scifi

Science fiction, often abbreviated as sci-fi or SF, is a genre of speculative fiction that explores imagined futures, advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, and encounters with extraterrestrial life. It frequently uses scientific plausibility or extrapolation to examine human behavior, society, and ethical questions, and it can blend with thrillers, mysteries, or fantasy elements.

The term science fiction emerged in the early 20th century, though the field has earlier roots in the writings of Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, and H. G. Wells. SF appears across media, including novels, short stories, films, television, radio, and comics. Subgenres include hard science fiction, space opera, cyberpunk, biopunk, dystopian and utopian fiction, time travel, and alternate history, among others.

Historically, SF has distinct periods. Its early roots lie in nineteenth-century scientific romances. The Golden Age (roughly the 1930s to 1950s) emphasized coherent scientific rationales and clear storytelling. The New Wave of the 1960s and 1970s pushed literary experimentation and social critique, influencing later multimedia storytelling. Contemporary SF often foregrounds diverse voices, cross-cultural perspectives, and multidisciplinary approaches, while continuing to explore themes like artificial intelligence, climate change, biotech, and planetary exploration.

Impact and reception of science fiction include its influence on science, technology, and popular culture, as well as ongoing debates about scientific accuracy, representation, and ethics. Major awards recognizing achievement in the field include the Hugo Award, the Nebula Award, and the Locus Award.