Sci-Fi as a genre: why we are all secretly Sci-Fi readers.
Have you seen the Netflix trailer for 3 Body Problem? When Team Tandem first saw it, lots of us thought, this looks so cool- but I’m not a Sci-Fi fan. The book that inspired the show took the world by storm, selling 3 million copies worldwide. This got me thinking on why people have this aversion to Sci-Fi, and is that fair?
What do Frankenstein and The Hunger Games have in common? How about 1984 and Klara and the Sun? If you said they all fall under the umbrella genre of Sci-Fi, you’d be right!
These are titles that don’t immediately scream Sci-Fi to us. Today I’m going to talk about different aspects of Sci-Fi, and hopefully by the end of this blog post, we’ll have some Sci-Fi converts!
What is Sci-Fi?
We all think of Sci-Fi as spaceships and aliens, right? The genre of choice of the guy who lives in his mum’s basement, just Star Wars and Star Trek, right? Wrong! Sci-Fi is so much more than just space travel. The genre is defined by dictionary.com as ‘a genre of fiction that creatively depicts real or imaginary science and technology as part of its plot, setting, or theme.’ It is different from fantasy in that Sci-Fi uses technology to surpass humans’ own abilities, instead of magic or the supernatural.
we’re sci-fi readers reel credit: ChucksLibrary
What else counts as Sci-Fi?
There are multiple sub-genres of Sci-Fi that we might be more familiar with. Of course we have space operas and time travel, but did you know that dystopian, post apocalyptic, utopian and speculative stories fall under Sci-Fi too? These sub-genres are much more popular in the mainstream: most of us have read or watched The Hunger Games, lots of us studied 1984 at school, but did we realise we were enjoying Sci-Fi?
The Three-Body Problem is a hard Sci-Fi, leaning heavily into physics and VR. The show takes this element and expands it into other forms of science and technology. In my opinion, the show is more accessible for a Sci-Fi newbie, but the book delves so much deeper into the ideas- so if you loved the show, consider picking the book too! If you enjoyed the gaming aspect of Ready Player One (book or movie), then I think you’ll love reading The Three-Body Problem.
Bookstack credit: TheSeasonOfBooks
Why don’t more of us claim to be Sci-Fi fans?
I asked the Tandem Team this question, and we had some interesting answers. Alice is immediately put off by spaceships, but loves dystopias and really enjoys soft Sci-Fi by Becky Chambers. Lex doesn’t like it when the plot is moved forwards by aliens, but there are thriller/Sci-Fi cross overs that she enjoys such as Wrong Place, Wrong Time and The Passengers. Wendy admits to being put off the genre due to the stereotypes of the genres, and the in depth science explanations, but she has also loved The Time Travellers Wife, which has Sci-Fi elements with time travel.
I think these responses show how even with avid readers, this is a genre we have automatic assumptions about. We assume that there will be certain plot points or settings that we assume we won’t like. However, when we delved more into the Sci-Fi books that aren’t immediately obvious as the genre, we all had titles that we loved.
What about films and TV Shows?
Surprisingly, even though most of Team Tandem don’t claim to be fans of Sci-Fi books, we do all enjoy films and TV shows that include Sci-Fi elements.
Lex is a big fan of Independence Day and Deep Impact. Helena loves Black Mirror and The Handmaid's Tale. Jaide can’t wait to watch 3 Body Problem and loved Poor Things, another recent book to screen adaptation.
I think that a lot of us are inspired to read a book after seeing the film or show that took inspiration from it. This month we are running a Read-and-Watchalong of The Three-Body Problem. The 2008 award winner of the same name inspired the new Netflix show, which has been created by the same team that brought us Game of Thrones. The show is quite different from the book, but personally, I love that. They are two different types of media telling the same story. If you want to join in, check out our cards for the Read and Watchalong here. And if you’re not yet convinced, check out some posts by our creators here.
OK, I’m convinced. What should I read next?
Because recommending books is one of my favourite things to do, I have a whole list for you!
If you want to read a classic try Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. This is classed as the very first Sci-Fi novel, with Mary Shelley as a founder of the genre. (And nary a spaceship in sight!)
If you want to read a popular book, try The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This dystopian series is one of the best loved YA series from the 2000s.
If you want something new that plays with time, try The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard. This follows a town set in a valley, to the east is the same town, but 20 years in the future, and to the west is the same town, but 20 years in the past.
If you’re usually a thriller reader, try The One by John Marrs. This imagining of a dating app that can pair you up with your one true love based on your DNA is both thrilling and fascinating.
If you like your thriller with a touch more horror, try The Drift by C L Tudor
If you’re usually a romance reader, try This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. This has strong Sci-Fi elements, but is mainly about romance.
If you’re usually a fantasy reader, try Red Rising by Pierce Brown. This reads like a fantasy, but is set on Mars
If you’re usually a literary reader, try Klara and the Sun or Never Let Me Go, both by Kazuo Ishiguro. These are both speculative imaginings of technological advances in the near future.
More options for literary readers are Station Eleven or Sea of Tranquility, both by Emily St John Mandel.
If you want something to explore social and racial issues, try Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman
And of course, if you’re a gamer, then you must read The Three-Body Problem by Cixin Liu!
I could go on, but I’m going to stop for now! Let us know which of these Sci-Fi’s you’ll be picking up, and we’ve converted you to a Sci-Fi reader!
