Definition of

Science fiction

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Science fiction movies are very popular.

Science fiction is a genre whose content is based on supposed scientific or technical achievements that could be achieved in the future . This scientific basis makes science fiction different from the fantasy genre, where the situations and characters are the fruit of the imagination.

The science fiction genre has also been known as anticipation literature , given the aforementioned characteristics. In fact, many science fiction authors have managed to anticipate the emergence of different inventions, such as Jules Verne with submarines or spaceships.

Rise of science fiction

Science fiction was born as a literary subgenre in the 1920s . Over time, it expanded to different formats. Cinematographic science fiction has been one of the most successful adaptations, especially from the second half of the 20th century .

Specifically, in the 20th century, it is interesting to highlight the appearance of a series of movements or trends within the science fiction genre that have become authentic references. Thus, first of all, we find cyberpunk, which was the movement that emerged in the 1980s and that occurred as a consequence of the development and expansion of computers, which led science fiction authors to exploit that possibility. of computers dominating humans.

famous movies

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Among the most significant films that became perfect examples of the aforementioned cyberpunk is the film titled "Blade Runner", released in 1982 by director Ridley Scott and which is based on a 1968 novel called "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep." ?» and written by Philip K. Dick. A true classic of the science fiction genre is this North American production, as is another also included within the aforementioned movement. Specifically, we are referring to "Terminator" (1984) which is directed by James Cameron, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and which had three more episodes.

While cyberpunk established a negative and apocalyptic vision of the presence of computers in our society, postcyberpunk, which appeared in the 1990s, was much more optimistic in this sense. Hence, scientists and researchers who fundamentally want to use technology for the benefit of society are taken as protagonists in the stories of this movement. A perfect example of this type of science fiction is the “Otherland” series made by Tad Williams.

Humanoid

Robots are frequent protagonists of science fiction stories.

Hard Science Fiction vs. soft science fiction

There are those who distinguish between hard science fiction and soft science fiction , according to the rigor with which scientific data is treated. Hard science fiction would be "the most scientific" , without much room for imagination. On the other hand, soft science fiction includes some assumptions without scientific or factual basis.

Among the most famous authors of science fiction, we can name Isaac Asimov ( 1920 - 1992 , author of "I, Robot" ), Ray Bradbury ( 1920 , "The Martian Chronicles" , "Fahrenheit 451" ), Arthur C. Clarke ( 1917).2008 , “Space Odyssey” ), Aldous Huxley ( 18941963 , “Brave New World” ), Ursula K. Le Guin ( 1929 , “The Dispossessed” ) and the aforementioned Jules Verne ( 18281905 , “Journey to the center of the Earth" , "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" ).