Science fiction is a genré that is quite hard to define in precise
terms. According to author Robert A. Heinlein, science fiction can
be defined as “realistic speculation about possible future events,
based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and
present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and
significance of the scientific method.” Much of science fiction
literature is often about settings within alternate worlds or
futuristic worlds but within the predictive or imaginary rationales
of science; often incorporating references to entities like time
travel, alternative universes, subterranean worlds, aliens,
teleportation, futuristic computers and paranormal abilities. I
found an interesting definition in Wikipedia that states that
“The settings for science fiction are often contrary to those
of consensus reality, but most science fiction relies on a
considerable degree of suspension of disbelief, which is facilitated
in the reader's mind by potential scientific explanations or
solutions to various fictional elements.”
Antecedents of science fiction can be found in the remote past
tracing back to Lucian, the Greek satirist in the 2nd century who
described ‘sailing to the moon’ and other fantasies in one of his
works.
However, the literature of science fiction as we know it today
emerged nearly 300 years ago when writers started extrapolating
science in order to imagine future worlds and other realms of
fantasy. This is best described by looking at certain milestones on
the timeline of science fiction.
1726:
Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” about strange
worlds and frightening communities.
1818:
Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein or The Modern
Prometheus” about warnings against developments in science
that can have immoral results.