What is Science Fiction?

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

This author is perplexed.

 

The only comment I will make at this time is that Sci-fi is the Latin plural of Scum-fum.  The correct acronym is SF.

[Alejandro24 575]

Science Fiction is all those material that plays in a fantastic way with future and its elements. It depends of how actual, retro or post are the work to define any subline of sci-fi.

 

But be carefull, It must not be confused with futurism (art and social movement) and future studies (which use scientific ways to determinate the future).

 

I guess that is sci-fi. But it is truly hard to define.

[A Nonny Moose 8,263]

SF has many facets.  The problem is distinguishing between Science Fiction and Science Fantasy.  For example, the works of H. Beam Piper can fall into both categories depending on title.  The Paratime police stories are pure fantasy but read like a novel.  Little Fuzzy, on the other hand, takes place in a future galactic empire which might just be possible.

 

Robert Heinlein is another example:  'If This Goes On' is a cautionary tale of how the U.S. could fall into a religious dictatorship.  Stranger in a Strange Land starts out as speculation of landing on Mars then veers off into a fantasy of Marian 'Old Ones', mental powers, and free love.  It is hard to classify such a novel as Science Fiction when it turns so quickly into fantasy.

 

This area is about as clear as a black cat in a coal bin at midnight on a moonless night.