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Speculative fiction is an umbrella phrase encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres , specifically science fiction , fantasy , horror , supernatural fiction , superhero fiction , utopian and dystopian fiction , apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction , and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts.
It has been around since humans began to speak. The earliest forms of speculative fiction were likely mythological tales told around the campfire. Speculative fiction deals with the "What if?" scenarios imagined by dreamers and thinkers worldwide. Journeys to other worlds through the vast reaches of distant space; magical quests to free worlds enslaved by terrible beings; malevolent supernatural powers seeking to increase their spheres of influence across multiple dimensions and times; all of these fall into the realm of speculative fiction.
Speculative fiction as a category ranges from ancient works to cutting edge , paradigm -changing, and neotraditional works of the 21st century. It can be recognized in works whose authors' intentions or the social contexts of the versions of stories they portrayed is now known. For example, Ancient Greek dramatists such as Euripides , whose play Medea (play) seemed to have offended Athenian audiences when he fictionally speculated that shamaness Medea killed her own children instead of their being killed by other Corinthians after her departure. The play Hippolytus , narratively introduced by Aphrodite , is suspected to have displeased contemporary audiences of the day because it portrayed Phaedra as too lusty.
In historiography , what is now called speculative fiction has previously been termed "historical invention", "historical fiction ," and other similar names. It is extensively noted in the literary criticism of the works of William Shakespeare when he co-locates Athenian Duke Theseus and Amazonian Queen Hippolyta , English fairy Puck , and Roman god Cupid all together in the fairyland of its Merovingian Germanic sovereign Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream . In mythography it has been termed "mythopoesis" or mythopoeia , "fictional speculation", the creative design and generation of lore, regarding such works as J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Lord of the Rings . Such supernatural , alternate history , and sexuality themes continue in works produced within the modern speculative fiction genre.
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Smith's first professionally published science fiction story, "Scanners Live in Vain", originally appeared in Fantasy Book in 1950
Paul Myron Anthony Linebarger (July 11, 1913 – August 6, 1966), better known by his pen-name
Cordwainer Smith , was an American author known for his
science fiction works. Linebarger was a US Army officer, a noted
East Asia scholar, and an expert in
psychological warfare . Although his career as a writer was shortened by his death at the age of 53, he is considered one of science fiction's more talented and influential authors. (
Full article... )
First edition cover (1865)
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (also known as Alice in Wonderland ) is an 1865 English children's novel by Lewis Carroll , a mathematics don at the University of Oxford . It details the story of a girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatures. It is seen as an example of the literary nonsense genre. The artist John Tenniel provided 42 wood-engraved illustrations for the book.
It received positive reviews upon release and is now one of the best-known works of Victorian literature ; its narrative, structure, characters and imagery have had a widespread influence on popular culture and literature, especially in the fantasy genre. It is credited as helping end an era of didacticism in children's literature , inaugurating an era in which writing for children aimed to "delight or entertain". The tale plays with logic , giving the story lasting popularity with adults as well as with children. The titular character Alice shares her name with Alice Liddell , a girl Carroll knew—scholars disagree about the extent to which the character was based upon her. (Full article... )
“
We hope it will not be long before we may have other works of Science-Fiction [like Richard Henry Horne’s ‘‘The Poor Artist’’], as we believe such books likely to fulfil a good purpose, and create an interest, where, unhappily, science alone might fail. [Thomas] Campbell says, that ‘‘Fiction in Poetry is not the reverse of truth, but her soft and enchanting resemblance.’’ Now this applies especially to Science-Fiction, in which the revealed truths of Science may be given, interwoven with a pleasing story which may itself be poetical and true—thus circulating a knowledge of the Poetry of Science, clothed in a garb of the Poetry of life.
”
—William Wilson,
A Little Earnest Book upon a Great Old Subject , chapter 10 (1851). This is the first recorded use of the term
science fiction in history.
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An artist's impression of a terraformed Mars centered over Valles Marineris. The Tharsis region can be seen of the left side of the globe.
An artist's impression of a terraformed Mars centered over Valles Marineris . The Tharsis region can be seen on the left side of the globe. (CPOTD )
The
Order of the Phoenix is a fictional organisation in the
Harry Potter series of novels by
J. K. Rowling . Founded by
Albus Dumbledore to fight
Lord Voldemort and his
Death Eaters , the Order lends its name to the fifth book of the series,
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix . The original members of the Order of the Phoenix include
Sirius Black , Emmeline Vance, Benjy Fenwick, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Edgar Bones, Lily Potter, James Potter, Sturgis Podmore, Caradoc Dearborn, Alice Longbottom, Frank Longbottom, Dorcas Meadowes, Albus Dumbledore,
Rubeus Hagrid , Hestia Jones,
Remus Lupin ,
Severus Snape , Aberforth Dumbledore, Dedalus Diggle,
Minerva McGonagall and Marlene McKinnon. (
Full article... )
Possible events in the future as suggested by science fiction:
The Committee of Public Safety seizes power in Nouveau Paris and takes control of the government in 4007.
Around the year 18,000,000, a "half-plastic denizen" of the interior of a planet beyond Pluto exchanges his mind with the Great Race of Yith.
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Science fiction (task force ): The 4400 , Babylon 5 , Battlestar Galactica , Doctor Who , Firefly , Futurama , G.I. Joe , Heroes , Hitchhiker's Guide , Life on Mars , Lost , Pokémon , Red Dwarf , Star Trek , Star Wars , Stargate , Superman , Transformers , Twilight Zone .
Fantasy : Artemis Fowl , Discworld , Fabelhaven , Harry Potter , Highlander , His Dark Materials , Inheritance Cycle , Lemony Snicket , Middle-Earth , Narnia , Oz , Percy Jackson , Redwall , Roald Dahl , Shannara , A Song of Ice and Fire , Warriors .
Horror : Buffy , Twilight .
Other and related: Animation , Anime and manga , Balzac , Children's literature , Comics , Disney , Machinima , Games (Board and tabletop games , Warhammer 40K , RPGs (D&D ), Video games (Square Enix )).
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October 1978 (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Mandsford (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-11, score: 20
The Last One (film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Btlc2020 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-09-11, score: 100
Bangkok Dark Tales (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Phoebus 28 (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-09-11, score: 80
Plausible Fantasies (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Altenmann (talk · contribs · new pages (115) ) started on 2024-09-11, score: 50
Kai-hen Wizards (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by MushroomMan674 (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 20
Małe zielone ludziki (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Oliwiasocz (talk · contribs · new pages (53) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 45
The Golden Bird (Berber folktale) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KHR FolkMyth (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 20
The Cobbler from Lichtenrade (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Oliwiasocz (talk · contribs · new pages (53) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 60
Peter J. Wacks (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by SafariScribe (talk · contribs · new pages (121) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 60
List of LGBTQ literary awards (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Raladic (talk · contribs · new pages (45) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 80
Great, Greater, and Greatest (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Oliwiasocz (talk · contribs · new pages (53) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 50
Driton Selmani (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Berishasinan (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-10, score: 20
Nunslinger (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by ArthurTheGardener (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-09-07, score: 20
Pilot Elza or the Perfect Society (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Thallóczy (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-09-06, score: 40
Mimì: Prince of Darkness (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Francesca1564 (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 100
Who Made Me a Princess (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Shockingman173223 (talk · contribs · new pages (15) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 20
Ray Bradbury Center (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Drobertpowell (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 40
Spirit World (film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rickyurs (talk · contribs · new pages (10) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 20
Heard It in the Morning (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 105
Destiny (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 100
End of the Microcosmos (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 100
The Messenger (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 100
Whale Song (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 100
A View from the Stars (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 40
Improbable Fables, or a Jorney to the Center of the Earth (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Altenmann (talk · contribs · new pages (115) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 80
Atomfall (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by OceanHok (talk · contribs · new pages (6) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 40
With Her Eyes (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 100
Cannonball (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 100
Devourer (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 105
Greek mythology retelling (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by GTALuisLopez (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 80
The Micro-Era (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 120
Taking Care of God (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 105
Mountain (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 105
Film franchise (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Andrzejbanas (talk · contribs · new pages (15) ) started on 2024-09-08, score: 25
Encino Woman (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Thisbe Schultz (talk · contribs · new pages (11) ) started on 2024-09-07, score: 20
Outline of LGBTQ topics (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Isla (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-09-07, score: 20
Miasto grobów. Uwertura (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Oliwiasocz (talk · contribs · new pages (53) ) started on 2024-09-07, score: 45
Faddei Venediktovich Bulgarin (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Altenmann (talk · contribs · new pages (115) ) started on 2024-09-07, score: 20
Return from Death (Frankenstein 2000) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Redacwiki (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-05, score: 160
A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Dealers (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Lord Crayak (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-05, score: 100
Maebashi Witches (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Narutolovehinata5 (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-05, score: 20
Cosmos (manga) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by AnimeDoki2069 (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-05, score: 40
For the Benefit of Mankind (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-04, score: 100
Curse 5.0 (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-04, score: 100
Sun of China (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-04, score: 100
The Kept Man of the Princess Knight (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by AnimeDoki2069 (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-04, score: 20
Chandramukhi (soundtrack) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.84.178 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-09-04, score: 40
The Soulmates in The Gift of Light (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bladerunner09 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
Cosmere Roleplaying Game (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Prince of Erebor (talk · contribs · new pages (13) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 20
Harlem Unbound (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nodicenomasters (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 40
Caleb Alloway (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by CheerfulJug (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 40
Zero for Conduct (novelette) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 40
Silver Fire (novelette) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 40
Centuria (manga) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Flom m (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 20
List of media featuring space marines (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Yodin (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 25
Fear (2007 film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 77Survivor (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-03, score: 80
Stree (soundtrack) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.84.91 (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-02, score: 60
Tolkien fan fiction (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Chiswick Chap (talk · contribs · new pages (20) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
He Who Drowned the World (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by ArthurTheGardener (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-08-30, score: 20
Marc Edwards discography (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by AppleInYourEye (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 70
Companions' Tale (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nodicenomasters (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-08-27, score: 20
List of fan wikis (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Voorts (talk · contribs · new pages (18) ) started on 2024-08-20, score: 40
Pools (2024 video game) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by ERAGON (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
Lakho Phulani (film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nizil Shah (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
Generation Loss (novel) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Czar (talk · contribs · new pages (13) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
Steven John Ward (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Staticshakedown (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 40
Visfot (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Sush150 (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 40
Hayao Miyazaki bibliography (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rhain (talk · contribs · new pages (11) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
Dialect (game) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Nodicenomasters (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
Michael Harmel (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Teatreez (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 20
The Seductress from Hell (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Jeffreygerald5550 (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-09-01, score: 80
In the Trap (disambiguation) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Jameboy (talk · contribs · new pages (180) ) started on 2024-08-31, score: 40
El Eternauta: tercera parte (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Cambalachero (talk · contribs · new pages (21) ) started on 2024-08-29, score: 55
Mega Man V (1994 video game) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Emiya Mulzomdao (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-08-29, score: 20
A Nightmare on Elm Street: Protégé (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Lord Crayak (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-08-29, score: 80
Attack of the Robots (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Andrzejbanas (talk · contribs · new pages (15) ) started on 2024-08-29, score: 20
Feather O' My Wing (Irish fairy tale) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KHR FolkMyth (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 20
Voss (Alexander McQueen collection) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Premeditated Chaos (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 20
Publication history of Batman (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Lililolol (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 60
Sea of Dreams (novella) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 105
Midnight Cabaret (1990 film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by EtanEightysix (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 80
The Redemption of Time (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 45
Marc Edwards Discography (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by AppleInYourEye (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 70
I, Robot (soundtrack) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.84.13 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 40
Mimì – Il principe delle tenebre (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Francesca1564 (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 40
Bakemono (film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Zombiezilla (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 100
Z-Mom (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Abskiee (talk · contribs · new pages (4) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 100
Eyes in the Trees (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Hildreth gazzard (talk · contribs · new pages (176) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 100
List of historians, classicists and writers associated with Balliol College, Oxford (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Charles Matthews (talk · contribs · new pages (35) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 20
David Bolen (cinematographer) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rjpowerbus (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-08-28, score: 20
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