The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to science fiction: Science fiction – a genre of fiction dealing with the impact of imagined innovations in science or technology, often in a futuristic setting. or depicting space exploration. Exploring the consequences of such innovations is the traditional purpose of science fiction, making it a "literature of ideas". Definitions of science fiction: Science fiction includes such a wide range of themes and subgenres that it is notoriously difficult to define. Accordingly, there have been many definitions offered.Science fiction is a type of: Fiction – form of narrative which deals, in part or in whole, with events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary and invented by its author(s). Although fiction often describes a major branch of literary work, it is also applied to theatrical, cinematic, and musical work. Genre fiction – fictional works (novels, short stories) written with the intent of fitting into a specific literary genre in order to appeal to readers and fans already familiar with that genre. Also known as popular fiction. Speculative fiction Genre – science fiction is a genre of fiction. Science fiction genre – while science fiction is a genre of fiction, a science fiction genre is a subgenre within science fiction. Science fiction may be divided along any number of overlapping axes. Gary K. Wolfe's Critical Terms for Science Fiction and Fantasy identifies over 30 subdivisions of science fiction, not including science fantasy (which is a mixed genre). Genres concerning the emphasis, accuracy, and type of science described include: Hard science fiction—a particular emphasis on scientific detail and/or accuracy Soft science fiction—focus on human characters and their relations and feelings, while de-emphasizing the details of technological hardware and physical laws Themes related to science, technology, space and the future, as well as characteristic plots or settings include: Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic science fiction Biopunk — centered around biotechnology and genetic engineering in general, biopunk uses some both (post)cyberpunk elements and post-modernist prose to describe a typically dystopian world of biohackers, man-made viruses, mutations, designer babies, artificial life forms, bio-genetic engineered human-animal hybrids and bio-genetically manipulated humans. Cyberpunk — uses elements from the hard-boiled detective novel, film noir, Japanese anime, and post-modernist prose to describe the nihilistic, underground side of a cybernetic society Climate fiction — emphasizes effects of anthropogenic climate change and global warming at the end of the Holocene era Dying Earth science fiction Military science fiction Steampunk — denotes works set in (or strongly inspired by) an era when steam power was still widely used — usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian England — though with otherwise high technology or other science fiction elements Time travel Space colonization Space opera — emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger-than-life characters Social science fiction — concerned less with technology and more with sociological speculation about human society Mundane science fiction Genres concerning politics, philosophy, and identity movements include: Christian science fiction Feminist science fiction Gay/lesbian science fiction Libertarian science fiction Genres concerning the historical era of creation and publication include: Scientific romance — an archaic name for what is now known as the science fiction genre, mostly associated with the early science fiction of the United Kingdom. Pulp science fiction Golden Age of Science Fiction — a period of the 1940s during which the science fiction genre gained wide public attention and many classic science fiction stories were published. New Wave science fiction — characterised by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content. Cyberpunk — noted for its focus on "high tech, low life" and taking its name from the combination of cybernetics and punk. Genres that combine two different fiction genres or use a different fiction genre's mood or style include: Alternate history science fiction—fiction set in a world in which history has diverged from history as it is generally known Comic science fiction Science fiction erotica Adventure science fiction—science fiction adventure is similar to many genres Gothic science fiction—a subgenre of science fiction that involves gothic conventions New Wave science fiction—characterized by a high degree of experimentation, both in form and in content Science fantasy—a mixed genre of story which contains some science fiction and some fantasy elements Science fiction opera—a mixture of opera and science fiction involving empathic themes Science fiction romance—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and romance genres Science fiction mystery—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and mystery genres, encompassing Occult detective fiction and science fiction detectives Science fiction Western—fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and Western genres Space Western—a subgenre of science fiction that transposes themes of American Western books and film to a backdrop of futuristic space frontiers. Spy-fi a subgenre of spy fiction that includes some science fiction. Fantasy Science fantasy Mystery fiction Horror fiction Slipstream fiction Utopian and dystopian fiction Superhero fiction Australian science fiction Bengali science fiction Canadian science fiction Chilean science fiction Chinese science fiction Croatian science fiction Czech science fiction Estonian science fiction French science fiction Japanese science fiction Norwegian science fiction Polish science fiction Romanian science fiction Russian science fiction Serbian science fiction Spanish science fiction History of science fiction films List of stock characters in science fiction Extraterrestrials in fiction Hyperspace The setting is the environment in which the story takes place. Elements of setting may include culture (and its technologies), period (including the future), place (geography/astronomy), nature (physical laws, etc.), and hour. Setting elements characteristic of science fiction include: Parallel universes Planets in science fiction Hyperspace Slipstream Earth in science fiction Political ideas in science fiction Utopian and dystopian fiction World government in science fiction World government in fiction Religious ideas in science fiction List of religious ideas in science fiction Religion in speculative fiction Xenology Gender in science fiction Sex in science fiction Pregnancy in science fiction LGBT themes in speculative fiction Computer technology Artificial intelligence in fiction List of fictional computers Mind uploading in fiction Transportation Flying car (aircraft) Space dock Weapons in science fiction Resizing Simulated reality in fiction Space warfare in fiction Weapons in science fiction First contact List of science fiction and fantasy artists Science fiction comics Science fiction comics Speculative poetry List of science fiction novels List of science fiction short stories Science fiction magazine Science fiction fanzine Science fiction film Science fiction on television List of science fiction television programs List of science fiction sitcoms U.S. television science fiction British television science fiction Science fiction radio programs Baen Free Library Internet Speculative Fiction DataBase Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Science fiction studies New Wave science fiction Science in science fiction Materials science in science fiction Science fiction and fantasy journals Science fiction libraries and museums Science fiction conventions List of science fiction conventions List of fan conventions by date of founding Science fiction fandom Science fiction fanzine Science fiction organizations The science fiction genre has a number of recognition awards for authors, editors, and illustrators. Awards are usually granted annually. (Chronological) Hugo Award—since 1953—General Science Fiction Nebula Award—since 1965—General Science Fiction Edward E. Smith Memorial Award (the Skylark)—since 1966 BSFA Award—since 1970—British Science Fiction Seiun Award—since 1970—Japanese Science Fiction Locus Award—since 1971—SciFi / Fantasy / New Authors (separate awards) Saturn Award—film and television SF—since 1972 John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel—since 1973 Rhysling Award—for best science fiction poetry, given by the Science Fiction Poetry Association—since 1978 Parsec Award—since 2006 Philip K. Dick Award—since 1982 Arthur C. Clarke Award—since 1987 Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award for best short science fiction—since 1987 Robert A. Heinlein Award—since 2003 Dragon Awards—since 2016 Nommo Awards —since 2017 AustralianAurealis Award—Australian Chandler Award—for contributions to Australian Science fiction Ditmar Award—for SF by AustraliansBritishKitschies—for speculative fiction novels published in the UKCanadianConstellation Awards—for the best SF/fantasy film or television works released in Canada Prix Aurora Awards—for Canadian science fiction Sunburst Award— Juried award for Canadian science fictionChineseThe Galaxy Awards (银河奖)—given by magazine Science Fiction World for Chinese SF&FCroatianSFERA Award—given by SFera, a Croatian SF societyDutchPaul Harland Prize—for Dutch SFEstonianStalker Award—for the best Estonian SF novel, given out on Estcon by Eesti Ulmeühing, the Estonian SF society.FinnishTähtivaeltaja Award—for the best SF novel released in FinlandFrenchGrand Prix de l'Imaginaire—France since 1974 Prix Jules-Verne—France 1927–1933 and 1958–1963 Prix Tour-Apollo Award—France 1972-1990GermanKurd-Laßwitz-Preis—German SF awardIsraeliGeffen Award—Israel since 1999ItalianPremio Urania—for Italian SFJapaneseNihon SF Taisho Award—Japan since 1980New ZealanderSir Julius Vogel Award—for SF by New ZealandersPacific NorthwesternEndeavour Award—for SF by Pacific Northwest authorPolishJanusz A. Zajdel Award—award of Polish fandom Nautilus Award—Polish awardRomanianSRSFF Award—RomâniaRussianBig Roscon award for outstanding contribution to science fictionTurkishTBD Science Fiction Story Award—Turkey (Chronological) Prometheus Award—best libertarian SF—since 1979 Lambda Literary Award—since 1988 Tiptree Award—since 1991 Golden Duck Awards—best children's SF—1992-2017 Sidewise Award for Alternate History—since 1995 Gaylactic Spectrum Awards—since 1999 Emperor Norton Award—San Francisco—2003-2011 Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards—2011-2014 Compton Crook Award—for best first novel Jack Gaughan Award—for best emerging artist John W. Campbell Award—for best new writer Writers of the Future—contest for new authors Damon Knight Memorial Grand Master Award—associated with the Nebula List of science fiction and fantasy artists List of science fiction authors Women science fiction authors List of science fiction editors Brian Aldiss Isaac Asimov—Asimov on Science Fiction Brian Attebery Everett F. Bleiler John W. Campbell John Clute—co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (with Peter Nicholls) Samuel R. Delany Hugo Gernsback—founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and the person who the Hugo Awards are named after. David Hartwell Larry McCaffery Judith Merril Sam Moskowitz Peter Nicholls—co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (with John Clute) Alexei Panshin David Pringle—editor of Foundation and Interzone; author of Science Fiction: The 100 Best Novels Andrew Sawyer Dorothy Scarborough Brian Stableford Darko Suvin Gary K. Wolfe There are a number of science fiction media franchises of this type, typically encompassing media such as cinema films, TV shows, toys, and even theme parks related to the content. The highest-grossing science fiction franchise is Star Wars. Space science fiction franchises: Alien (8 films since 1979) Babylon 5 (2 television series, 7 TV movies since 1993) Battlestar Galactica (5 television series and two TV movies since 1979) Doctor Who (TV series since 1963, 2 Dr. Who films since 1965, and 1 1996 television film, five spinoff TV shows (K-9 and Company, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, K-9 and Class), video games and hundreds of books) Dune (23 novels since 1965, 1 film in 1984, 3 comics since 1984, 2 TV series since 2000) Godzilla (36 films since 1954 and 3 TV series since 1978) Halo (since 2001, started from video game) Independence Day (2 films since 1996) Legend of the Galactic Heroes (2 novel series since 1983 and 3 anime OVA series since 1988) Macross (4 anime TV series since 1982, 6 anime films since 1984, 3 manga series since 1994) Mass Effect (since 2007, started from video game) Men in Black (4 films since 1997 and animated TV series) Mobile Suit Gundam (21 anime TV series since 1979, 7 anime films since 1988, successful model kits since 1980) Neon Genesis Evangelion (1 anime TV series since 1995 and 5 anime films since 1997) Planet of the Apes (9 films since 1968) Predator (6 films since 1987) Robotech (1 anime TV series and 5 anime films since 1985) Space Battleship Yamato (5 anime TV series since 1974 and 7 anime films since 1977) Space Odyssey (2 short stories since 1954, 2 films since 1968, 4 novels since 1968, 1 1972 book) Star Trek (7 TV series and 13 films since 1966) Star Wars (8 episodic "Saga" films since 1977, 1 1978 TV film, 2 Ewok films since 1985, 1 2008 The Clone Wars film, 2 "Anthology" films since 2016, 2 canon TV series since 2008, 3 Legends TV series since 1985) Stargate (4 TV series and one theater film since 1994) The Expanse (8 novels and 1 television series since 2011) Transformers (28 TV series since 1984, 4 animated films since 1986, 5 live action films since 2007, started from toy line) Ultra Series (34 TV series since 1966 and 29 films since 1967)