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The Sub-Genres of Sci-Fi

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Rachel Williams
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Publicado el 28 de oct. de 2013

A detailed account into the sub-genres of sci-fi films.

Publicado en: Educacin, Tecnologa

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The Sub-Genres of Sci-Fi

1. 1. Sub-Genres of Sci-Fi Rachel Williams

2. 2. Alternate History "What if history had developed differently?" Most works in this
genre are set in real historical contexts (e.g. Civil War or WW2), yet feature social,
geopolitical or industrial circumstances that developed differently or at a different
pace from our own. All works in this sub-genre are set in a world in whish history
has diverged from history as it is generally known. The television series Stargate
is a great example of exploring both alternate history and parallel worlds. Alternate
Humanity Animals who speak, think or act human. Some of these are created to
show humans as bad by comparison to the lives of the animals in the tale and others
are designed to make a poli
 tical or social statement. Whatever the reason, most are written to make the reader
willingly suspend belief and begin to view them as being human. Director Martin Rosen
adapted Watership Down, which was written by Richard Adams, to an animated feature
film in 1978. Alternate Humanity could be argued to have its own sub-genre called
Bestiary Sci-Fi, which typically centres around worlds populated by unicorns, cat-people
or sentient frill-necked lizards. It is also sometimes used to make the writers aliens seem
more normal.
3. Apocalyptic Usually tales of humanity's struggle to survive after devastation. It may
be set immediately after, focusing on survivors, or when precatastrophe civilization has
been forgotten. These stories focus on how we cope and rebuild society. There are many
links between this form of sci-fi and sub-genres about false utopias/ dystopian societies. A
work of this sub-genre might be called a ruined Earth story or dying Earth. The "Mad Max"
films fall into this sub-genre. Post-Apocalyptic Post-apocalyptic stories are set well after a
catastrophe. Rather than showing the immediate aftermath, they depict a new society that
has risen from the ashes, usually on Earth. Often the survivors are wary of technology, so
the films take place in a nontechnological future world, or where only scattered elements of
technology remain. This sub-genre grew very popular in the 70's and 80's portraying a band
of survivors enduring tremendous hardships. Stephen King decided to wipe out humanity in
a different, introducing his fictional world to a deadly flu-virus in his post-apocalyptic tale
"The Stand" a television mini-series, and then proceeded to tell how the survivors survived.
4. Gonzo Apocalypse These are rare, and feature a strange cosmic element. Disney's
animated feature film, Treasure Planet, launches the story with the human race getting
instantly wiped out by a hostile alien race. In Nevil Shute's On the Beach, humanity is
destroyed by a nuclear holocaust. Cozy Catastrophe A post-apocalyptic tale, usually set on
Earth, in which an isolated group of survivors sets about rebuilding a new civilization
according to their own particular ideas. As with the 'cozy mystery' subgenre, unjust death
occurs, but the characters don't get too upset about it. John Wyndham's novel The Day of
the Triffids, later filmed by Steve Sekely, is a good example. The television miniseries
was produced in 2009.
5. Artificial Intelligence These tales assume that one, or many, artificial minds become
fully sentient. They might be mainframe computers, or mobile robots, or the Internet as a
whole. One famous example is D.F. Jones's novel Colossus, later filmed by Joseph Sargent.
Research into artificial intelligence is concerned with producing machines to automate
tasks requiring intelligent behaviour, such as planning and scheduling, the ability to answer
diagnostic and consumer questions, handwriting, speech, and facial recognition. It is
focused on providing solutions to real life problems. Stephen Spielberg's sci-fi feature film
A.I. Artificial Intelligence centres around this very premise. Bio-robotics This loosely
covers the fields of cybernetics, bionics and even genetic engineering as a collective study.
It is often used to refer to a real subfield of robotics: studying how to make robots that
emulate or simulate living biological organisms mechanically or chemically. In one sense,
bio-robotics is referred to as a theoretical discipline in which organisms are created and
designed by artificial means. While it is currently limited to sci-fi, the actual field is in its
infancy and is known as synthetic biology and Bio-nanotechnology. The term is also used
in a reverse definition: making biological organisms as controllable and as functional as
robots.
 6. Cybernetic Revolt This is one of sci-fi's oldest and most common themes. Mechanical
servants fail, assert their rights, or go berserk, usually with tragic consequences. I, Robot,
starring Will Smith, features such robots that revolt against mankind. Cyborg Cyborg
fiction involves a human/mechanical blend as a protagonist. The classic example is the
novel Cyborg, brought to television as The Six Million Dollar Man. Robot These tales
are self-explanatory. The concept of robots predates sci-fi, and the two visions have
developed in parallel.
7. Synthetic Biology Synthetic Biology stories feature artificial life forms. It's a small
subgenre, and its protagonists are often biologists who crack the secret of creating life. A
good feature film to represent this sub-genre would be the Nexus Unit Roy in Ridley Scott's
Blade Runner. Roy leads a group of renegade Nexus units in search of their creator to
seek a longer life span since they were engineered to live for only four years. Wetware
Computer This is a narrow subgenre, featuring 'wetware' (living biological) technology, as
opposed to 'hardware computer' devices. These stories depict the invention and/or the
actions of an artificial thinking brain.
8. Cross Genre Cross-genre stories defy easy distinctions between sci-fi and other genres,
such as fantasy (psychic power is sci-fi, magic is fantasy). The Underworld trilogy could be
considered cross-genre, the warring factions are Vampires and Likens (Werewolves), but
fictional high tech weapons are used. Cyberspace Cyberspace as a subgenre is very similar
to 'cyberpunk,' though broader in form and style. This subgenre involves characters
interacting while fully immersed within a vast worldwide 'virtual reality' medium. Other
stories involve hackers who use more ordinary means of networking.
9. Cyberpunk These are typically set on Earth, and involve a hacker immersed in a cyber-
world, interacting, on line and physically, with similar people. They are often set in a high-
tech, bleak, mechanistic futuristic universe of computers, hackers, and computer/human
hybrids. Characters are sometimes modified to 'jack' their brain directly into cyberspace. It
features advanced technology such as information technology coupled with some degree of
breakdown in social order. Classic cyberpunk characters are alienated loners who live on
the edge of society in generally dystopic futures where daily life was impacted by a rapid
change in technology, a data-sphere of computerized information, and invasive
modification of the human body. Cyberpunk often encompasses nanotechnology, cyborgs,
androids, virtual reality, and/or a warning as to what could possibly go wrong if technology
falls into the wrong hands. Humans may have built-in computer jacks or software
("wetware"), and spend time "living" in a virtual environment, as in The Matrix. Another
good example is Ghost in the Shell. Post-Cyberpunk Post-cyberpunk describes a narrow
and indistinct subgenre. These stories break with the tropes (such as cynical young hackers
in garish night clubs) that dominated the cyberpunk trend. Usually set on Earth, these
stories make a conscious effort to be more positive. Disney's feature films Tron and
Tron Legacy could be considered a variant of both cyberspace and post-cyberpunk
categories since its cyber universe is clearly digital as opposed to the lifelike world of The
Matrix.
10. Dying Earth These tales show the death of the Earth as slower than an apocalypse
would, it can be due to any cause including natural. More generally, this sub-genre
encompasses sci-fi works set in the far distant future in a milieu of stasis or decline.
Themes of world-weariness, innocence, idealism, entropy and the hope of renewal tend to
pre-dominate. The feature film WALL-E portrays a dying Earth from an ocean of refuse
created by humankind. The lone entity of life on Earth is a tiny plant sprout (and a cute
cockroach), which is the catalyst of the plot. Dystopian Dystopian is the opposite of
Utopian and is the creation of a nightmare world. These tales are designed to make the
audience ask the bleak question "Is life worth living if this is where humanity is going?" An
example is the spaceship Axiom in Disney/Pixar's movie Wall-E. Often this subgenre
depicts inquisitive heroes breaking free of a bottled utopia. Brave New World is a tale of
classic dystopia with an emphasis on brainwashing, censorship and destruction of the
family unit.
11. Edisonade This subgenre was named retroactively, and dates back to the nineteenth
century. They centre upon the adventures of some brilliant young inventor. The Time
Machine fits this model to a T with the main character, a genius young inventor, who is
obsessed with the discovery of invention and pitied or scorned by the people around him.
Exotic Ecosystems Alien worlds offer tremendous possibilities, yet sci-fi populates them
with familiar humanoids. Box office king Avatar may have an environment and creatures
that somewhat resemble Earth, but it probably fits the subgenre's title more accurately than
any other film with its neon jungles and floating mountains. Also the planet in the 1972 and
2002 versions of Solaris is certainly alien to our world with a global covering ocean that
has the ability of mental thought. Extraterrestrial Extraterrestrial Life is a huge subgenre,
almost a descriptive category. In many of these tales, or even just its signals or ancient
artefacts, has a tremendous impact upon current society. The movie Contact is an
excellent example.
12. Aliens Creatures from outer space or other planets. Alien Invasion These stories are
self-explanatory and the target is usually Earth. It is a common theme in sci-fi films, in
which a technologically-superior extraterrestrial society invades Earth. Either with the
intent to replace human life, or enslave it, like in Battlefield Earth, or in some cases, to
use humans as food. The classic of this subgenre is War of the Worlds, and the film
Independence Day has become a cultural milestone. Astrobiology Astrobiology centres
upon alien life, not necessarily intelligent or technological beings, but the very presence of
life that has evolved beyond our Earth. Many involve finding mysterious life forms on
Mars or floating in the atmosphere of Jupiter.
13. Astrosociobiology This is an interstitial subgenre that's both narrow and broad. It
focuses on the form and function of non-human civilizations. First Contact/Encounters
These explore the initial meeting between humans and aliens usually, but it can be between
other types of sentient race. First contact ranges from horrific tales of invasions to stories of
benign visitors bearing the secrets of advanced technologies and world peace. This could be
an alien arriving here, in space, or a human astronaut reaching another planet or actually
living on another planet. There are hundreds of examples but a precise example is Star
Trek's eighth feature film First Contact. Microbiological They feature tiny life-forms,
whether Earthly or alien, as a dominating force. They might cause a disease, or act as a
transforming agent, deliberately or not. The Andromeda Strain is about a group of
scientists investigating a deadly new alien virus before it can spread.
14. Firm Science A specific definition which can be applied to many subgenres. It refers
to a mid-point between 'hard' and 'soft' sci-fi, and the inclusion of technology or phenomena
that are not fantastic, but may never be invented. Some characters are grounded in the real
world, along with their environment, but an element of enhanced physical capabilities or
elevated powers of the mind exist. Inception falls into this category, where the story's
world mirrors the real world with the exception that the main character has the ability to
search other's dreams. Frontier Usually told with a "Grass is greener" aspect, only to learn
that the same problems face them in the new colony. Crafty independent spacemen ply the
asteroid belt in search of resources to send back to civilization. A good example is
Outland. In many, they are threatened by an aggressive government or big corporation
from Earth. New or cut-off colony planets, left to support themselves, have a distinct
frontier aspect. The popular Serenity franchise depicts such rough colonies. First
Landings Originally this meant a journey to the Moon, the only 'obvious' world. From the
Earth to the Moon, an award winning television miniseries, is not the earliest example, but
it's the best known. After the short-lived Apollo program, this subgenre began to depict a
hoped-for return to the moon.
15. Generation Ship These are set aboard that type of spacecraft. Often they are so large,
and the voyage so long, that most or all of its inhabitants consider other worlds to be the
stuff of legend. It may travel much slower than light across great distances between stars
and must also have extraordinarily reliable systems that would not fail even over long
periods of time, or that could be repaired by the ship's inhabitants if they did. The ship
would be almost entirely selfsustaining, providing food, air, and water for everyone on
board. Such a ship might take thousands of years to reach even nearby stars, the original
occupants would die during the journey, leaving their descendants to continue travelling.
The 2009 film Pandorum showcased such a ship, The Elysium. This massive craft
employed hyper-sleep pods for the occupants to survive the journey. Golden Age A period
of the 1940s during which the sci- fi genre gained wide public attention in literature, but
was all but abandoned in film. This could possibly have been due to World War II and the
box office flops of the late thirties, including the British feature film Things to Come.
16. Hard Sci-Fi Mostly based on real science & engineering, it is driven more by ideas
than characterization. This subgenre depicts technology that conforms to actual scientific
knowledge and physical laws, or plausible extensions of them. Issues of technology may be
greater concern than a character's personal life. If the plot cannot maintain its integrity
without the science or technological factor, then the story is 'hard' sci-fi. They typically
contain at least one of these; Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, sciences ruled by
mathematics and stringent rules. Certain exceptions include things like antigravity. Some
writers show an advanced, nearly utopian society where mankind has attained victory over
most human ills; others portray the impact of technology on the human race with defects
still in place, sometimes magnified. 2001: A Space Odyssey, makes an extensive effort to
keep the technology as realistic as possible, with the exception of the mysterious Black
Monolith. Hyperspace Horrific Hyperspace stories include Horror and sci-fi seem to go that
extra-dimensional realm hand in hand. Horrific sci-fi as a setting. That realm is closely
linked to the might play a major role in 'horror' genre, and while it's allowing the characters
to often bloody, science is travel rapidly between star crucial to each premise. systems
and/or time periods, Horrific sci-fi in cinema is or there might be human popular, some
examples dwellings or aliens within it. A are; The Thing, Resident good example is
Star Trek: Evil, The Blob, and Event Deep Space Nine, with its Horizon. Alien is
the main mysterious wormholefilm known in this category dwelling prophet aliens.
though.
17. Military These look at combat in future locations, e.g. space, against a range of
opponents. Stories in this sub-genre may revel in warfare or suggest anti-war themes. In
some, interstellar or interplanetary conflict and war make up the main or partial backdrop
of the story. Such war is usually shown from the point of view of a soldier. The main
characters are often part of the military chain of command. A very popular film Starship
Troopers, is a good example; the military system and its characters were a large part of the
dramatization. Media Tie-in This subgenre is a self-explanatory. Whether originally a book,
a video game, or a screenplay, they are made into another form of media. These stories
must conform to strict rules, like not allowing the main characters to change very much, so
that they'll continue to match the series' canon. The Resident Evil films are a good
example because they were adapted from a video game about a special military unit who
fights an out-ofcontrol supercomputer and hundreds of scientists who have mutated into
flesh-eating creatures after a laboratory accident.
18. Mundane These focus on stories set on or near Earth. They also have a believable use
of technology and science as it exists at the time the story is written. It features nearfuture
stories, without any improbable technologies, or interplanetary settings beyond what known
spacecraft can reach. Mythic Works are, ultimately, inspired by the tropes, themes and
symbolism of myth, folklore, and fairy tales. Some depict aliens and/or humans using high-
tech means to recreate mythological settings, and the "magical powers" of the ancient gods.
These could be pantheon-based characterisations, or retellings of famous mythological
journeys. Award winning TV series Battlestar Galactica is steeped with Greek
mythology. Worshiping Greek Gods, colony names include; Caprica, Picon, Sagittaron,
Tauron, and Vigron. The survivors are on a quest to find the mythical 13th colony - Earth.
Other examples are the Star Trek original-series episode "Who Mourns for Adonais?",
and the Stargate series where Asgard and Thor are woven into the ongoing plot.
19. Nano-Tech Nanotechnology is the design, characterization, production and
application of structures, devices and systems by controlling shape and size on the
nanoscale. Nanotechnology has been put to practical use for a wide range of applications,
including enhanced tire reinforcement and improved suntan lotion. Another description of
this subgenre is Nanopunk, which has been regarded as one of cyberpunk's many offshoots.
It explores the effects of advanced nanotechnology on humanity. For example, The Outer
Limits contained episodes that fall into this subgenre, one such episode is The New
Breed. In the episode, Dr. Ledbetter makes a technological and medical breakthrough
when he creates a type of tiny machine, known as nanobots, capable of curing any disease
or imperfections in the human body. Occupational This subgenre encompasses a wide reach
but remains unusual. It features blue collar protagonists, in recognizable circumstances,
rather than pretentious scientists or astronauts. The feature film Repo Men is set in the
near future and centres around two repo collectors. Rather than repossessing cars, the blue
collar hunters go after clients who failed to pay for their organ replacements.
20. Parallel Universe/World Parallel Universe stories deal with the quantum concept that
every choice or decision happens somewhere. This separate reality can range in size from a
small geographic region to an entire new universe, or several universes. The other universe
can be very strange, with differing physical laws, or spatial dimensions. Fringe and
Sliders are model examples of this subgenre. The real nature of Sliders has changed
throughout the seasons. The first two explored what would have happened, e.g., if America
had been conquered by the Soviet Union or if penicillin had not been invented. The third
became far more action-oriented. Multiverse These feature multiple universes, often with
differing versions of Earth. This sub-set assumes that some variant of the Multiverse or
Landscape Cosmological Theory is true. There is always some way to travel between the
universes, or at least communicate. The One is a good film example.
21. Planes of Existence Other planes are often 'psychic' or 'spiritual' in nature, and are
reachable by altering one's state of awareness. An example is Altered States, which
explores the concept that other states of consciousness are as real as our waking states. The
main character begins experimenting with sensory-deprivation using a flotation tank, and
his mind experiments cause him to experience actual, physical biological devolution.
Progentitive This is a small subgenre, which features humans and/or aliens who create sci-fi
of their own. In the Star Trek: DS9 TV episode "Far Beyond the Stars," Sisko is shown
as a sci-fi author who struggles with civil rights and inequality when he writes the story of
Captain Benjamin Sisko, a black commander of a futuristic space station. Recursive
Recursive sci-fi is comprised of stories that include direct references to the sci-fi genre.
22. Religious Christian Futuristic stories containing a distinct religious overtone or These
feature an explicitly message which gives meaning and motivation to their Christian
protagonist. lives, though it isn't always explored in depth. In a certain Clerical sense, most
sci-fi grapples with questions of a spiritual or These involve an organized religious nature.
Sci-fi rarely takes religion at face value, priesthood, such as a religious order, by simply
accepting or rejecting it. A few focus on other of any human or alien religion. In human
faiths, whether current, in the future, or via time Dune, Bene Gesserit dominates travel.
The Book of Eli centres around the last known human history, yet without profound
Bible and is set in a post-apocalyptic background. expressions of individual faith. Hindu
Hindu tales feature character(s) of that faith. India has a growing native-languages sci-fi
market, but very little has been translated into English. Islamic These centre upon
characters or entire societies, of that faith. Jewish Jewish sci-fi features characters of that
faith. Theological Theological works often present explanations or commentary on religion
and religious ideas. These vary from simple refutations of religion as primitive or
unscientific, to creative explanations and new insights into religious experiences and
beliefs.
23. Soft/Social This subgenre is character-driven, with emphasis on social change,
personal psychology and interactions, while de-emphasizing the details of technology and
physical laws. Stories based on fields such as Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, Social
Structures, Religious, Biological, and Cultural. While technology may play a role, the
emphasis is not on how that technology works, but how it affects individuals or social
groups. Gullivers Travels is a good example, which has been adapted numerous times in
film and TV, including the recent comedy version featuring Jack Black. Gay Gay sci-fi
includes male homosexuals. If not the protagonist, then a major character or two. This
theme has become more common since the 1970s, but remains unusual. A popular example
is the character Lt. Cmdr. Ro Nevin in Star Trek: Odyssey. Lesbian Lesbian sci-fi
features women with that orientation as main characters. These stories became popular in
the 1970s, and are more common than gay male themes.
24. Space Exploration The politics, science, and engineering behind space flight all fall
into this subgenre. There are many rationales behind space exploration, the most common
ones focus on scientific research or the future survival of humanity. This endeavour had
been a dream and goal of humanity for the past several centuries, but until the development
of large liquid-fuelled rocket engines, it could not be seriously developed. Space
exploration is the very heart of the Star Trek franchise. They have a wide range of plots,
but they are centred on space exploration. Space Opera This can also be called Adventure
Sci-Fi, and is a huge descriptive category. It features swashbuckling action, set in a vast
panorama. Space opera often involves good guys shooting it up with bad guys in the depths
of space or on a distant planet. No attention is given to scientific plausibility and technical
explanations tend to be vague. Most space operas violate the known laws of physics by
showing faster-than-light travel. This is generally accepted as long as there's some form of
human element and good must beat evil. Many space operas invoke paranormal forces, or
vast powers capable of destroying whole planets, stars, or galaxies. Stories emphasize over-
sized, tongue-in-cheek adventures in space featuring heroes, beautiful women, and exotic
aliens. Some are filled with intergalactic fleets battling against a backdrop of stars. To keep
the story fast, spaceships can fly almost unlimited distances in a short time, and can turn
really fast without decelerating. The planets usually have earth-like atmospheres and exotic
life forms that speak English. The 'Star Wars franchise is a perfect example, as well as the
Flash Gordon series.
25. Galactic Empires This is a fairly common theme in sci-fi. The capital of a galactic
empire is frequently a core world. Some are based on the Roman Empire. The best known
empire is from Star Wars, which was formed in turn from the Galactic Republic. Spunky
Heroine These feature a spunky heroine as their protagonist. The heroine is such a big pat
that the film is usually referred to using her, more than by their plot or premise. There are a
number of examples in film and TV, but few fit better than Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and
it sequel. Steampunk The works are set in an era where steam power is widely used, usually
the 19th century, and often Victorian England. But there is usually advanced technology or
other sci-fi elements. These elements may be fictional advances, or real advances taken out
of their own time. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen is a good example of
steampunk. They presume that its characters have developed a form of high-tech at that
time but they are careful to avoid backdating any current attitudes or theories. Gaslight
stories are defined a little more narrowly.
26. Immortality Super Humans/Powers Immortality or eternal life is the concept of This
is probably the best known sci-fi subgenre. existing for a potentially infinite length of
These stories range from heroes with time. Throughout history, many humans superpowers,
like Superman and Spider-Man, have had the desire to live forever. It might to those
with super-toys like Batman and Iron be humans with a rare mutation that's Man. This
subgenre can cover a broad base of allowed them to survive since ancient times, Invisibility
films. or a future scientific development. Often these long-lived characters allow for vivid
The ability to become invisible is the central attribute of the main depictions of history.
characters. 'Cloaking devices' have now become very common in sci-fi. Mutant The idea of
a mutant is a common trope scifi. The things that appear in fictional mutations generally go
far beyond what is typically seen in biological mutants, and often result in the mutated life
form exhibiting superhuman abilities. X-Men is a notable example of Mutant Sci-Fi.
Their powers evolve to higher levels in later stages of their lives. However, this only plays
out in the comic books, the films reflect the characters who have already achieved that
stage. In XMen First Class, the original characters are shown with their early or first
stage of mutation.
27. Sports This is a tiny subgenre. In a few stories, an alien visitor shows a love for
baseball. Most of the others depict the impact of modern science, and genetic engineering
in particular, on professional sports. Perhaps the best example of this subgenre is
Rollerball. In a corporate controlled future, an ultra-violent sport known as Rollerball
represents the world, and one of its powerful athletes is out to defy those who want him out
of the game. Sword & Planet Sword and Planet sci-fi brings a medieval aspect to
interstellar space. Outlander is tailor made for this subgenre. During the reign of the
Vikings, Kainan, a man from a far-off world, crash lands on Earth,bringing with him an
alien predator known as the Moorwen. Kainan leads an alliance to kill the Moorwen by
fusing his advanced technology with the Viking's Iron Age weaponry.
28. Terraforming These centre around vast projects, with the characters busy altering
whole planets to make them more habitable. Terraforming is a type of planetary
engineering. The concepts of terraforming are in sci-fi and actual science. The film Total
Recall is based on the terraforming of Mars though it is limited to a man-made habitat.
The actual terraforming doesn't take place until late in the film, which is generated by an
ancient alien device. Time Travel This is a vast subgenre. Time travel is the concept of
moving backward or forward to different points in time, in a manner of moving through
space. Some interpretations of time travel suggest the possibility of travel between parallel
realities or universes. This capability is put to use by the characters. The effects of such
temporal ventures vary in each portrayal. One example is The Time Machine, and more
recently Terminator. We experience the time travel process usually at the beginning of
the film, from there the plot settles into that period's dramatization. While the premise of
time travel is prominent in the Terminator series, the Back to the Future trilogy keeps
the concept of time travel at the forefront throughout all three stories. Topics range from
"Let's go see what the Romans were like", to issues of paradox and "tampering". A variant
of this subgenre is the "alternate universes" theme, in which each change in the time stream
spins off a new universe.
29. Utopian & World Government The Star Trek franchise fits both categories as an
example. Utopian fiction is the creation of an ideal world. World Government sci-fi
features a world ruled by a unified government and in many, it's often a corrupt monarchy,
but there is plenty of variety. In the Star Trek franchise, contact with aliens prompts
humanity to finally unite, creating a Utopian Earth and a unified world government. Virtual
Reality Virtual reality is a technology which allows a user to interact with a computer-
simulated environment. Most virtual reality environments are primarily visual experiences,
but some simulations include additional sensory information, such as sound. Some
advanced and experimental systems have included limited tactile information, known as
force feedback. Users can interact with a virtual environment either through the use of
standard input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, or through multimodal devices such
as a wired glove or omnidirectional treadmill. The simulated environment can be similar to
the real world, for example, pilot or combat Xenofiction training, or it can differ
significantly from reality, A subgenre that features cultures as in games. The feature film
that fits this well extremely different from familiar is The Lawnmower Man. Another
excellent ones. The Star Trek canon's example would be Tron and Tron Legacy.
Borg is a popular example.
30. Age Regression Old becomes young again. This might happen via some virus or
serum, or by means of an elaborate multi-step process. Oscar winning The Curious Case
of Benjamin Button is really a fantasy, but it is a perfect example of this subgenre.
Biopunk Biopunk is a spinoff 'cyberpunk', it involves hackers who manipulate human DNA
which may be their own or someone elses. It uses elements from the hard-boiled detective,
film noir, Japanese anime, and post-modernist prose to describe the nihilistic, underground
side of the biotech society. One example is Gattaca. Though many stories about
cybernetics and artificial intelligence fall into this category, biopunk focuses on genetic and
biological manipulation. An early example is Frankenstein, but generally the term is
applied to post-cyberpunk fiction. Cloning The most popular rumour to arise from this
subgenre is that cloned people cannot have souls as they were not created "in God's way". It
gives writers plenty of room to ponder the good vs. evil plotlines, featuring cloned people
as the bad guys. The entire plot of The Sixth Day revolves around this theme.
31. Colonization Where life forms move into a distant area where their kind is sparse or
not yet existing and set up new settlements. Colonisation applies to all life forms, though it
is most often insects and humans. Insect colonisation varies from species to species though
it most often involves a queen setting out from its parent colony and establishing her own
colony. Human colonisation is broader than colonialism or imperialism, as it encompasses
all large-scale immigrations of an established population. This process may or may not
victimise an indigenous population. Communalness Communalness is a specialized
subgenre, involving a human future with relationships and communities 'boosted' into
enhanced consciousness by cybernetic or other means. The disciples of V.M. Smith in
Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land achieve this, along with impressive powers,
through learning to speak Martian. Detective These are often set in the near future,
technology aids both criminals and law enforcement. This was popularized by the
eponymous, actually cyborgs, character in Robocop.
32. Environmental This subgenre focuses on the ecosystem, usually Earth's. Often there
is a direct threat, caused by humanity or some outside force. Though this subgenre is based
on plausible real world scenarios, Hollywood often busts out of the fence with exaggerated
or ludicrous circumstances. The Day After Tomorrow is a pretty good example. Fantasy
This sub-genre is a merging of two main genres. Fantasy sometimes leans toward the sci-fi
side of the fence by adding advanced technology in the mix. With fairy tale like sub-plots
and characters, it would often ignore known laws or scientific theories for the sake of the
story. Flash Gordon stomped all over the laws of physics, with the stories containing
giant lizard like dragons, shark men, and other bizarre characters and creatures. Erotica
Explicit sex might be the centre of the plot, or it plays a vivid role in the character's lives. In
Barbarella, which is set in the 41st century, the main character ventures through a series
of sexual escapades, including a bizarre encounter with a sex machine, and she seduces an
angel.
33. Hollow Earth Hollow Earth tales are set within a putatively hollow planet Earth. The
flagship of this subgenre is Journey to the Centre of the Earth. A popular variant is the
aquatic-cavern-filled planet Naboo in the "Star Wars" franchise. Kaiju This is a Japanese
subgenre, popular throughout the world. These epics always feature one or more kaiju,
meaning big powerful quirky monsters. A major example is the Godzilla franchise, and
the American counterpart King Kong. Gothic Gothic sci-fi slants toward the macabre,
and deeply atmospheric settings, but not outright horror. Frankenstein is a good example,
and so is I Am Legend. Humourous This type of sci-fi may occur within any subgenre, or
spoof a subgenre. The type of humour varies from light entertainment to satire.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the best-known examples of humorous sci-fi.
Others include Spaceballs and Back to the Future.
 34. Lost World This is one of the oldest subgenres. The Lost World is a good example,
as well as popular TV series Lost, which continues the tradition with its bizarre isolated
island. Math These stories are centred around actual mathematical concepts. Pi is an
excellent example of this subgenre. Its plot revolves around a mathematical genius who
theorizes that everything in nature can be understood through numbers. Knowing is
another good example. Near-future Elements of the near-future sci-fi setting should be
familiar to the reader, and the technology may be current or in development.
35. New Wave New Wave was a movement, beginning in England and spreading to the
USA and beyond. This subgenre rose and fell with western society's embrace of 1960s
radicalism, and desire to 'shock the bourgeoisie.' Other World Totally fictional
worlds/universes feature in these stories. Dune featured a really popular 'other world' in
sci-fi. Syfy's miniseries Children of Dune was a spinoff. Pulp This is a descriptive
category and it has a distinct style and format. Two examples would be Sky Captain and
The World of Tomorrow. The film is set in an alternative 1939 and follows the adventures
of Polly Perkins and Joe Sullivan, known as "Sky Captain", as they track down the
mysterious Dr. Totenkopf who is seeking to build the 'World of Tomorrow'. Retro-futurism
also celebrates the 'pulp' sci-fi stories of the past. Most of these depictions are in comic
books, and revive the garish cover art and 'fifties' style of the past. Pastoral Pastoral or
Small Town sci-fi takes place in that sort of setting. The television series Jericho fits this
subgenre as it is set in a small town. The series centres on the residents of the fictional town
of Jericho, Kansas in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities.
36. Restored Eden These are set in the mid-to-far future here on Earth. Most of humanity
has gone on to other worlds, and the Earth has healed into a renewed paradise. The Planet
of the Apes franchise could fall within this category. Romance Planetary Romance is a
subgenre that shades into the Romance genre. In this case, the love story is embedded in
futuristic or fantastical technology, and the striving lovers can be separated by more than
Earthly distances. Science Tales Science Tales are intended for children. They depict
common futuristic activities such as space travel, but without scientific rigor. The animated
series and feature film The Jetsons is a great example for this subgenre with it's futuristic
family, high tech and comical gadgets, and a variety of mishaps suited for children.
Scientific Romance An archaic name for what is now known as the sci-fi genre, mostly
associated with the early sci-fi of the UK. It has seen occasional revivals, making it a
subgenre.
37. Shrinking/Enlarging This subgenre is selfdescriptive, and has a long tradition,
merging back into mythology. Alice in Wonderland depicts Alice growing and shrinking
in a mysterious fashion. The Incredible Shrinking Man and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
are good examples of going small. Giantess stories are epitomized by the film Attack of
the 50 Foot Woman. Shape Shifting These are a staple of speculative fiction. As a
subgenre, this ability is explained in scientific terms. It varies from gradual cellular
alteration to a nearinstantaneous ability to change size and form. The Thing is a stellar
example. Singularity In futures studies, a technological singularity is a predicted future
event believed to precede immense technological progress in an unprecedentedly brief time.
Futurists give varying predictions as to the extent of this progress, the speed at which it
occurs, and the exact cause and nature of the event itself.
38. SLIPSTREAM SCI-FI Slipstream is applied to stories with strong speculative
elements which are marketed as mainstream. The Time Travellers Wife is a recent
example. SPACE WESTERN SCI-FI A subgenre of sci-fi that transposes themes of
American Western film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers. Feature film Serenity
makes a good example, featuring a crew of outlaw-like space cowboys lead by Mal, who
commands the ship Serenity. The crew tries to evade an assassin sent to recapture one of
them who is telepathic. SPY-FI SCI-FI Spy-fi is a descriptive category that brings
espionage into the future, with clever high-tech duels. Often the technological gadgets are
over the top. The film Our Man Flint is a fine example. STYLISTIC SCI-FI These
comprise a broad and nebulous subgenre, defined by some distinctive or oddball style.
39. Trans-human It depicts the possible transformations that human beings may
experience in the future, from helpful improvements to total alterations. Under Sea 20,000
Leagues Under the Sea pioneered this sub-genre. Other examples include Voyage to the
Bottom of the Sea and Disney's Atlantis. A TV show example is Stingray. Post-
Humanism This subgenre is tied to a philosophical type movement. In practice it's very
close to Transhumanism, and is controversial even to define. Mind Transfer/Upload-
Download Mind Transfer is what takes place in this subgenre. A conscious mind is
downloaded into a computer system, or shifted into another human brain. Such a transfer
might be permanent or temporary, and the process may allow for one or more copies to
exist at once. 18 Again! a light-hearted example. Western Nothing fits this subgenre
better than The Wild Wild West, a popular television series and a feature film. World-
building World-building stories are exhaustively researched, and feature unusual planets as
a setting. Usually exotic aliens have evolved there, and humans can visit only with
difficulty, if at all