A Different Kind of Fantasy

“E.T. the Extraterrestrial,” “Avatar,” “The Martian,” “Artificial Intelligence,” and “Jurassic Park” are only some of the most famous science-fiction or sci-fi movies that tickled the imagination of audiences. They are popular because they take viewers to a different realm that is not as enchanted or bizarre as the supernatural world. They provide a suspension of disbelief long enough to leave audiences entertained.

Science fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction, a broader category that involves elements, settings, and characters created out of imagination and speculation far from reality and everyday life. Sci-fi usually tackles the possible consequences of scientific and other innovations. The imagined aspects of sci-fi movies include futuristic science, space travel, time travel, faster than light travel, parallel universe, and extraterrestrial life.

Writers usually base their writing on alternative worlds or possible futures, but they are not the same as worlds portrayed in fantasy movies and stories. The fictional element of science fiction stories are based on scientifically established physical laws or hypothesized ones.

Science fiction originated in the 1600s. However, some authors argue that the first true works of science fiction are Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and “The Last Man.” Edgar Allan Poe, another celebrated author, wrote a story about a flight to the moon. Following these works, many examples of science fantasy have emerged all throughout the century.

Science fiction has two categories. One is hard science fiction which pays attention to physics, astrophysics, and chemistry. Films of this category include “Gravity” and “The Martian.” The other is soft science fiction which is characterized by its focus on social sciences such as psychology, economics, political science, sociology, and anthropology. Examples of soft science fiction films are the “Planet of the Apes” franchise, the “Star Trek” franchise, and “Terminator.”

Aside from the two categories, science fiction also has several subgenres. A famous subgenre is time travel which is very common in films. Time travel stories focus on the consequences of traveling into the past or the future. Good examples time travel theme are “Inception” and “Interstellar.” Other subgenres are alternative history, space opera, climate fiction.

Science fiction as a category of literature is still a growing genre in South Korea. To date, there are only a few science fiction writers, but the number is growing.