The Science Fiction Literary Genre

When a person thinks of science fiction, they usually imagine futuristic cities that are complete with robots, aliens, and all forms of new technology. However, the literary genre of science fiction is made of much more than just robots and a person will need to learn more about science fiction to truly appreciate the art of writing a novel in this genre. To start a science fiction education, there are several fiction stories and novels that can be read.

One of the greatest science fiction writer of all time is Isaac Asimov. His works set much of the foundation that would build the current idea of the literary genre. An invention that appeared in his books was the three laws of robots and how a robotic society could interact with humans. Several movies have been made from Asimov’s fiction stories that feature some of the world’s biggest stars. The most famous work by Isaac Asimov was 'I, Robot' a story of a futuristic detective that must come to grips with his fear of robots. Another Asimov work that is often revered is 'Nightfall,' a short story that many experts consider the best in the literary genre.

Taking up the mantle of Asimov’s work, many other science fiction writers have emerged. One at the forefront of the modern genre is William Gibson. In Gibson’s novels, such as Burning Chrome and Mona Lisa Overdrive, the future is seen as a bleak dystopia where the power of technology has become both a drug and a means for money and power. Many see Gibson’s work as the negative possibility of what could happen should technology growth be allowed to continue without regulation. From the work of William Gibson, several terms have emerged that have become common usage, such as cyberspace, cyberpunk, and steampunk. Other writers who have shined in the science fiction genre include Bruce Sterling and Philip K. Dick.