Science Fiction has been a successful genre since the late 19th century, when books by writers such as HG Wells began to deal explicitly with the impact of technology on our culture. Like Horror, it has continually evolved in both content and style, and also like horror, it provides a reflection of the anxieties of its era. Science Fiction, for all its dealing with the future, is a historiographical genre, ie it rewrites history, rather than making genuine predictions for the future. Science fiction is often known as the genre of ideas, and forms a discourse on many of the cultural, moral, religious and sociological predilictions of the day, as well as the technological.
So, what is SF? Further Reading
Major Science Fiction Authors
You can find details of 100s of science fiction authors at SF Site. The list below is of those who have played a major part in shaping the genre, and is not exhaustive. And yes, it does mostly consist of white men.
Major Science Fiction Movies
It is even harder to compile a list of major science fiction movies than it is authors - as there are so many out there. This selection have had a profound influence on the genre - possibly because of the new ideas they contained, or the new approach they adopted to a well-worn subject, or because they were simply so popular that they have become icons of the genre, whether deservedly or not.
In rough chronological order:
Major Science Fiction TV Series
Despite (or perhaps because of) the budgetary constraints presented by the small screen, science fiction has thrived as a genre on TV. The Sci-Fi Channel makes a healthy living by presenting new series and cult classics, proving that there is a 24/7 appetite for elaborate makeup, complex mythologising and agonisingly cheesy dialogue.
Science Fiction television, because it is not set in a particular time, can be repeated endlessly, continually gathering up new generations of fans. Many of these cult classics have also been released on DVD, and their lo-fi approach to special effects is part of their charm. Here are a few of the more innovative (ie not carbon copies of Star Trek) TV series of the last 50 years.