“Modern science fiction is the only form of literature that consistently considers the nature of the changes that face us”- Isaac Asimov

I had never really considered this until someone asked me how anyone could derive any enjoyment from something so… trivial? Childish?

And I have narrowed my thoughts down to a few key points. However, science-fiction will always remain a highly subjective area. For some people, there are elements too fantastical to resolve, and I understand that. But I believe there are some underlying reasons why it remains to be prevalent.

It seeks to discuss fundamental truths.

Whatever you believe in, there is always some way of making sense of the “big questions”; either by resolving them or accepting a lack of resolution. This is a source of comfort or relief for many people, and a reason why religion is so prevailing. Faiths have codices explaining everything from how the universe began to what happens when you die.

Science-fiction, in some forms, turns this on its head. It is no coincidence that the rise of sci-fi coincided with the start of postmodernism as a movement. Postmodernism, at its core, is a rejection of previously held beliefs and truths. It bred from the cynicism at the end of the world wars, and as such holds things relating to ‘meta’, be it science or religion, with a view of incredulity. This combined with the importance of self-identity creates an environment where writers can express a unique and living part of themselves. For instance, the Netflix film The Discovery, which discusses what happens when we die. An exploration of thoughts too large to wrap your head around in real life can become possible when boundaries of physics are broken.

2. There are opportunities to explore society and values.

One of the greatest things that I personally love about the genre is how societies can be scrutinized and held under a microscope. Going back to postmodernism, the movement in part led to an emergence of certain ‘leftists’, who believed that politics was the key to examining the distribution of power in society. I think that this was also important in the birth of science fiction as we know it today.

A common trope in genre fiction is the rebellion against an oppressive government. Examples include Star Wars, The Hunger Games, Half-Life 2, Dollhouse, Firefly etc. Honestly, the list could go on forever. This is obviously often a very overt way of pushing an agenda, but when done well, a resistance story can be extremely inspiring and hopeful. Or alternatively, a nihilistic showing of futility.

Then, there are other works that are slightly more ambiguous, a brilliant example being Battlestar Galactica (2003). The humans are ostensibly the heroes in this world, but they’re not infallible. The series shows the pros and cons of having a militaristic society out of necessity, and tackles issues of immigration, religion, and science in a way that does not hit the viewer over the head with its agenda.

Alternatively, Bioshock Infinite shows an oppressive power and the resistance as two sides of the same coin. They are both equally brutal and cruel, with the emphasis on the difference of perspective between them. This is extremely pertinent in today’s society, with discourse about whether political correctness goes too far sometimes and can swing into hypocrisy.

3. A showcase of modern technology.

This reason is purely for aesthetic purposes, but any media that takes you out of this world can benefit from the technological progress we have experienced. CGI is constantly being improved upon, and IMAX and 3D have changed the way we consume stories. Gravity (Alfonso Cuarón) is a blockbuster which flaunts the applications of technology to its fullest potential.

Not only does science-fiction display technology, but it can also demonstrate artistic prowess and creativity for creators. This Tumblr blog is full of beautiful works which encompass the artistry of the genre.

4. Escapism.

This is how I fell in love with sci-fi. Life can be tough, and you can want to be somewhere else or someone else. This is a natural feeling, and there are many different ways of achieving this. You can go out hiking through the wilderness, dive into a new culture, read a book, watch a film etc.

But there is truly no easier way to feel in a different world than exploring this genre. After all, it literally takes you away to a new place (in most cases). Many people who love science fiction are labelled as weird or nerds, and this has led to an insular, passionate fanbase that’s just now coming into the mainstream.

5. The scope.

Science fiction is really what you make it. It spans so many subgenres, there is usually something that can interest anyone. Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, space opera, space western, cyberpunk, time travel… This doesn’t even include subgenres that are simply speculative, or are also associated with other genres, like superheroes. The scope is endless.

So that just about sums up my thoughts about science fiction. Many of the ideas can also be applied to other genres, such as fantasy or horror. And I know that while taste is subjective, there are certain things that influence people’s likes and dislikes, and these can be evident when you look a bit closer.