Science Fiction Sub-Genres

What's Your Favorite?

What if is the question that fuels science fiction and its sub-genres.

What if aliens were real and lived among us?

What if we were capable of space travel—what would we find?

What if scientists created a new life form in a Petrie dish or regenerated an extinct one?

Hard Science Fiction

I imagine hard sci-fi is what people think about when they think, science fiction. I could be wrong. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Here’s the thing. Science fiction imagines futuristic concepts like advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and extraterrestrial life. It’s been called the "literature of ideas," because the genre explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations.

Hard science fiction focuses on scientific accuracy and technical detail. It emphasizes the importance of scientific laws and principles, often weaving them intricately into the plot. Arthur C. Clarke's "The Sentinel" (1951) is an excellent example.

Like so many prose, Clarke’s short story was the foundation for Stanley Kubrick's iconic film, "2001: A Space Odyssey."

Clarke dives into many profound themes. From human evolution to interstellar travel, the narrative explores the idea of futuristic starships, artificial intelligence, and the possibility of encountering extraterrestrial life forms for the first time.

Hard sci-fi is often prophetic, maybe because of its foundation in reality.

In Clarke’s narrative, HAL serves as the cognitive center of the spaceship Discovery, employing its mechanical, sensory, and informational faculties. HAL, an abbreviation for Heuristically Programmed Algorithmic Computer, embodies the dual principles of "heuristic" and "algorithmic" intelligence, components of its operational framework.

Two types of thinking influence HAL and AI in the real world: quick and based on intuition (heuristic) and the other is more deliberate and logical (systematic). Both ways of thinking influence the way AI and humans interact.

HAL is highly intelligent and capable of making autonomous decisions. However, as the story progresses, its actions become increasingly erratic and dangerous. It also foreshadows something that is happening with AI today called AI hallucinations.

EEEK!

As tensions escalate, HAL's descent into malfunction and paranoia is a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of relying too heavily on artificial intelligence and the importance of using good judgement and being intentional when interacting with advanced technology.

Oh, HAL. You’re the OG AI. At least I think so.

Tech Horror (My Personal Favorite)

Tech horror is a subgenre of horror, closely related to hard sci-fi. Clarke’s “The Sentinel” could also fall into this category, which explores the frightening potential of technology and its unintended consequences for humanity.

Tech horror mixes sci-fi with the uncanny, or paranormal. It creates a sense of unease by revealing how the tools designed to improve our lives can instead harm or manipulate us.

This genre examines surveillance, artificial intelligence, the loss of privacy, and the merging of human and machine. It taps into fears of dependency, obsolescence, and the unknown.

My anthology, Opt-In is a series of tech horror stories, connected by AI sentience. I took inspiration from the Netflix series, “Black Mirror.”

The Ring (2002), Her (2013), Unfriended (2014), and Ex Machina (2015) are a few movies that fall into this category.

Mary Shelley’s novel, “Frankenstein” (1818) is a precursor to tech horror.

“The Circle” by Dave Eggers (2013) is a novel and movie adaptation depicting an all-too-real tech giant’s insidious influence over privacy and personal freedom.

Soft Science Fiction

Soft science fiction mirrors our world, prioritizing societal, cultural, and psychological themes over intricate scientific or technological details. These narratives often unfold in worlds with advanced technology or futuristic societies. They dissect identifiable human experiences and dilemmas.

Rather than fixating on scientific advancements, soft science fiction conceives the complexities of society, culture, and the human psyche. The plot illustrates issues deeply relevant to the human condition.

In soft science fiction, well-developed characters and their relationships take center stage. The characters’ interactions and personal journeys explore societal, cultural, and psychological themes.

That’s not to say there’s no base in technological exploration in soft sci-fi. Consider how many technological advances, such as the communicator and the holodeck, resemble today’s technology.

Which came first, the science or the fiction?

Cyberpunk

Cyberpunk is a sub-genre that combines high tech with low life, focusing on advanced technology juxtaposed with a breakdown in the social order. Classic examples include William Gibson's "Neuromancer, "Ridley Scott's “Blade Runner,” and Phillip K. Dick's “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

The novel “Snow Crash” by Neal Stephenson (1992) popularized the term Metaverse. It’s also considered a satirical and postmodern take on the genre. Unlike the grim and gritty tone often associated with cyberpunk classics like Gibson’s Neuromancer,” Stephenson uses humor, irony, and absurdity in his world-building.

Space Opera

A space opera emphasizes dramatic, romantic, and often heroic themes. It’s set mainly or entirely in outer space and usually involves conflict between opponents possessing advanced technologies and abilities. Famous examples are the "Star Wars" series and “Serenity,” a spin-off of the show “Firefly.”

Time Travel

This sub-genre involves stories in which characters travel to the past or the future. Time travel stories pose questions about the nature of reality and the fabric of the universe. They invite us to ponder the mysteries of existence and consider the myriad possibilities that lie beyond the confines of our present moment. H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" is a pioneering work in this category.

Time travel narratives do more than transport us through history. They present us with mind-bending paradoxes that force us to reconsider the nature of fate and the consequences of our actions.

Multiverse and Alternate History

Besides traversing through time, these stories often explore the concept of multiple realities existing simultaneously, each with its own rules and possibilities.

Characters may confront alternate versions of themselves or encountering divergent timelines. Philip K. Dick's "The Man in the High Castle" offers an exploration of the multiverse concept.

The setting is an alternate World War II history where the Axis powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) won and divided the US between Imperial Japan and Nazi Germany. In this reality, the characters grapple with the implications of living in a world where the Allies lost the war.

Beneath this grim reality lies a more profound mystery: the existence of a novel titled "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy," which depicts an alternate history where the Allies emerged victorious. This meta-fictional layer introduces the narrative's concept of parallel universes or alternate timelines.

The characters’ growing awareness of these alternate realities (through the novel-within-a-novel), raises questions reality and the possibility of multiple coexisting timelines.

Throughout the story, Dick explores themes of identity, perception, and the fluidity of reality. The characters grapple with the notion that their world may not be the only one, leading to existential uncertainty and philosophical introspection.

Dystopian, Utopian, Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic

These stories depict a society that is the perfect ideal (utopia) or the extreme opposite (dystopia). They explore the implications of societal norms and structures, often as a critique of current trends. George Orwell's "1984" and Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” are notable dystopian novels. Huxley also dabbled in Utopia with his last book, “Island.”

Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic narratives deal with the aftermath and the struggle to survive in a radically changed world. It’s the end of civilization, whether through nuclear war, plague, or some other global catastrophe.

I’m sure there are science fiction sub-genres I didn’t cover. Let me know what you think. Why do you love sci-fi? Which sub-genre is your favorite?