THE EVOLUTION OF SCIENCE FICTION: AN ANALYSIS OF GENRE FEATURES

Аннотация

This article explores the evolution, characteristics, and cultural significance of the science fiction genre. Rooted in scientific knowledge and technological speculation, science fiction distinguishes itself from fantasy by emphasizing plausible scientific concepts rather than magic. Tracing its origins from ancient legends through early works by Lucian, More, Verne, and Wells, the genre has developed into a major literary form that reflects humanity’s hopes, fears, and philosophical questions about the future. Key periods such as the Golden Age and the New Wave are examined, highlighting influential authors and their contributions. The article also discusses the emergence of subgenres like cyberpunk, biopunk, and climate fiction, emphasizing science fiction’s role in addressing social, cultural, and ethical issues. Finally, it argues that science fiction acts as a mirror to societal change and a tool for imagining possible futures, making it avital part ofglobal literature and cultural discourse. Key words: Science fiction, literary genre, technological speculation, science and society, genre evolution, Golden Age of science fiction, New Wave, cyberpunk, cultural impact, futurism, science fiction subgenres, social criticism, science fiction history, technological prediction, global literature. Introduction. Science fiction works are based on science and technology and a type of literary genre. They differ from fantasy novels with its scientific proofs. There is no magic in these works, but mayhave hypothesis about future. Science fiction genre is one of the rapidly developing types of literature. It expresses the hopes, fears and hypothesis of man connected with the future. This genre not also amuses the readers, but also presents deep reasoning about future of humans. The theory, history, cultural impact, and predictions of technology in science fiction have made it an essential part of world literature [3]. Analysis and results. The origins of science fiction goes back to the ancient legends and tales, at that times extraordinary things are used to explain natural incidents. In ancient times there can be observed the elements of science fiction in Lucian’s “True history” and in middle centuries T.More’s “Utopia”. But modern type of the genre formed in the XIX th century with theworks ofJ.Verne and H.G.Wells. As the American science fiction scholar and writer Laster Del Ray has said, it is difficult to define the term science fiction even to the avid lover of the literature. Because there is no clear and specific given definition of the term. According to the scholar Isaac Asimov words, science fiction is a type of literature and can be defined as the man’s attitude to the changes of science andtechnology. Robert A.Heinlein has said that abrief definition ofthe science fiction genre is the event may happen in the future, the enough knowledge about today and past, thorough understanding of nature and scientific researches. The science fiction genre continues to lack a definitiveconsensus, as its interpretation varies among itsenthusiasts. In 1954 Forrest A. Ackerman used abbreviation of “sci-fi” for the term science fiction for the first time. According to playwright Peter Nichols, science fiction writers and readers prefer to useabbreviation of“SF” ofthis genre. In XVII century the novel writing was developed. There is a hypothesis Mary Shelley’s “Frankstein” has been as the first science fiction novel. Famous writer Edgar Allan Poe has 155 INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SJIF2019:5.2222020:5.5522021:5.6372022:5.4792023:6.5632024:7,805 eISSN:2394-6334 https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd Volume12,issue07(2025) written several stories on science fiction genre. For instance, in the story “The unparalleled adventures of one Hans Pfall” the travel to the planet moon is described. Jules Verne is renowned for his writing with details and scientific clearity, especially it is mostly seen in his work “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas”. Edgar Allan Poe and Jules Verne contributed to the science fiction genre development with writing their works in two styles. Jules Verne wrote his novels with technology fantasy, whereas E.A.Poe’s writings are rich with magic and horrorful creatures with scientific facts. In 1887 Spain writer Enrique Gaspar wrote hiswork “El anacronópete”and thefirst timemachineis described init. Many critics consider H.G.Wells as the main writers of science fiction and even he has been like Shakespeare in this genre. His famous science fiction works are “The time machine”, “The Island of Doctor Moreau”, “The Invisible Man”, and “The War of the Worlds”. These works include not also interesting adventures, but also deep social ideas and predictions. For instance, in “Invisible man” the main hero Griffin makes great discovery, being invisible he does his evil actions. Analyzing this character shows, there is complex relation between moral aspects and scientif