*I wanted to added a note here.* This post is simply my own thoughts, convictions, and opinions. You can take them or leave them. I really don’t care.
Science Fiction is a genre of speculative fiction that has been called the “literature of ideas”. It typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, time travel, parallel universes, fictional worlds, space exploration, and extraterrestrial life. It often explores the potential consequences of scientific innovations. Science fiction, whose roots go back to ancient times, is related to fantasy, horror, and superhero fiction, and includes many subgenres.
When it comes to Science Fiction, there seems to be two sides. Either you are passionate about it, or you don’t care for it at all. I’ve seen very few who are on the fence. Many of the books I’ve seen that are Science Fiction have either kidnapping of humans, lots of battles with aliens, or really creepy technical things that they do to people.
I don’t write Science Fiction books. And I don’t read them. But I got to thinking, why? What is it about this genre that turns me away? I’ve come up with 5 reasons.
1.) Too Much Evil I’m sure there are people who write Science Fiction books that aren’t full of evil such as kidnapping, murder, torture, and other things, but such books are the exception. And I’ve never been interested enough to see what is in the exceptions.
2.) Strange Creatures I can’t even stand to look at characters from Star Wars! They make me cringe and remind me too much of nightmares. Call me strange, but if it’s not a creature created by God, it isn’t something I tend to enjoy. (And yes, I like snakes, and have held tarantulas.)
3.) Technology *read in robotic tones* I do not like all the gizmos and gadgets and technology that comes with this genre. *returns to normal voice* It’s bewildering, confusing, and frankly, not something I enjoy, besides, I could never write it. I get confused enough as it is writing about modern technology. I’d be totally lost trying to create un-invented things, and how would I know if that thing was already invented since I don’t keep up with the modern world of technology? (One reason I would rather write about earlier eras.)
4.) Not Real No matter how many people think we can live on other planets, or believe there might be life out there, it’s not real. God created the earth for mankind to live on. He sent His Son to die for the sins of the WORLD, not the sins of the worldS. If there was life on other planets, life that could communicate and engage in physical conversations and such with humans, than they are creatures that man is to have dominion over, or the Bible is a lie because it says that Christ died once for all. And that the whole of creation was cursed because of man’s sin. If man’s sin on earth cursed the entire creation, that would affect any “aliens.” And Jesus didn’t die for them, so . . . It also goes along with my view of Fantasy.
5.) Time Travel While I may enjoy traveling back in time while reading historical fiction books, traveling ahead into the unknown has never been something I enjoy. I don’t like the evil that is usually brought into stronger focus. I don’t care for the awful medical experiments that often pop up. And I don’t enjoy the whole persecution of Christians. I don’t care to jump ahead because “sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” There’s enough evil in our world for me right now.
And there you have it. The 5 reasons I don’t write Si-Fi. What do you think about Science Fiction? Read my thoughts on Cozy Mysteries, Romance and Fantasy. Did you enjoy this series? Are there any other genres you’d like to know my thoughts on? Ask. I may decide to expand this series.
Wow! Well said, Rebekah! I don’t care for these kinds of books either. I don’t mind reading about Christian persecution, because the ones I have read are about how God brought them through, which is encouraging to me, but yes, sci-fi is not something I plan to read or write!
Thanks, Ryana Lynn.
Great points, Rebekah!! Like Ry said, I honestly love reading about persecution, in the future or otherwise; and I don’t mind invented technology at all, so long as it doesn’t creep me out…but I don’t think I’ve ever read stuff that would count as sci-fi, just dystopian. Like you said, it tends to get creepy, and life on other planets… You get your fair share of that living in the southwest without choosing to read about it on your own!! 😝
Thanks, Kassie. 🙂
Coming from a former Star Trek and science fiction (of the clean Robert Heinlein before 1970) fan, I do agree with your evaluation. I always wanted to be an astronaut and explore strange new worlds–all in God’s creation. I wanted to sit on the edge of a spinning galaxy and watch it swirl and spin (clearly in slowwwww motion!). So the thought of traveling aboard a starship and seeing these things opened up my imagination. Good science fiction can allow us to read about our own culture in an analogical way. That said, I DESPISE the modern version of science fiction for most of the reasons you wrote, Rebekah. The techo-no part is BORING. The creepy monsters are just plain DUMB. I like reading about fun characters having an adventure in a setting that is not on this planet. I’m afraid I can’t give any opinion about your #1 reason, the “evil,” as I won’t read true evil in any genre. (And sci-fi is not the only offender here! Historical “romance” can take a gothic and evil spin too.)
So, after all is said and done, I wouldn’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. I know it’s totally not REAL. It’s just fun to imagine. Be discerning in any genre you read.
Thanks for commenting. Yes, there are evil in other genres too! I love the pictures taken from space, but don’t think I’d have the courage to travel there. 🙂
Great points! I agree. 🙂 I think I’ve only read three light “sci-fi” books in my life, and they were all by Christian homeschooled indie authors and very much rare exceptions to these points. 🙂 Glorifying evil/strangeness/weirdness/torture doesn’t fit at all with thinking on things that are pure, lovely, true, and so forth.
If there are other genres you don’t write, I’d be interested in an expanded series. I’d also be interested in reading why you DO write the genre(s) you do.
Yes, Erika, I’m sure there are some exceptions, I just don’t think I’d enjoy reading them. 🙂
Oh, a series on why I do write might be interesting. 🙂 I’ll have to think about that. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hm, interesting post, Rebekah! I haven’t read any Sci-Fi yet so I can’t really give an opinion 😉 but I mostly agree with you!
Thanks. Yeah, it’s hard to know if you agree if you’ve never read the genre. 🙂