The Appeal of Science Fiction
Eng-241 Science Fiction and Fantasy
The Appeal of Science Fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with scientific content like superpowers, the future, or extraterrestrial life. Personally, I like science fiction because it offers a form of escape from reality and, although all fiction does this, it creates new possibilities for the future. Author Gary Benford defines the genre as “…a controlled way to think and dream about the future. An integration of the mood and attitude of science (the objective universe) with the fears and hopes that spring from the unconscious. Anything that turns you and your social context, the social you, inside out. Nightmares and visions, always outlined by the barely possible.” I would certainly highlight “controlled way to dream about the future” because I believe it incorporates both aspects (the science and the fiction) of science fiction. However, I might shy away from using the phrase “barely possible” because I think certain aspects of science fiction, at least what I’ve read, deals with the extremely impossible. Another benefit of science fiction is that it carries its own interesting subgenres that are very popular on their own.
I would not be going out on a limb by saying science fiction is my favorite genre. Virtually every book I read and every movie I watch could be defined as science fiction and my all-time favorites (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, etc.) would definitely be considered science fiction. I believe science fiction contributes many things to society. First and foremost, it, like all genres, is entertaining to a certain crowd. Who doesn’t like a good story about aliens or Spiderman? Also, stories in this genre often center on an average citizen that transforms into a hero or heroine that is usually a “larger than life” character. I think that aspect of science fiction is appealing because it gives the average person hope that the real world is in the good hands of these
The Appeal of Science Fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with scientific content like superpowers, the future, or extraterrestrial life. Personally, I like science fiction because it offers a form of escape from reality and, although all fiction does this, it creates new possibilities for the future. Author Gary Benford defines the genre as “…a controlled way to think and dream about the future. An integration of the mood and attitude of science (the objective universe) with the fears and hopes that spring from the unconscious. Anything that turns you and your social context, the social you, inside out. Nightmares and visions, always outlined by the barely possible.” I would certainly highlight “controlled way to dream about the future” because I believe it incorporates both aspects (the science and the fiction) of science fiction. However, I might shy away from using the phrase “barely possible” because I think certain aspects of science fiction, at least what I’ve read, deals with the extremely impossible. Another benefit of science fiction is that it carries its own interesting subgenres that are very popular on their own.
I would not be going out on a limb by saying science fiction is my favorite genre. Virtually every book I read and every movie I watch could be defined as science fiction and my all-time favorites (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, The Hunger Games, etc.) would definitely be considered science fiction. I believe science fiction contributes many things to society. First and foremost, it, like all genres, is entertaining to a certain crowd. Who doesn’t like a good story about aliens or Spiderman? Also, stories in this genre often center on an average citizen that transforms into a hero or heroine that is usually a “larger than life” character. I think that aspect of science fiction is appealing because it gives the average person hope that the real world is in the good hands of these