Professor Rodgers’ Keywords for Literary Study

SF [Definitions of SF] [History of SF as a Genre of Literature]

Genre [Norton LitWeb] 

Genre SF

Novum [sf encyclopedia]

Canon

Megatext [sf encyclopedia]

Verisimilitude

Extrapolation 

Neologism

Cognitive Estrangement

Reading Protocols

Subjunctivity

“Zero World” (the empirically verifiable properties of the world, i.e., “the real world” (Suvin))

Pulp [sf encyclopedia]

Medium / Media

Science fiction sub-genres:

Space opera
Hard sf
Steampunk [sf encyclopedia]
Cyberpunk  [sf encyclopedia]
Slipstream
Scientific romances
Horror
Fantasy
Satire

SF in the U.S. in the Twentieth Century: Four Major Eras

Pulp Era
Golden Age
New Wave
Post-New Wave

SF Themes: Identity/Exploration; Nature/Culture; Self/Other; Human/Machine

Gender
Time Travel
Automation
Artificial Intelligence
Dystopia
Utopia

Edwin:

Neologisms are new words in a language which can be used in the modern world creating different words to further our knowledge to build advanced civilizations.

David:

Fiction writers use verisimilitude to give their stories a sense of reality. Most of the time they are not showing or describing something that is actually true or real, but instead making something fictional seem believable.

Stefaniya:

C2: Definitions of SF Terms

Novum – the scientifically plausible innovations used by science fiction narratives.

Santos:

1/ Slipstream- a fictional source that crosses boundaries in genre.

2/Scientific Romances- late 19th century and early 20th century British science fiction stories that focus on the good and evil of advanced technology.
3) Space Opera- a drama taking place in outer space that often consist of space warfare, extraterrestrials, romance, neologisms, and advance technology.
4) Steampunk- fictional text that often takes place in the Victorian era and features advanced steam powered machinery and weaponry.
5) – Cyberpunk- genre of fiction where society is dominated by computers and artificial intelligence.

What is the difference between the sf sub-genres of steampunk and cyberpunk?

– Both steampunk and cyberpunk have to do with the advancement of technological innovations, but the difference between them is the time period. Steampunk involves a more 19th century wild wild west time period with the combination of fictional technology and the innovative technology of that time. An example would be the movie Atlantis: The Lost Empire. While cyberpunk involves a more modern time period with the combination of technological advancements in this time period and the addition of more fictional innovations. An example would be Blade Runner.

6/ Hard SF is based on science, but not necessarily scientific fact. Works of hard SF make use of the scientific method, where it is not only important to know that something is possible, but also to know how it is possible and why it was made possible. Things that are not based on currently proven scientific facts have to be justified with their own scientific logic. It may be more appropriate to think of it as “fictional science.” (Robert)

Are “canon” and “megatext” synonyms? If not, how do they differ? Are they related?

Yes, they are related, but they are not synonymous. They are both used to describe SF and other genres, but they are based on different perspectives. A megatext is outlined by authors that contribute to certain themes and sub-genres by creating alternative and derivative works from each other. A canon is outlined by the general community on which individual works contributed to the overall culture of the genre.

Hard SF is based on science, but not necessarily scientific fact. Works of hard SF make use of the scientific method, where it is not only important to know that something is possible, but also to know how it is possible and why it was made possible. Things that are not based on currently proven scientific facts have to be justified with their own scientific logic. It may be more appropriate to think of it as “fictional science.”