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SCIENCE FICTION
AND THE CENTRAL CONCERNS
By Andrew Montgomery
Science Fiction
Science Fiction (SF) is a genre based on the ‘What If?’
of our world. It attempts to answer questions, and
achieve the unattainable. It creates a story based on
human problems with human answers, which would
not have possibly been achieved without the everchanging scientific content. It is one of the only
genres that is constantly changing and expanding to
compete with our constantly altering technological
state.
What if?
What if we made contact with aliens? What if time
travel was possible? What if we could travel between
planets? Science Fiction is a genre that attempts to
answer all of these questions, and many more, in
each author’s unique way. As humans develop as a
race, and time continues on, more and more
questions are asked. This means that there are yet
more questions for SF, as a genre, to answer.
Man vs. Machine
The idea of Man vs. Machine comes up quite often in
SF, and usually involves at least one fight/battle
scene. Majority of Man vs. Machine texts are set at
some point in the future, when machines have been
given consciousness, and some level of thought.
Often, that small amount of thought evolves into
something bigger, and results in machines
questioning their position in society, and attempting
to take control.
Time Travel
Some Science Fiction texts involve characters
travelling through time. Back to the Future is one
such of these texts, where the characters not only
travel into the future, but
into the past. Time travel
occurs in numerous SF
texts, however they are
also commonly taking place
in a futuristic setting.
Politics
Science Fiction often discusses politics under the
guise of something else. Many texts, even if they
don’t directly say so, have some influences of politics
within them. Whether the author means to put their
opinions into a text or not, they always make their
way into setting, character, context, and many other
aspects of a text.
Technology
Technology is one of the biggest concepts of Science
Fiction works, with many authors creating
technology based on future ideas of current
technology, or creating their whole new types of
technology altogether. SF as a genre has led to
innovations and inventions towards new technology.
Degradation of the
Human Body
Science Fiction discusses the value society places on
the human body, and how easily they are happy to
make changes to their human structure. The body
has become subject to many fictional
transformations and adaptations through SF as a
genre. From adding microchips to the human brain,
to further developing human senses, the body has
become open to numerous experiments through SF’s
genre.
Artificial (Non-Human)
Intelligence
Science Fiction discusses the evolution of knowledge
into artificiality. It brings forth ideas of computers
increasing the knowledge they are given, and
discovering more information to expand their virtual
minds. Artificial Intelligence is seen in Neuromancer
with technology evolving to such a point, that
computer programs are able to take on the form of
humans, and influence others through their
deception.
Apocalyptic Views
Science Fiction discusses numerous apocalyptic
ideals, viewing the countless possibilities of the end
of the world. It demonstrates the ways that we, as
humans, can lead to destruction of our own world, or
how natural causes can exterminate our race.
Reproduction Ideals
Science Fiction contradicts the regular reproduction
ideals, and demonstrates numerous ways in which
reproduction has transformed over the generations,
in particular with aliens and other forms of life. From
the simple sex, to countless other methods of
reproduction, continuing species has changed over
life forms.