The roots of science fiction

Science fiction is a genre that generates a great deal of debate today – not least over a true definition and what titles should be included with the field, which can be thorny enough in its own right. What is not up for debate is the long and varied history the genre has. While many trace the genre back to the 1800s, it’s more than possible to construct an argument that SF has its roots much further back, with several of its key concepts far predating the books we may associate as the prototypes of the genre. In this piece we’re going to delve far into the past to discover just where modern sci-fi had its very beginnings, tracing everything up until the year 1900.

Science fiction BC

Many readers will be well aware of the extremely early roots of fantasy fiction and its mythic ties, but it may surprise some that there are many texts from a similar era that have distinct science-fictional elements. has elements of the genre – thought that might be an argument bigger than I have time for here. However, there are also a number of ancient Indian poems whose credentials are much harder to knock, with both and the featuring flying machines that could reach space or go underwater. You could also see some of the plays of Aristophanes as featuring definite SF elements, with and both featuring characters ascending into the skies as part of their plotlines. SF authors reading these can acknowledge that the technological dreams which have so flavoured our modern society are anything but new.