TEXTBOOK REFLECTION

Fantasy and Science Fiction  for Children 

·      Stories that violate the laws of physical reality fall into the genre of fantasy fiction

o   Ex. When Charlotte begins to speak to Wilbur, we crossed he realm of fantasy

·                    Science fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy

o   All of Science Fiction is part of the fantasy genre

o   Not all Fantasy Fiction is considered Science Fiction

·       Criteria for evaluating Science Fiction

o   Despite the fantastic aspects of the story, characters must behave in consistent and believable ways.

o   There must still be rules for the fantasy world.

o   Authors must assist readers in the “willing suspension of disbelief.”

o   The themes should explore universal truths.

·       Different Categories under Science Fiction

o   Soft Science Fiction

§  Does not deal with as much science as Hard Science Fiction

o   Hard Science Fiction

§  More Science in Nature

·       Star Trek

·       Star Wars

o   Apocalyptic

§  End of civilization

·       Traditionally from a catastrophe

§  Deals with ramifications of changes as they happen

o   Post-Apocalyptic

§  Many years after catastrophe

§  How people start pulling themselves to a standard of living

§  Don’t know how was life was like before

§  Most of the time it is set in a primitive setting

·       Because technology was wiped out

o   Steampunk

§  Steam powered machinery

§  Set in Victorian England

o   Cyberpunk  

§  Deals with hacking, computer technology

§  Relationship between computers and humans

·       Core of the story

o   Biopunk

§  Spinoff of cyberpunk and steampunk

§  Involves hackers, corporations and oppressive government agencies

§  They are manipulating DNA

§  Putting things in your Brain

§  Dark atmosphere

§  Looks at dangers and darker side of genetic engineering

o   Other punks

§  Diesel punk

·       Machinery dealing with diesel fuel

§  Elf Punk

·       Elves and Fairies

§  Splatter Punk        

·       Gruesome

o   Dystopia

§  Major Characteristics

·       Propaganda used to control the citizens

·       Information and independent thought is restricted

·       Figure head is worshipped

·       Citizens under constant surveillance

·       Citizens fear of an outside world

·       Citizens forced to confirm

·       Individuality is discouraged and prohibited

·       Society is the illusion of a perfect world but it is not

§  Theme of resistance

§  Main Character

·       Often becomes disillusioned

·       Joins rebellion in order to bring down government.

o   Extra Sensory Perception

§  Most associated with books concerning

·       Telepathy

·       Clairvoyance

·       Precognitive

o   Robots, Androids, Cyborgs, Artificial Intelligence

o   Virtual Reality/Gaming

§  Person is lost in a virtual world

o   Misc.

§  Books that do not meet other criteria