Science Fiction Literature/Introduction and Historical Overview

Science fiction is the literature of the possible. It generally involves a story grounded in science, whether actual or extrapolated, rather than in magic or myth. Science fiction flowered as a literary genre in the twentieth century, though it has a long history. Precursors of Science Fiction Here are some of the early works that are considered to be related to science fiction, even if they don't fully align with the definition. Lucian of Samosata, ca. 120 - 180 Vera Historia - This tells of a group of travelers who voyage beyond the Gates of Hercules, are blown off course, and travel all the way to the Moon. Cyrano de Bergerac, 1619-1655 L'Autre monde ou les états et empires de la Lune (French) Voltaire, 1694-1778 Romans — Volume 3: Micromégas (French) Science Fiction Begins Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, 1797-1851 Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus - usually considered to be the first science fiction novel, published in 1818. The Last Man Edward Bulwer Lytton 1803-1873 The Coming Race W. H. Hudson 1841-1922 A Crystal Age Richard Jefferies 1847-1887 After London, or Wild England Fitz-James O'Brien The Diamond Lens Mark Twain, 1835-1910 A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court Stevenson, Robert Louis, 1850-1894 The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde H. G. Wells The Time Machine The War of the Worlds The Island of Doctor Moreau The Invisible Man Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth 20,000 Leagues under the Sea External Links [Frankenstein] complete novel available through Project Gutenberg. [Precursors of Science Fiction] at Project Gutenberg.