Lesson 7.01 The Science in Science Fiction

Science Fiction

Science fiction is a subgenre of fiction. These stories combine science and technology of the future. The information in the stories tends to be half true and half fictitious; otherwise, it would be totally unbelievable and border upon fantasy. Fantasy can use the absurd and unrealistic situations like unicorns and one-eyeballed monsters because it doesn't need a scientific explanation.

When you are reading science fiction, think about the following questions.

• Does the story deal with scientific principles and technology?
• Does the story make predictions about life in the future?
• Does the story deal with aliens or with life on other worlds?
• Does the story comment on important issues in society?

In science fiction, the setting of your story will either be written in the future, in space, on a different planet or world, or in a different universe or dimension.

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Harrison Bergeron

Let's read an example of science fiction. Kurt Vonnegut (1922 - 2007), an American author, served in WWII. After returning from being captured and witnessing horrible atrocities, he began writing mostly in the science fiction genre. The short story you will read today is "Harrison Bergeron."

The story is set in the United States 120 years in the future of when the story was published. The short story was published in 1961. The setting is in a dystopian society, which means it is a dysfunctional society. In the story, laws require everyone to be average; if the person is born in any way above average, then a handicap is placed on that person.

Read "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut.

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