With the sheer variety of literary genres, it's almost surprising that so many book lovers get stuck reading only one type of book. Some serious readers even go so far as to read only novels that have won a slew of prizes or are considered classics and they won't think about reading a 'light' genre such as sci-fi. Little do they know that many of the award-winning classics they prefer are also some of the best science fiction books in history.
Science fiction, more often called sci-fi, encompasses many different subgenres. They may focus on technological innovations, on societal structures or both. Monsters, aliens, outer space, cyberspace, time travel, mad scientists and post-apocalyptic societies are just some themes you may find in the genre. What makes sci-fi so enjoyable to read is that the authors come up with highly imaginative ideas, some of which even became a reality long after the works were published.
Ancient works from as early as the 2nd century started exploring themes that could be classified as sci-fi. A work from the first half of the 17th century, 'Somnium' by Johannes Kepler, is often cited as the first truly sci-fi novel. Other early works in this imaginative genre include the classic 'Gulliver's Travels' by 18th-century writer Jonathan Swift and 'Frankenstein' by 19th-century author Mary Shelley.
Toward the end of the 19th century, technological innovation inspired several writers. Jules Verne was one, with novels that explored travel into the depths of the planet or deep underneath the sea. Another writer who, like Verne, had a huge influence on later writers was H. G. Wells, author of works such as 'The Time Machine', 'The Island of Doctor Moreau' and 'The War of the Worlds'.
Among the most famous and most acclaimed sci-fi writers are Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Some of the works of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley can be regarded as sci-fi too, such as 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and 'Brave New World'. The latter, which centered around cloning, is an example of a novel where an idea that seemed far-fetched at the time later became a scientific reality.
Many writers who aren't normally known for sci-fi have written classics in the genre. Mark Twain did it with 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', featuring time travel. Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote some sci-fi poems. Among the Nobel Prize laureates who explored sci-fi themes are British writer Doris Lessing, Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges and Portuguese writer Jose Saramago.
Many sci-fi novels have been made into movies. They include several film versions of 'Frankenstein', 'Planet of the Apes' and the works of Jules Verne. Other classics include 'The Andromeda Strain', the 'Jurassic Park' series, 'A Clockwork Orange', '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Dune' and 'A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe'.
While the 'Sci-fi' shelves in the library or at the bookstore are the obvious place to look for good books, don't forget to browse through the 'Classics' section as well. You can also order novels online. The advantage of this is that you can first read the reviews to see whether the book will be for you.
Science fiction, more often called sci-fi, encompasses many different subgenres. They may focus on technological innovations, on societal structures or both. Monsters, aliens, outer space, cyberspace, time travel, mad scientists and post-apocalyptic societies are just some themes you may find in the genre. What makes sci-fi so enjoyable to read is that the authors come up with highly imaginative ideas, some of which even became a reality long after the works were published.
Ancient works from as early as the 2nd century started exploring themes that could be classified as sci-fi. A work from the first half of the 17th century, 'Somnium' by Johannes Kepler, is often cited as the first truly sci-fi novel. Other early works in this imaginative genre include the classic 'Gulliver's Travels' by 18th-century writer Jonathan Swift and 'Frankenstein' by 19th-century author Mary Shelley.
Toward the end of the 19th century, technological innovation inspired several writers. Jules Verne was one, with novels that explored travel into the depths of the planet or deep underneath the sea. Another writer who, like Verne, had a huge influence on later writers was H. G. Wells, author of works such as 'The Time Machine', 'The Island of Doctor Moreau' and 'The War of the Worlds'.
Among the most famous and most acclaimed sci-fi writers are Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. Some of the works of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley can be regarded as sci-fi too, such as 'Nineteen Eighty-Four' and 'Brave New World'. The latter, which centered around cloning, is an example of a novel where an idea that seemed far-fetched at the time later became a scientific reality.
Many writers who aren't normally known for sci-fi have written classics in the genre. Mark Twain did it with 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', featuring time travel. Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote some sci-fi poems. Among the Nobel Prize laureates who explored sci-fi themes are British writer Doris Lessing, Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges and Portuguese writer Jose Saramago.
Many sci-fi novels have been made into movies. They include several film versions of 'Frankenstein', 'Planet of the Apes' and the works of Jules Verne. Other classics include 'The Andromeda Strain', the 'Jurassic Park' series, 'A Clockwork Orange', '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Dune' and 'A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe'.
While the 'Sci-fi' shelves in the library or at the bookstore are the obvious place to look for good books, don't forget to browse through the 'Classics' section as well. You can also order novels online. The advantage of this is that you can first read the reviews to see whether the book will be for you.
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