Outline of science fiction


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".

What is science fiction?

  • 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. Another challenge is that there is disagreement over where to draw the boundaries between science fiction and related genres.
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. Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work.
  • * Genre fiction - fictional works 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 fiction
  • Genre – science fiction is a genre of fiction.

    Genres

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.

Science

Genres concerning the emphasis, accuracy, and type of science described include:
  • Hard science fiction—a particular emphasis on scientific detail and/or accuracy.
  • Mundane science fiction—a subgenre of hard sci-fi which sets stories on Earth or the Solar System using current or plausible technology.
  • Soft science fiction—often exploring psychology, sociology, anthropology, and political science, focus on human characters and their relations and feelings. Emphasizes social sciences while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws. In some cases, science and technology are depicted without much concern for accuracy.

    Characteristics

related to science, technology, space and the future, as well as characteristic plots or settings include:
Genres concerning politics, philosophy, and identity movements include:
Genres 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 fiction
  • Golden 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.

    Combinations

Genres that combine two different fiction genres or use a different fiction genre's mood or style include:

Character elements

Plot devices

The setting is the environment in which the story takes place. Alien settings require authors to do worldbuilding to create a fictional planet and geography. Elements of setting may include culture, period, place, nature, and hour. Setting elements characteristic of science fiction include:

Place

Works

Art

The science fiction genre has a number of recognition awards for authors, editors, and illustrators. Awards are usually granted annually.

International awards

Major awards given in chronological order:
Years awardedNameDescription
since 1953Hugo Awardfor general science fiction
since 1965Nebula Awardfor science fiction and fantasy
since 1966Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for significant contributions to science fiction
since 1970BSFA awardfor British science fiction
since 1970Seiun Awardfor Japanese science fiction
since 1971Locus Awardfor science fiction, fantasy, and new authors
since 1972Saturn Awardfor film and television science fiction
since 1973John W. Campbell Memorial Awardfor best science fiction novel
since 1978Rhysling Awardfor best science fiction poetry, given by the Science Fiction Poetry Association
1979–1985Balrog Awardsfor the best works and achievements of speculative fiction in the previous year, in various categories
since 1979Prometheus Awardfor libertarian science fiction
since 1982Philip K. Dick Awardfor science fiction published in paperback
since 1987Arthur C. Clarke Award
since 1987Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Awardfor best short science fiction
since 1996Méliès d'Orfor science fiction, fantasy and horror films
since 2003Robert A. Heinlein Award"for science fiction and technical writings inspire the human exploration of space"
since 2006Parsec Award
since 2016Dragon Awards
since 2017Nommo Awardrecognise works of speculative fiction by Africans
since 2021Mike Resnick Memorial Award for Short Fictionfor the best Science Fiction Short Story by a New Author

Nationality-specific awards

; Australian
; British
; Canadian
; Chinese
; Croatian
; Dutch
; Estonian
; Finnish
; French
; German
; Israeli
; Italian
; Japanese
; New Zealander
; Pacific Northwestern
; Polish
; Romanian
; Russian
; Turkish

Themed awards

Creators

Artists

There are a number of science fiction media franchises of this type, typically encompassing media such as cinema films, TV shows, toys, and even theme parks related to the content. The highest-grossing media franchises|highest-grossing] science fiction franchise is Star Wars.
Space science fiction franchises: