science-fiction
Imagined future stories
Science fiction is a genre of speculative storytelling set in imagined futures, alternative worlds, or scenarios shaped by scientific or technological change.
Common elements include space travel, alien life, time manipulation, and advanced technology.
The genre ranges from hard science fiction (grounded in plausible science) to space opera (emphasizing adventure over accuracy).
Often shortened to sci-fi or SF: I've been on a science-fiction kick lately.
Moving between historical moments
- multiverseHypothetical set of universes
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
- quantumSmallest discrete unit
anachronism · causality · timeline · divergence · what-if · counterfactual · loop · predestination
Instantaneous displacement across space
- hologram3D image from light
- force-fieldInvisible protective energy barrier
- phaserFictional beam weapon
- replicatorThing that duplicates
cryonics · cloning · terraforming · antigravity · holodeck · ray-gun · blaster · stasis
Organic-mechanical hybrid entity
- androidMachine resembling a person
- bionicMechanically augmented human
- prosthesisManufactured replacement body part
- implantDevice placed inside tissue
augmentation · robotics · mechanical · synthetic · exoskeleton · nanotechnology · transhumanism · bioengineering
Retrofuturistic Victorian science fiction
- cyberpunkDystopian tech-noir fiction
- biopunkBiotech-focused speculative fiction
- solarpunkEco-optimist speculative genre
- dieselpunkRetrofuturism through 1930s aesthetics
Non-native being
- martianNative of fourth planet
- spaceshipVehicle for interplanetary travel
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
starship · exobiology · otherworldly · abduction · invasion · xenomorph · mothership · saucer
Fictional interstellar vessel
- hyperspaceFaster-than-light travel medium
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
- asteroidSun-orbiting rocky mass
light-year · cosmos · astronaut · orbit · zero-gravity · lunar · planetary · federation
Imaginary terrible society
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- post-apocalypticAfter global catastrophe
propaganda · censorship · rebellion · resistance · tyranny · collapse · authoritarian · dehumanization
time-travel
Moving between historical moments
- multiverseHypothetical set of universes
- paradoxSeemingly absurd truth
- wormholeHypothetical spacetime tunnel
quantum · anachronism · causality · timeline · divergence · what-if · counterfactual · loop · predestination · dimension
teleportation
Instantaneous displacement across space
- hologram3D image from light
- force-fieldInvisible protective energy barrier
- phaserFictional beam weapon
replicator · cryonics · cloning · terraforming · antigravity · holodeck · ray-gun · blaster · stasis · faster-than-light
cyborg
Organic-mechanical hybrid entity
- androidMachine resembling a person
- bionicMechanically augmented human
- prosthesisManufactured replacement body part
implant · augmentation · robotics · mechanical · synthetic · exoskeleton · nanotechnology · transhumanism · bioengineering · enhancement
steampunk
Retrofuturistic Victorian science fiction
alien
Non-native being
- martianNative of fourth planet
- spaceshipVehicle for interplanetary travel
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
spacecraft · starship · exobiology · otherworldly · abduction · invasion · xenomorph · mothership · saucer · grey
starship
Fictional interstellar vessel
- hyperspaceFaster-than-light travel medium
- nebulaInterstellar gas formation
- galaxyGravitationally bound stellar mass
asteroid · light-year · cosmos · astronaut · orbit · zero-gravity · lunar · planetary · federation · fleet
dystopia
Imaginary terrible society
- totalitarianDictatorial, all-controlling regime
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
post-apocalyptic · propaganda · censorship · rebellion · resistance · tyranny · collapse · authoritarian · dehumanization · megacorporation
science-fictionfantasy
Imaginative mental wandering
supernatural fiction · sword and sorcery · fairy tale · paranormal romance · urban fantasy
science-fictionnonfiction
Literature about real events
realism · literary realism · realistic fiction · naturalism · documentary
science-fictionhistorical fiction
Novels set in actual pasts
period drama · medieval romance · costume drama · history · ancient epics
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