| Origin | 17th century Europe |
| Themes | Technological utopianism • Social commentary |
| Decline | Latter half of the 1900s |
| Current status | Important influence on culture, media, and scientific advancement |
| Influenced fields | |
| Popularity growth | Over the next few centuries |
| Pioneering authors | |
| Peak of mainstream success | Mid-20th century 'golden age' |
Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. Though its exact origins are debated, science fiction as a distinct literary form is generally considered to have emerged in 17th century Europe, particularly in France and the Dutch Republic.
The earliest works considered prototypes of the science fiction genre date back to the 17th century. In 1638, Francis Godwin's ''The Man in the Moone'' depicted a journey to the Moon, while Cyrano de Bergerac's ''Other Worlds'' (1657) and ''The States and Empires of the Moon'' (1662) explored ideas of space travel and alien civilizations. These works, though fantastical, were grounded in emerging scientific concepts of the time.
Over the next two centuries, the science fiction genre gradually expanded, with notable early works including Johannes Kepler's ''Somnium'' (1634), Tiphaigne de la Roche's ''Giphantie'' (1760), and Louis-Sébastien Mercier's ''L'An 2440, rêve s'il en fût jamais'' (1771). These stories often featured utopian or dystopian visions of the future, with technology, social reform, and philosophy as central themes.
The 19th century saw a flourishing of science fiction, particularly in Western Europe and the Dutch East Indies. Prominent authors from this period include Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, and Edward Bellamy. Their works explored ideas like space travel, time travel, artificial intelligence, and the impacts of industrial and scientific progress on society.
Many of these science fiction stories had a dual purpose - to entertain readers with imaginative tales, but also to comment on contemporary social and political issues. Authors used futuristic settings to critique institutions, imagine alternatives, and explore the moral implications of technological change.
As science fiction grew in popularity, it began to exert a significant influence on the development of actual science and technology. Concepts first depicted in science fiction stories sometimes presaged or inspired real scientific and engineering breakthroughs.
For example, the work of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, a key figure in the history of rocketry and spaceflight, was directly inspired by reading the novels of Jules Verne. Similarly, early pioneers of computer science and artificial intelligence drew inspiration from the visions of thinkers like Alan Turing and Isaac Asimov.
Science fiction reached its peak of mainstream popularity and critical acclaim in the mid-20th century, a period now known as the "Golden Age" of the genre. This era was characterized by a proliferation of pulp magazines, the rise of iconic authors like Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury, and the emergence of influential sub-genres like hard science fiction.
However, by the late 1960s and 1970s, science fiction began to decline in popularity, as the public became more cynical about the promises and perils of technological progress. The genre fractured into niche sub-cultures, with hard sci-fi giving way to more politically-charged cyberpunk and New Wave fiction.
Today, while no longer a major commercial force, science fiction remains an influential and innovative genre, continuously reinventing itself and serving as a medium for social commentary, futurism, and scientific speculation. Its impact can be seen across film, television, literature, and the real world development of transformative technologies.
