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NO one has defined science fiction (SF) to everyone’s satisfaction, but one way of approaching the genre would be to say that it is a popular Anglo-American form with predominantly technological interests that evolved during the 19th and 20th centuries. But sci-fi has some remarkable ancestors. Many of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories closely resemble modern science fiction, though the true ‘father figures’ of the genre are Jules Verne and H.G. Welles.
This is truer still of Welles, who had a wide knowledge of scientific subjects and was a trained scientist himself. His fame in sci-fi lies mainly on The Time Machine (1898), The War of the Worlds (1899) and The Wonderful Visit (1901). The year 1926 can be regarded as a landmark year in the history of sci-fi, for it marked the first date of publication of Amazing Stories edited by Hugo Gernsbeck. This magazine was so influential on everything that followed that the annual science fiction award is named the "Hugo" as a mark of respect. Science fiction had arrived on the literary firmament, so to say, and the enormous popularity of the genre dates from this period. The extent to which it dominated people’s mind can be gauged by the hysterical public reaction to Orson Welles’ notorious radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds and the development of the new mythology of flying saucers and extra-terrestrial life and alien creatures from outer space. Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Issac Asimov and Robert A. Heinlien dominated the science fiction space in the 20th century and their novels have had a profound impact on its evolution. Bradbury, also a distinguished writer of non-science fiction, verses and plays, wrote such outstanding sci-fi novels like The Illustrated Man (195). The Golden Apples of the Sun (1951) and Silver Locust (1953). Asimov was also a prolific writer and among his notable works are I, Robot (1952) and The Foundation Trilogy (1954). Arthur C. Clarke wrote the fabulously successful 2001: A Space Odyssey (1959). Robert A. Heinlein has written very significant science fiction novels, among them Strangers in a strange lamd (1953). To put the widest possible definition on the term science fiction would be to say that it deals wholly or in part with supernatural, surreal, extra-terrestrial or speculative topics, but sci-fi, basically a modern form, can be related to a great many works from the past 3,000 years. Under this definition, Homer’s Odyssey would very well qualify as science fiction. So would Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels and Dante’s Interno. In recent years, some writers have been trying to revolutionise science fiction, but their qualities are hard to judge. They are generally referred to as the "New Wave." The most notable works in this genre are J. B. Ballard’s The Terminal Beach (1958) and The Atrocity Exhibition (1961). Some outstanding films
have been made based on science fiction, among them 2001: A Space
Odyssey. They are characterised by spectacular light, sound and
special effects and incidental music.
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Verne
wrote several extraordinary stories of high adventure, among them
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Centre of
the Earth. He wrote in French and his works have been translated
into most major world languages. Part of Verne’s popularity rests on
the point that he tried to make the scientific facts in his yarns
plausible.