The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to science fiction:
Science fiction – a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting. Exploring the consequences of such innovations is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".
Definitions of science fiction: Science fiction includes such a wide range of themes and subgenres that it is notoriously difficult to define. Accordingly, there have been many definitions offered.Science fiction is a type of:
Fiction – form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work.Genre fiction – fictional works (novels, short stories) written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Also known as popular fiction.Speculative fictionGenre – science fiction is a genre of fiction.Science fiction genre – while science fiction is a genre of fiction, a science fiction genre is a subgenre within science fiction. Science fiction may be divided along any number of overlapping axes. Gary K. Wolfe's Critical Terms for Science Fiction and Fantasy identifies over 30 subdivisions of science fiction, not including science fantasy (which is a mixed genre).
Genres concerning the emphasis, accuracy, and type of science described include:
Hard science fiction—a particular emphasis on scientific detail and/or accuracySoft science fiction—focus on human characters and their relations and feelings, while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical lawsThemes related to science, technology, space and the future, as well as characteristic plots or settings include:
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic science fictionBiopunk — centered around genetic engineering and biotechnology, biopunk uses some both (post)cyberpunk elements and post-modernist prose to describe a typically dystopian world of biohackers, man-made viruses, mutations, designer babies, artificial life forms, bio-genetic engineered human-animal hybrids and bio-genetically manipulated humans.Cyberpunk — uses elements from the hard-boiled detective novel, film noir, Japanese anime, and post-modernist prose to describe the nihilistic, underground side of a cybernetic societyClimate fiction — emphasizes effects of anthropogenic climate change and global warming at the end of the Holocene eraDying Earth science fictionMilitary science fictionSteampunk — denotes works set in (or strongly inspired by) an era when steam power was still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian England — though with otherwise high technology or other science fiction elementsTime travelSpace colonizationSpace opera — emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger-than-life charactersSocial science fiction — concerned less with technology and more with sociological speculation about human societyMundane science fictionGenres concerning politics, philosophy, and identity movements include:
Christian science fictionFeminist science fictionGay/lesbian science fictionLibertarian science fictionGenres concerning the historical era of creation and publication include:
Scientific romance — an archaic name for what is now known as the science fiction genre, mostly associated with the early science fiction of the United Kingdom.Pulp science fictionGolden Age of Science Fiction — a period of the 1940s during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published.New Wave science fiction — characterised by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content.Cyberpunk — noted for its focus on "high tech, low life" and taking its name from the combination of cybernetics and punk.Genres that combine two different fiction genres or use a different fiction genre's mood or style include:
Alternate history science fiction—fiction set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally knownComic science fictionScience fiction eroticaAdventure science fiction—science fiction adventure is similar to many genresGothic science fiction—a subgenre of science fiction that involves gothic conventionsNew Wave science fiction—characterized by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in contentScience fantasy—a mixed genre of story which contains some science fiction and some fantasy elementsScience fiction opera—a mixture of opera and science fiction involving empathic themesScience fiction romance—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and romance genresScience fiction mystery—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and mystery genres, encompassing Occult detective fiction and science fiction detectivesScience fiction Western—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and Western genresSpace Western—a subgenre of science fiction that transposes themes of American Western books and film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers.Spy-fi a subgenre of spy fiction that includes some science fiction.FantasyScience fantasyMystery fictionHorror fictionSlipstream fictionSpeculative fictionWeird fictionSuperhero fictionAustralian science fictionBengali science fictionCanadian science fictionChilean science fictionChinese science fictionCroatian science fictionCzech science fictionEstonian science fictionFrench science fictionJapanese science fictionNorwegian science fictionPolish science fictionRomanian science fictionRussian science fictionSerbian science fictionSpanish science fictionHistory of science fiction filmsList of stock characters in science fictionExtraterrestrials in fictionHyperspaceThe setting is the environment in which the story takes place. Elements of setting may include culture (and its technologies), period (including the future), place (geography/astronomy), nature (physical laws, etc.), and hour. Setting elements characteristic of science fiction include:
Parallel universesPlanets in science fictionHyperspaceSlipstreamEarth in science fictionPolitical ideas in science fictionUtopian and dystopian fictionWorld government in science fictionWorld government in fictionReligious ideas in science fictionList of religious ideas in science fictionReligion in speculative fictionXenologySex and gender in science fiction
Gender in science fictionSex in science fictionPregnancy in science fictionLGBT themes in speculative fictionTechnology in science fiction
Computer technologyArtificial intelligence in fictionList of fictional computersMind uploading in fictionTransportationFlying car (aircraft)Space dockWeapons in science fictionRailguns in science fictionResizingSimulated reality in fictionSpace warfare in fictionWeapons in science fictionFirst contactList of science fiction and fantasy artistsScience fiction comicsScience fiction comicsSpeculative poetryList of science fiction novelsList of science fiction short storiesVenues for science fiction short stories
Science fiction magazineScience fiction fanzineScience fiction filmScience fiction on televisionList of science fiction television programsList of science fiction sitcomsU.S. television science fictionBritish television science fictionScience fiction radio programsScience fiction studiesNew Wave science fictionScience in science fictionMaterials science in science fictionScience fiction and fantasy journalsScience fiction libraries and museumsScience fiction conventionsList of science fiction conventionsList of fan conventions by date of foundingScience fiction fandomScience fiction fanzineScience fiction organizationsThe science fiction genre has a number of recognition awards for authors, editors and illustrators. Awards are usually granted annually.
Hugo Award—since 1955—General Science FictionNebula Award—since 1965—General Science FictionEdward E. Smith Memorial Award (the Skylark)—since 1966BSFA Award—since 1970—British Science FictionSeiun Award—since 1970—Japanese Science FictionLocus Award—since 1971—SciFi / Fantasy / New Authors (separate awards)Saturn Award—film and television SF—since 1972John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel—since 1973Rhysling Award—for best science fiction poetry, given by the Science Fiction Poetry Association—since 1978Parsec Award—since 2006Philip K. Dick Award—since 1982Arthur C. Clarke Award—since 1987Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for best short science fiction—since 1987Robert A. Heinlein Award—since 2003Aurealis Award—AustralianPrix Aurora Awards—for Canadian science fictionChandler Award—for contributions to Australian Science fictionDitmar Award—for SF by AustraliansThe Constellation Awards—for the best SF/fantasy film or television works released in CanadaThe Galaxy Awards (银河奖)—given by magazine Science Fiction World for Chinese SF&FSFERA Award—given by SFera, a Croatian SF societyPaul Harland Prize—for Dutch SFStalker Award—for the best Estonian SF novel, given out on Estcon by Eesti Ulmeühing, the Estonian SF society.Tähtivaeltaja Award—for the best SF novel released in FinlandPrix Jules-Verne—France 1927–1933 and 1958–1963Prix Tour-Apollo Award—France since 1972Kurd-Laßwitz-Preis—German SF awardPremio Urania—for Italian SFNihon SF Taisho Award—Japan since 1980Sir Julius Vogel Award—for SF by New ZealandersEndeavour Award—for SF by Pacific Northwest author(s)Janusz A. Zajdel Award—award of Polish fandomNautilus Award—Polish awardSRSFF Award—RomâniaTBD Science Fiction Story Award—TurkeyKitschies—for speculative fiction novels published in the UKPrometheus Award—best libertarian SF—since 1979Lambda Literary Award—since 1988Tiptree Award—since 1991Golden Duck Awards—best children's SF—since 1992Sidewise Award for Alternate History—since 1995Gaylactic Spectrum Awards—since 1999Geffen Award—Israeli award—since 1999Norton Award—San Francisco—since 2003Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards—since 2009Writers of the Future—contest for new authorsJack Gaughan Award—for Best Emerging ArtistJohn W. Campbell Award—for Best New WriterCompton Crook Award—for best first novel in the genre in a given yearDamon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award—associated with the NebulaList of science fiction and fantasy artistsList of science fiction authorsWomen science fiction authorsList of science fiction editorsBrian AldissIsaac Asimov—Asimov on Science FictionBrian AtteberyEverett F. BleilerJohn W. CampbellJohn Clute—co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (with Peter Nicholls)Samuel R. DelanyHugo Gernsback—founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and the person who the Hugo Awards are named after.David HartwellLarry McCafferyJudith MerrilSam MoskowitzPeter Nicholls—co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (with John Clute)Alexei PanshinDavid Pringle—editor of Foundation and Interzone; author of Science Fiction: The 100 Best NovelsAndrew SawyerDorothy ScarboroughBrian StablefordDarko SuvinGary K. Wolfe 