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The following is a list of recurring themes in science fiction. Please note this list also includes themes you'd also find in other genres.
{{TOCright}}
{{Original research|date=August 2008}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}


==Overarching themes==
Science fiction is a broad [[genre]] of [[fiction]] that often involves speculations based on current or future [[science]] or [[technology]]. Science fiction is found in [[book]]s, [[art]], [[television]], [[film]]s, [[game]]s, [[theatre]], and other media. In organizational or marketing contexts, science fiction can be synonymous with the broader definition of [[speculative fiction]], encompassing creative works incorporating imaginative elements not found in contemporary reality; this includes [[fantasy]], [[Horror fiction|horror]], and related [[genre]]s.<ref name="spec def">{{cite web
|url=http://www.greententacles.com/articles/5/26/
|title=What is Speculative Fiction?
|author=N. E. Lilly
|date=2002-03
|accessdate=2007-01-16
}}</ref>

Science fiction differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though ''some'' elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation). Exploring the consequences of such differences is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas".<ref>
{{cite web
| author = Marg Gilks, Paula Fleming and Moira Allen
| title = Science Fiction: The Literature of Ideas
| work =
| publisher =WritingWorld.com
| year =2003
| url = http://www.writing-world.com/sf/sf.shtml
| accessdate = }}
</ref> Science fiction is largely based on writing entertainingly and rationally about alternate possibilities<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Del Rey
| first = Lester
| title = The World of Science Fiction: 1926-1976
| publisher = Ballantine Books
| year =1979
| pages = 5
| id = ISBN 0-345-25452-x }}
</ref>
in settings that are contrary to known reality.

These may include:
*A setting in the future, in alternative time lines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archeological record
*A setting in [[outer space]], on other worlds, or involving [[Extraterrestrial life|aliens]]<ref>Sterling, Bruce. "Science fiction" in ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'' 2008 [http://www.britannica.com/oscar/print?articleId=66289&fullArticle=true&tocId=235716]</ref>
*Stories that involve technology or scientific principles that contradict known laws of nature<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Card
| first = Scott
| title = How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy
| publisher = Writer's Digest Books
| year =1990
| pages = 17
| id = ISBN 0-89879-416-1}}
</ref>
*Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles, such as [[time travel]] or [[psionics]], or new technology, such as [[nanotechnology]], [[faster-than-light]] travel or [[robot]]s, or of new and different political or social systems<ref>
{{cite book
| last = Hartwell
| first = David G.
| title = Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction
| publisher = Tor Books
| year =1996
| pages = 109-131
| id = ISBN 0-312-86235-0 }}
</ref>

This article lists themes noted by critical commentators as being common to SF, and motifs that are often included in science fiction works.

==Common themes and tropes==
{{seealso|Science fiction genre}}
{{seealso|Science fiction genre}}
===[[Cosmology]]===
*[[Cosmology]]
*[[Creation myth|Creation of the Universe]]
*The [[future]]
*The [[future]] <ref name="[[Doctor Who]]"></ref> <ref name="[[Back to the Future]]"></ref> <ref name="[[The Time Machine]]"></ref>
*[[Parallel universe (fiction)|Parallel universe]]s<ref name=hist&paral/>
*[[History]] <ref name="Doctor Who"></ref>
**[[Alternate history (fiction)|Alternate history]] <ref name="Doctor Who"></ref>
===[[History]]===
**[[Social cycle theory|Historical cycles]]: history repeating itself (either on long or short scales)
**[[Alternate history (fiction)|Alternate history]]<ref name=hist&paral>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235732/Alternate-histories-and-parallel-universes#toc235732</ref>
**Scientific [[prediction]] of the future (e.g. [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistory]]){{Fact|date=January 2009}}
**Scientific [[prediction]] of the future (e.g. [[Psychohistory (fictional)|psychohistory]])
**[[Secret history]]

*[[Language]]
===Military===
**Alien languages (e.g. [[Klingon language|Klingon]], [[Hutt|Huttese]])
**All humans speaking one language (possibly [[Esperanto]])
**Current human languages evolving/splitting
**The [[Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis]] being strongly true (e.g. [[Babel 17]] by [[Samuel R. Delany]] or [[The Languages of Pao]] by [[Jack Vance]])
**[[Universal Translator]]s (e.g. [[Babel fish]])
*[[Military science fiction|Military]] - strategy, weapons, ranks, technologies.
*[[Military science fiction|Military]] - strategy, weapons, ranks, technologies.
**[[Ray gun]]s
**[[Ray gun]]s
**[[Space warfare]] <ref name="[[Star Wars]]"></ref> <ref name="[[Battlestar Gallactica]]"></ref>
**[[Space warfare]]
**[[Alien invasion]]
*[[Omega Point]]
*[[Quantum suicide and immortality]]

*[[Parallel universe (fiction)|Parallel world]]s or universes. <ref name="[[Doctor Who]]"></ref> <ref name="[[Doctor Who]]"></ref>
===Alternative societies<ref name=altsoc>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235727/Alternative-societies#toc235727</ref>===
**There is a space based civilization variant of this theme. This plot device allows writers to write [[soft science fiction]] while accounting for the lack of technological advancement and thus similarity to the present day.
*[[Religious ideas in science fiction]]
*[[Religious ideas in science fiction]]
*[[Horror fiction|Sci horror]] [Frankenstein], [The Demon Seed], [the Alien series]
*[[Sex in science fiction]]<ref name=sex&gender>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235728/Sex-and-gender#toc235728</ref>
*[[Fantasy fiction|Sci fantasy]]
*[[Sex in science fiction|Sex]] (including [[gender role]]s, [[polygamy]], [[Human sexual behavior|sexuality]] and [[Reproduction|procreation]])
** [[Homosexuality in science fiction]]
** [[Homosexuality in science fiction]]
* [[Gender in science fiction]]<ref name=sex&gender/>
** [[Gender in science fiction]]
** [[Sex in science fiction]]
** [[Reproduction and pregnancy in science fiction]]
** [[Reproduction and pregnancy in science fiction]]
** [[Nudity in science fiction]]
*[[Astrobiology]]{{Fact|date=December 2008}}
*[[Sociology]] and [[sociobiology]]
*[[First contact (science fiction)|First contact]]
*[[Space Opera]]
*Alien languages (e.g. [[Klingon language|Klingon]])


==Types of beings==
===Political structures<ref name=altsoc/>===
*Alternate intelligences
{{Main|Political ideas in science fiction}}
**[[Artificial intelligence]]
*[[Dystopia]]s and [[utopia]]<ref>shttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235725/Major-science-fiction-themes#toc235725</ref>
**Beings of pure mentality
*[[Galactic empire]]s
*[[Libertarianism]]'''
**[[Hive mind]]s
**[[Infomorph]]s - memories, characters and consciences of persons being uploaded to a computer or storage media
{{main|Libertarian science fiction}}
**[[Noosphere]] - the "sphere of human thought"
*[[Telepathy|Mind reading]] and [[mind control]]
**[[Solipsism]] & [[Solipsism syndrome]] - a belief that the universe is entirely the creation of one's own mind
*[[World government in science fiction]]
*[[Android]]s and [[Gynoid]]s
*[[post scarcity|Post-"Age of Scarcity"]] (arguments over how to distribute resources are irrelevant since anyone can have anything they reasonably want).{{Fact|date=November 2008}}
**[[Cyborg]]s
**[[Robot]]s and [[humanoid robot]]s
**[[Replicant]]s
**[[Pleasure Unit|Sexbot]]s
*Characters
**The [[Absent-minded professor]] or [[Monomane]] & [[Eclecticism]]
**The [[Detective]]
**The God-Like Alien
**The Golem
**The Ignorant Friend
**[[Redshirt]]
**The Robot Clone
**The Robot Servant
**The [[Scientist]]
***The [[Mad Scientist]]
***The Amoral Scientist
***The Heroic Scientist
***The Lame Amoral Scientist
**The [[Wedge Antilles|Wedge]]
*[[Cloning|Clone]]s
*[[Extraterrestrial life]] (see [[Extraterrestrial life in culture]])
**[[Alien invasion]]
**[[Astrobiology]]
**[[Benevolent aliens]]
**[[First contact (science fiction)|First contact]]
***Principles of non-interference (e.g. [[Prime Directive]])
*Living Planets
*[[Mutant (fictional)|Mutants]]
*[[Shapeshifting|Shapeshifters]]
*[[Superhuman]]s
*[[Symbiont]]s
*[[Biological uplift|Uplifted animals]] - using technology to "raise" non-human animals to human evolutionary levels


===Body and mind alterations===
==Body and mind alterations==
*[[Bio-implant]]s
*[[Bio-implant]]s
**[[Body modification]], including [[genetic modification]]
**[[Body modification]], including [[genetic modification]]
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**[[Cybernetics]]
**[[Cybernetics]]
*[[Intelligence amplification]]
*[[Intelligence amplification]]
*[[Invisibility]]{{Fact|date=January 2009}}
*[[Invisibility]]
*[[Life extension]], [[Biological immortality]], Universal immortalism and [[immortality]]
**[[Artificial organ]]s
**[[Artificial organ]]s
**[[Cloning]]
**[[Cloning]]
**[[Cryonics]]
**[[Cryonics]]
**[[Organlegging#The Organ Bank Problem|The Organ Bank Problem]] - a proposed problem in which the reduced death rate caused by [[organ transplant]]s would lead to a shortage of organs available for transplant
*Mind interfacing
**Memory removal/editing
**[[Mind control]]
**[[Mind uploading]]
**[[Mind uploading]]
**Neural implants to directly interface with machinery
*[[Molecular manufacturing]] & [[Nanotechnology]]
*[[Molecular manufacturing]] & [[Nanotechnology]] (nanomilitary, nanomaterials, nanoecology, nanomedicine, nanocomputing, nanospace, nanoenergy)
*[[Parapsychology|Psi powers and psychic phenomenon]]
*[[Parapsychology|Psi powers and psychic phenomenon]]
**[[Clairvoyance]]
**[[Clairvoyance]]
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**[[Telekinesis]]
**[[Telekinesis]]
*[[Paradise engineering]]
*[[Paradise engineering]]
*[[Resizing (fiction)|Resizing]]
*[[Resizing (fiction)|Resizing]] (size-changing, miniaturization, magnification, shrinking, and enlargement)
*[[Shapeshifting]]
*[[Shapeshifting]]
*[[Telepathy]]
*[[Teleportation]]
*[[Teleportation]]


===Possible futures===
==Possible futures==
*[[Alien invasion]]s
*[[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|Apocalypses or world wide disasters]]
*[[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|Apocalypses or world wide disasters]]
*[[Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction|Post-apocalyptic life]] - new societies that develop after the event
*[[Posthumanism]]
*[[Posthumanism]]
*[[Race of the Future]]
*[[Ultimate fate of the Universe]] & [[Kardashev scale]]
*[[Ultimate fate of the Universe]] & [[Kardashev scale]]


==Political structures==
===Habitats===
{{Main|Political ideas in science fiction}}
*[[Domed city]]{{Fact|date=January 2009}}
*[[First contact (science fiction)|Alien Contact]]
*[[Anarchism]]
*[[Anarcho-capitalism]] (see: [[Anarcho-capitalist literature]] and [[Libertarian science fiction]])
*[[Assassination]]
*[[Astrosociology]]
**return to [[feudalism]]
**hive-like [[eusocial]] societies
**future [[caste system]]s
*[[Capitalism]]
*[[Dystopia]]s and [[utopia]]s
*[[Environmentalism]]
**Science fiction is used to raise awareness of environmental ideas. Lends itself well to dystopian futures. Frank Herbert and Kim Stanley Robinson are known for their serious concern with ecological issues.
*[[Economics]]
*[[Eugenics]]
*[[Fascism]]
*[[Galactic empire]]s
*[[Interstellar federation of planets]]
*[[Legal personality]]
*[[Libertarianism]]'''
{{main|Libertarian science fiction}}
*Limited-franchise [[republic]]
*[[Militarism]]
*[[Mind reading]] and [[mind control]]
*[[National security]] state
*[[Nepotism]]
*[[Pacifism]]
*[[Plutocracy]]
*[[Proportional representation]]
*[[Racism]]
*[[Revolution]]
*[[Slavery]]
*[[Socialism]]
*[[Theocracy]]
*[[Totalitarianism]] vs. [[Libertarianism]] (see: [[Libertarian science fiction]])
*[[Treason]]
*[[World government]]
*[[Zero population growth]]

==Habitats==
*Alien [[Reality Television]], usually the protagonist discovers his life has been one big reality television show for aliens.
*Alien [[Zoo]], a zoo where humans are kept as exhibits.
*[[Arcology|Arcologies]] - enormous habitats (hyperstructures) of extremely high human population density
*[[Domed city]]
*[[Endemic]]
*Exploring alien habitats.
*[[Floating city (science fiction)|Floating City]]
*[[Floating city (science fiction)|Floating City]]
*[[Seasteading]] & [[Ocean colonization]]
**[[Pirate utopia]]
*[[Space colonization]]
*[[Space colonization]]
**[[Terraforming]]
**[[Terraforming]]
**[[List of largest known stars]] & [[List of most luminous stars]]
*[[Underground city]]{{Fact|date=January 2009}}
*[[Underground city]]
*[[Walking City]]


==Travel==

===Travel===
*[[Space colonization|Colonization]] of other planets, moons, [[asteroid]]s, etc.
*[[Space colonization|Colonization]] of other planets, moons, [[asteroid]]s, etc.
**[[Terraforming]]
***[[Terraforming]]
*Moving planets
*[[Space exploration]]<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235730/Space-travel#toc235730</ref><!-- Nb, cite is for "space travel" -->
*[[Space exploration]]
**[[Interstellar travel]]
**[[Interstellar travel]]
***[[Faster-than-light]] travel and communications
***[[Faster-than-light]] travel and communications
Line 141: Line 184:
***[[Generation ship]]
***[[Generation ship]]
***[[Sleeper ship]]
***[[Sleeper ship]]
**Very nearly light speed
***[[Bussard ramjet]]s
***Ursula LeGuin's NAFAL ships, and the [[Twin paradox]]
**[[Space station]]s
**[[Space station]]s
*[[Time travel]]
*[[Time travel]]<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235730/Space-travel#toc235730</ref>
**[[Alternate history (fiction)|Alternate histories]]: time travel can be used as a plot device to explore [[Parallel universe (fiction)|parallel universes]]. While alternate history has its own category (see above), it often occurs in time travel stories as well.
**The [[Grandfather paradox]]
**[[Anachronism]]
**The [[Grandfather paradox]] -- e.g. Can someone go back in time and kill his parents before they beget the killer?
*[[Travel to the Earth's center]]
*[[Travel to the Earth's center]]
*[[Planets in science fiction]]


==Technologies==
===High Technologies<ref>http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/528857/science-fiction/235733/High-technologies#toc235733</ref>===
*[[Artificial gravity]]
*[[Artificial gravity]]
*[[Artificial intelligence]]
*[[Artificial intelligence]]
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*[[Star lifting]] & [[Stellar engineering]]
*[[Star lifting]] & [[Stellar engineering]]
*[[Megascale engineering]] & [[Planetary engineering]]
*[[Megascale engineering]] & [[Planetary engineering]]
*Technology
*[[Dry docks in science fiction]]
**Far advanced technology for the time.
*[[Railguns in science fiction]]
**Alien technology being found and used by humans. Most of the time for selfish purposes, or is being used incorrectly (not how it's supposed to work)
*[[Virtual reality]] and [[simulated reality]]
*[[Virtual reality]] and [[simulated reality]]
*[[Weapons in science fiction|Weapons]]
*[[Weapons in science fiction|Weapons]]


===Types of beings===
==See also==
*[[Fictional technology]]

{{See also|List of stock characters in science fiction}}
*[[List of science fiction topics]]
*[[Science fiction genre]]

*[[Protoscience]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Science fiction}}


[[Category:Literature lists|Science fiction themes]]
[[Category:Literature lists|Science fiction themes]]
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[[Category:Science fiction related lists]]
[[Category:Science fiction related lists]]


[[de:Themen und Motive in der Science Fiction]]
[[pt:Temas da ficção científica]]
[[pt:Temas da ficção científica]]
[[ru:Жанры фантастики]]
[[ru:Жанры фантастики]]

Revision as of 04:42, 20 January 2009

The following is a list of recurring themes in science fiction. Please note this list also includes themes you'd also find in other genres.

Overarching themes

See also: Science fiction genre

Types of beings

Body and mind alterations

Possible futures

Political structures

Main article: Political ideas in science fiction
Main article: Libertarian science fiction

Habitats

Travel

Technologies

See also

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Doctor Who was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Back to the Future was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Time Machine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Doctor Who was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Star Wars was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Battlestar Gallactica was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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