantasy and horror. Bradbury would often incorporate all three genres in one novel to create a work that truly went with the ideas running through his head. Ray Bradbury influence the science fiction genre through his distinct writing style, use of children as symbols, and his use of influences from the world around him to criticize modern warfare.

“Science fiction is any idea that occurs in the head and doesn't exist yet, but soon will, and will change everything for everybody, and nothing will ever be the same again. As soon as you have an idea that changes some small part of the world you are writing science fiction. It is always the art of the possible, never the impossible.”-Ray Bradbury. The quote written by Ray Bradbury explains how science fiction is just an idea, but eventually that idea changes everyone. The idea that seemed impossible becomes possible and by changing a small part of anything, especially the world you begin writing science fiction. Science fiction is a piece of fiction that is normally intertwined with science, new technology advancements, major changes in the world and taking place in the future or space.

"Science fiction is trying to find alternative ways of looking at realities" (Iain Banks). Bradbury used science fiction in his short stories “The Pedestrian”, “Embroidery”, and in “There Will Come Soft Rains” to shape the way people should look at situations. Science fiction is incorporated with the use of setting, advanced technology, and predictions about future events.

Science fiction is the most important literature in the history of the world… Science fiction is central to everything we have ever done and people who make fun of science fiction writers don’t know what they are talking about. Ray Bradbury. Science fiction is a type of writing that could be about many things but the future and future technology are the two that are focused on the most. We studied the movie Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan, the book The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, and excerpts from the book World War Z by Max Brooks.

Science fiction is inherently predictive. The works created under this genre often delve deeply into important issues, including anything from scientific advancements to the ramifications of  societal control. As we break through the caution tape set up by those attempting to warn of us our future, the utopias of yesterday become the dystopias of today. A world full of possibilities becomes distorted by our own desire for power and control. Though fiction turned occasional fact, science fiction has become a precursor to important discussions regarding the advancements of yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

“Science fiction is the art of the possible. It could happen. It has happened” (Bradbury, "A Conversation with Ray Bradbury”). In Ray Bradbury’s work, his characters are often extreme, he utilizes common themes between works, and his life and beliefs influence his work. Overall, Ray Bradbury’s influences and personal opinions affect his work, and his works share similarities.

Literature sounds too stuffy and high-browed an descriptor for Science Fiction as a genre. Science fiction is meant to be fantasy, something that is not real and does not strive to meet the literary aspirations of those who would write meaningful prose. Not to say that science fiction writers do not want to something meaningful, but even though the genre may be filled with writers who are degraded by "real" authors as a breed, does not mean that there are not classics that have been recognized as achieving a literary mark. It can be argued, because of the use of literary devices, that there are those science fiction novels that definitely reach the level anyone would consider literature, and among these is a book from Phillip K. Dick called The Man in the High Castle. This paper examines what literary devices were used in this book to make it both a work of science fiction and a work of literature.

As the era of literature slowly declines, the expert critiques and praise for literature are lost. Previously, novels were bursting at the seams with metaphors, symbolism, and themes. In current times, “novels” are simply short stories that have been elaborated on with basic plot elements that attempt to make the story more interesting. Instead of having expert critical analysis written about them, they will, most likely, never see that, as recent novels have nothing to analyze. Even books are beginning to collect dust, hidden away and forgotten, attributing to the rise of companies such as Spark Notes. An author deserves to have his work praised, no matter how meager and the masses should have the right to embrace it or to reject it. As