Science fiction has always been a creative medium to predict how actual science will impact the world and its people. This relatively modern form of fiction's foundation was laid after World War through pulp fiction, comic strips, and movie franchises.

The history of science fiction is closely related to the scientific development of our world. From research and theories explaining the quantifiable nature of the material world to predictions that there is a life outside of Earth, factual scientific concepts laid the foundation of this new fiction genre. It gave birth to some of the most legendary books, novels, and characters in the literary world.

Humans have always been intrigued by the arrival of the unknown, dating back to thousands of years ago when civilizations relied upon theories to explain the wonders of the universe. This explosion of interest was not only due to the fascination with the future but also as an artistic expression, a diversion from the uncertain times surrounding the writers, artists, and storytellers of the early 1920s and 30s.

Let's discuss how science fiction became the forefront of imagination and helped the world understand modern technology in layman's language.

The Framework for Modern Sci-Fi

Science fictional worlds are usually built by intelligent machines, robots, and humans. After the World War, writers used their extensive detailing as an innovative tool to depict what the world would look like with groundbreaking development and alien invasions. When the World War ended, industrialization began to expand its foothold. People began to realize that only those with an advanced understanding of the natural world can change the quality of life. In hopes of understanding this advanced world, many researchers and inventors devised predictions and inventions that inspired fiction authors to create their version of a progressive society.

Frankenstein—The Pioneer of Sci-Fi, and Many Others

Although it became mainstream in the early 1900s, the first science fiction literature was under works in 1816. Mary Shelley paved the way for science fiction to flourish by publishing her novel Frankenstein in 1818. This book follows the story of an impossible scientific feat of that time that is presumed to be possible in the 20th century. Frankenstein represents the social influence on a character and how unchecked scientific ambitions can bring peril. It also describes the moral responsibilities of an inventor towards its creation. This gothic novel beautifully describes the provocative human nature and the consequences of choices imbued with horror and science fiction. From clones to robotics, Mary Shelley's vision became a prediction of what the future generations will witness, all in the name of " revolutionary technology."

After the disaster the world wars had inflicted upon nations, writers used this genre to characterize different periods in fiction, like dystopia, post-apocalypse, and apocalypse. This genre reflected the challenges of the times and people's attitudes toward technology during the early 1900s.

One such example would be Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," which narrated the adventures of Captain Nemo and his ship, Nautilus, as they journey around the ocean and explore the lost city of Atlantis—technologies like transatlantic telegraph cable and many others are described in the book. The submarine, the technology that kept Captain Nemo alive under the sea, showed the positive attitude and expectation that people of Verne's time had with technology. It symbolized science as a vessel for human progress and an escape from the brutality of the real world.

This speculation of discovering alternative ways to improve life with technology immerses authors in creating fascinating stories. Some iconic reads are Dune by Frank Herbert, Solaris by Stanislaw Lem, and The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Like fantasy, sci-fi structures a world with different rules but with a more profound and philosophical narrative than spell-binding creatures, wizards, or witches. Delve deeper into the cosmic multiverse of unique stories, characters, and plots in Chiaretto Calò's new literary encyclopedia, "The Library of Humanity: The Most Influential Books of all Time," now on Amazon.