Chapter 13: Fantasy and Science Fiction

  These are the types of stories that violate the laws of physical reality. Science Fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy, so all science fiction is fantasy but not all fantasy is science fiction. There are many different types of Science Fiction and some of the types can blend into each other. This is a quick reference that briefly explains the many types. 

• Hard Science Fiction- stories that are more science based
• Soft Science Fiction- stories with a more urban setting; the story is more important than the science
• Apocalyptic- end of civilization due to catastrophe; show how people are living during this time
• Post Apocalyptic- stories begin some time after the catastrophe; show how people "come back" from the catastrophe to a standard of living
• Steam Punk- usually set in Victorian England or similar location where steam power has advanced technology
• Cyber Punk- involves hacking, computer technology; usually bleak, dark, sinister
• Bio Punk- Involves corporations, human agencies manipulating bodies, genetic engineering 
• Dystopia- involves propaganda used to control citizens; citizens under constant surveillance; citizens fear the outside world; society seems like a perfect world, but it isn't; a common subject is resistance to the government
• Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP)- involves telepathy, clairvoyance or supernatural awareness of events, and precognition
• Robots, Androids, Cyborgs, and Artificial Intelligence
• Space/Extra-Terrestrial/Aliens- these an involve first encounters, abductions, etc.
• Time Travel/Parallel Universe- (these are considered science fiction only if they are not magical) involves scientific theory, physics, paradoxes; characters usually go back to save family, prevent catastrophe, etc. 
• Virtual Reality/Gaming- involves being lost in a virtual world or chips implanted to make you think your are in a virtual world or video game
• Miscellaneous Examples- zombie outbreaks that are not apocalyptic, drugs that revers aging, character wakes us invisible, character wakes up with super powers, cryogenics or freezing, two souls in one body, etc. 

Criteria for Evaluating Sci and Fantasy for Children

• characters must behave in consistent and believable ways
• the fantasy world must have rules
• authors must assist readers in the "willingness of disbelief"
• the theme(s) should explore universal truths