Our reading theme for August is Science Fiction. The stereotypical sci-fi reader is young, geeky and male but in reality anybody can be a fan and most people have read and enjoyed a science fiction novel. Like many genres it is difficult to say exactly what science fiction is. I like Robert A. Heinlein’s definition of science fiction: “the realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present.”
Although science fiction might seem like a fairly recent genre its roots go back to ancient mythology. One of the earliest examples of science fiction is True History, a story that covers outer space travel, alien life-forms, and interplanetary warfare. It was written in the 2nd Century AD by the Greek-speaking Syrian author, Lucian of Samosata. The sci-fi genre became very popular in the 19th century with the development of new communication, power and transport technologies. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) is considered the first work of modern science fiction. Other 19th Century authors like Jules Verne and H. G. Wells were instrumental in further popularising the genre.
There are lots of ‘Best Science Fiction Books’ lists around. The site Sci-Fi Lists is probably as good as any, although I must admit I have never heard of the No 1 ranked title, Enders Game by Orson Scott Card. The site also has a large number of additional lists for films, TV shows and sub-genres. I’m pleased to see that my favourite sci-fi novel, Ursula Le Guin’s The Dispossessed comes in at number 54.
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Never heard of Ender's Game? It's good. I found a copy in a pub in Wales and read it, knowing nothing about it. It's the first book in a long time (perhaps ever) I've finished and immediately started again. And it reignited my interest in sci-fi.
Just... don't read the sequels.
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