| The tradition of anticipating (Western) | | | | to use the benchmark of obscenity to determine |
| summertime full-length feature films with the best | | | | a science fiction work - "you don't know what it is |
| special effects spectacle from the top 3D | | | | but you know it when you see it." Vladimir |
| animation studios of Hollywood will never establish | | | | Nabokov said that if definitions would become |
| a deep following if not for the invention of the | | | | rigorous, Shakespeare's work of art The |
| literature genre science fiction. Sci-fi, as it is more | | | | Tempest would have to be included as belonging |
| fondly called by movie and literature fans, | | | | to the genre. For Rod Serling, science fiction is |
| encompasses a broad spectrum of topics and | | | | "the improbable made possible" compared to |
| situations which explores the wonders of science. | | | | fantasy which is "the impossible made probable." |
| Because a lot of imagination and creativity is | | | | Sci-fi may have some roots from the imaginative |
| involved, Sci-fi requires the aid of top-notch | | | | nature of ancient mythologies. As for the earlier |
| computer-generated 3D animation special effects | | | | works of science fiction literature, one of the first |
| to realistically involve viewers in the mise-en-scene | | | | recognized works is Kepler's Somnium which |
| or world created by the films. Thereby, Sci-fi | | | | depicts a travel to the Moon. Other earlier |
| almost always comes in the territory of fantasy | | | | literature references of science fiction include |
| (positive side of science) and horror (its adverse | | | | Voltaire's Micromegas and Jonathan Swift's Gulliver |
| effects). | | | | Travels. |
| Sci-fi is a hotbed of ideas wherein highly attractive | | | | Adding to the wealth of science fiction literature |
| scientific ideas are tested within the context of a | | | | works are Mary Shelley's books Frankenstein and |
| society - especially its consequences on the way | | | | the Last Man. Even the noted poet Edgar Allan |
| people conduct their lives with certain technologies | | | | Poe joined in on the fun by writing a story about |
| present in their lives. The more common | | | | flying to the moon. During the introduction of |
| scenarios which science fiction has thoroughly | | | | important technologies such as electricity, |
| explored are alternative time lines in the future | | | | powerful transportation and the telegraph, |
| (the Terminator franchise), outer space voyage | | | | luminaries such as Jules Verne (Around the World |
| (Star Trek), interactions with aliens (ET - Extra | | | | in 80 Days) and H.G. Wells (War of the Worlds). |
| Terrestrial), countering the laws of nature (The | | | | There had been many paradigm shifts in the |
| Matrix), and other complicated scientific principles | | | | approach of science fiction writers throughout the |
| such as time travel, psionics, nanotechnology, light | | | | years. Cyberpunk authors such as William Gibson |
| speed travel, and dystopia (wherein anarchy has | | | | started to break away from the typical optimism |
| reigned supreme). | | | | associated with Sci-fiprogress. On the other hand, |
| But just what is science fiction? Critics and fans | | | | the emergence into popular culture of the |
| alike are having difficulty pigeonholing a set | | | | massive blockbuster hit Star Wars from George |
| definition for science fiction. As early as the | | | | Lucas brought back the space opera popularized |
| 1970s, sci-fi was even not used to refer to the | | | | by Star Trek - and gave a premium on narrative |
| big-budget summer blockbusters of Hollywood. It | | | | and character development instead of accuracies |
| was used by film critics to refer to the inferior, | | | | of scientific speculation. After all scientific |
| low-budget, B-movies. | | | | imaginations were only fictitious, so why bother |
| The more popular writers of the Sci-fi genre are | | | | explaining it in a detailed manner? But this much is |
| also at a loss about a specific definition for the | | | | true: science fiction has etched a solid niche in the |
| entire literature realm. Mark C. Glassy suggested | | | | entertainment values of people worldwide. |