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Science Fiction is a genre of fiction that deals with the extrapolation of current trends in science and technology into either the near or distant future. Works of science fiction can be found in literature, television, film and video games, as well as in many of other forms of media and entertainment.
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Fast Facts
- Abbreviations: Sci-fi, SF
- Common themes: Time travel, Robots, Extraterrestrials, parallel universes, nanotechnology and faster than light travel
- Major awards: Hugo Awards, Saturn Awards and Nebula Awards
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Science Fiction vs. Fantasy
Science fiction is often grouped together with [fantasy, and while it can have fantastical elements, it is notably distinct from the fantasy genre. Fantasy is generally placed in a historic-based (often pseudo-medieval) setting, and the characters' abilities come from magic. While science fiction may sometimes take place in historical settings (for example, William Gibson and Bruce Sterling's The Difference Engine, which posits that Charles Babbage's Difference Engine was completed and led to a computer revolution during the Victorian era), it is usually set in a near or distant future. Even if the abilities characters in science fiction have appear to be magical, they are generally explained by science. There are some works, notably Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series, that straddle the line between fantasy and science fiction. -
Subgenres
While hard science fiction extrapolates technological advancements from the current state of science, soft science fiction extrapolates out from current social dynamics. Alternate history imagines what would have happened if certain historic events had or had not taken place (for example, if the Axis powers had won World War II, Abraham Lincoln had not been assassinated, or George Washington had had a dirigible at his disposal). Time travel fiction sends its characters back in time, sometimes creating an alternate history situation. Space opera uses the trappings and settings of science fiction as a backdrop for a dramatic (or, at times, humorous) story, and often only makes a nod to actual science. Cyberpunk deals with advances in computer science, often in an urban setting, while post-apocalyptic fiction imagines what human society or the Earth would be like after a catastrophic disaster struck. -
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Isaac Asimov | Ray Bradbury | Kurt Vonnegut | Orson Scott Card | Battlestar Galactica | A Space Odyssey | The Final Cut | I, Robot | The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Film) | Invasion of the Body Snatchers | Serenity | War of the Worlds | Solaris | The Matrix | Star Trek Films | The Butterfly Effect | Artificial Intelligence | The Chronicles of Riddick | Alien (Film) | Waterworld | I Am Legend | Lost | Battlestar Galactica | Star Trek | The Next Generation | Bionic Woman | Heroes | Quantum Leap (TV Show) | Doctor Who | Firefly | Stargate Atlantis | Dune | Philip Jose Farmer | How to Do Science Homework
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The Mahalo Top 7
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Project Gutenberg: Science Fiction (Bookshelf)
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Amazon.com: Science Fiction/Fantasy Books
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Television: SciFi Channel
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Science Fiction Blog: io9
io9.com -
Wikipedia: Science Fiction
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News, Reviews & Resources: Locus Online
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Reference Guide: Internet Speculative Fiction Databse
isfdb.org
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Project Gutenberg: Science Fiction (Bookshelf)
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Science Fiction on Amazon | View All
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Science Is Fiction: 23 Films by Jean Painleve - $39.95
Jean Painlevé was a film director, critic, theorist, and animator, yet his interests and studies also extended to mathematics, medicine, and zoology. Amazingly, all these disparate strands came together in a groundbreaking, decades-spanning...
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November 1951 Astounding Science Fiction Vintage Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine Cover Art Metal Cigarette Case ID Holder Wallet - $9.99
A Great Product Meant To Last A Lifetime! An amazing metal case that holds credit or ID cards, business cards, or cigarettes. A high quality design meant to last a lifetime. It snaps closed for added protection against loss and weather. The...
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Cold Warriors - $4.99
A woman frozen in time awakens to her fate: deliver the weapon that will save humanity and cost her the ultimate sacrifice-her life. When Caitlin Driskoll is awakened from a cryogenic stasis, she-s got a lot of adjusting to do. It-...
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The Year's Best Science Fiction: Twenty-Fifth Annual Collection (Year's Best Science Fiction) - $21.95
In the new millennium, what secrets lay beyond the far reaches of the universe? What mysteries belie the truths we once held to be self evident? The world of science fiction has long been a porthole into the realities of tomorrow blur...
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Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series - $29.97
From the very beginning, we have struggled to understand time, matter and the infinite universe; who we are, where we are headed, and if we are alone. Great minds — and some of the genre’s most legendary writers and directors — have now ima...
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Science Fiction on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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The Transhuman Singularity - A Science Fiction Blog and Novella by ... http://bit.ly/beB7S
@danorator | July 09, 2009 07:33 PM -
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It's official SCIFI is now SYFY ... Wow they must really hate science fiction
@Spiritcrisis | July 09, 2009 07:22 PM -
Once again, Netflix, you baffle me with your suggestion of Hindi musical television based on my fondness for British science fiction.
@timdawks | July 09, 2009 07:11 PM -
elron hubbart? started scientology as a science fiction writer just to make extra money! hahaha comedy, madison just told me this
@EFLifestyle | July 09, 2009 07:02 PM
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Science Fiction News and Articles | Add a Link
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Google News Search: Science Fiction
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Sci-Fi.com: Science Fiction News of the Wek
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New York Times: "Gawker Media Gets Strung Out on Sci-Fi" (2008) and io9.com
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Entertainment Weekly: Sci-fi's Top 25 Movies and TV of the Past 25 Years (2008) (baler78)
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SFCrowsnest.com: Science Fiction: The Other God that Failed (2008)
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Forbes.com: "A Nobel Prize For Science Fiction" (2007)
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New York Times: " Making Science Fact, Now Chronicling Science Fiction" (2004)
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Time: "The Science-Fiction Situation" (1960)
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io9: Great Opening Sentences from Science Fiction
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Google News Search: Science Fiction
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Questions and Answers About Science Fiction | View All | Ask a Question
View All Science Fiction Questions (190) | Ask a QuestionNew Science Fiction series? (6 Answers)There's an ideea that I've had a few days ago, that I think I might try and write a short story about (my first): In the not too distant future, ... read moreBeing a science fiction fan, what computer case should I buy? (2 Answers)Here are some pretty cool cases: http://www.xoxide.com/xoxide-alien-x-case.html http://www.atxcases.com/item.asp?id=4437&desc=logisys-silver-gladiator-pc http://www.atxcases.com/Cases/aliencase.htm http://showmescifi.com/2008/10/22/battlestar-galactica-computer-case-mode-toast-not-included/ read moreAnthony Bourdains Fiction books? (2 Answers)Yes, I read Bone in the Throat. It's a pretty far-fetched storyline but a decent read. He should probably stick to his tv job, but it's entertaining like his show. ... read more
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Science Fiction Magazines, eZines, Periodicals and Blogs | Add a Link
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Science Fiction Awards | Add a Link
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Science Fiction Movies
- Mahalo's Guide to:
- A Space Odyssey
- The Final Cut
- I, Robot
- The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Film)
- Independence Day Film
- Invasion of the Body Snatchers
- Serenity
- War of the Worlds
- Solaris
- The Matrix
- Star Trek Films
- Sunshine Movie
- The Butterfly Effect
- Artificial Intelligence
- The Chronicles of Riddick
- Alien (Film)
- The Time Machine films
- Waterworld
- I Am Legend
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Science Fiction TV Shows
- Mahalo's Guide to:
- Lost
- Battlestar Galactica
- Star Trek and The Next Generation
- Bionic Woman
- Heroes
- Quantum Leap
- Red Dwarf
- Doctor Who
- Firefly
- Stargate Atlantis
