Science Fiction is a very vast genre. It has a variety of elements and a lengthy history that has fallen into many other realms—not just literature. Science Fiction has spread among the past and influenced the future, despite just being books. There is also a plethora of benefits that people have experienced because of reading this variety of book.
1. Books are Entertaining
Books have provided joy and entertainment for numerous people over the years. Science Fiction is mainly focused on creating a reality and world that is different than our own. Many times, these stories feature beautiful worlds that are described as bright and colorful. These worlds will have different land features, cultures, and laws compared to our own.
Despite being visually interesting, many of these stories feature an action-packed plot. Fighting against evil governments, going on grand adventures across dangerous lands, and learning new skills are all part of the special experiences that come from reading these adventurous stories.
The most interesting element of these stories are the diverse characters that you can meet. There are aliens with fun colored skin or magical powers. You can meet old and wise wizards that harness the natural world. There are so many interesting people that are different from anything you could have possibly come up with, and each story is different.
2. Strong Historical Context
Despite Science Fiction being something generally associated with the future, it has been around for a lengthy time period. A specific historical element that Science Fiction is closely linked to is the feminist movement.
Women in Science Fiction have always been a large part of the genre. Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, was one of the first major Science Fiction authors. Many women even used a pseudonym which led to many people thinking it was a male dominated genre.
3. Taking a Break is Important
Some people like to take a break from their own reality and turn to books for that relief. While all books in general are good for this, Science Fiction can be considered the best for it. There is even a major sub-genre of Science Fiction that is called escapism.
These books focus on taking the person out of their current reality and putting them somewhere foreign. Some further descriptions of these style of books can be found on Esquire.
Escapism books are one of the few books—no, it’s the only type of book—that some readers will need.
4. Bettering Your Conversational Skills
Reading makes you a better conversationalist. It has been said over and over before, but it is true. Reading introduces you to new words and sentence structures. This is something that can be thoroughly implemented in your personal life.
Being exposed to new ideas is also a major part of the Science Fiction genre. Space and technology are a focal point, and this can make people more creative. Being creative allows for some new discovery in conversation.
5. Think to New Depths
I’m sure that everyone has seen a movie or read a book and contemplated the idea of could I survive. That is a major part of the draw to Science Fiction. This allows you to think more in depth about the situations and how you would react. Some major Science Fiction books have even drawn people to take up new skills, specifically survival skills.
6. The Imitation of Real Life
Many young adults turn to Science Fiction as their favorite genre. This has opened many young people’s eyes to some real problems in their world.
The first major book that opened some people up to their real world was The Hunger Games. It showed people that sometimes governments are corrupt and do cruel things to people. It also showed the way the media can emphasis certain factors to shield the dark reality of the whole story. These are issues that we can see in our current world.
Another way that people feel these books imitate their lives can also be seen prominently in the Young Adult subgenre of Science Fiction. Many young people relate to the feelings these characters have, despite not being in the exact situations they are. They sometimes can even experience situations and struggles that are similar to the characters.
7. Something for Everyone
Because Science Fiction is such a wide and variety filled genre, there is something for anyone who wants to give it a try. There are a wide variety of subgenres that include fantasy, hard, parody, coming of age, and many more.
While there are a variety of styles these books are written in, there are also a variety of age levels. There are simpler to read Science Fiction books for children. There is a vast market for young adults who want to read Science Fiction. It can go as far as having more complex and scientifically factual ones for adults.
Some examples of variety include:
- Star Wars (lighthearted and fun space drama with some serious notes)
- The Martian (a hard Science Fiction book that is based in real fact)
- Dune (an epic tale of space and power)
- The Hunger Games (a dystopian world following a young and rebellious woman)
8. Resilience
Many Science Fiction novels depict their characters dealing with a slew of difficult situation. Studies done by the Greater Good Science Center showed that letting young people read and be exposed to the struggles of the characters and how they cope with them. This has been shown to help these children develop more resilience.
9. Impact on Our World
While Science Fiction may just seem like entertaining stories, some people were so inspired by these stories that they recreated certain elements of it.
An article from Phys.org describes several tools and equipment items that were invented by college students. Some of the most impressive ones include the lightsaber from Star Wars and several of the Avengers armor from the Marvel franchise.
These things are an extreme version of what we could implement from these realities, but it shows just how much inspiration we really do draw from these stories.
10. Predicting the Future
So while Science Fiction has inspired the future, it has also predicted parts of our modern lives already.
Some examples include in the 1890’s when Jules Vernin wrote Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. This book predicted the modern day, electric submarine. This was a piece of technology that was around, but not to the technological advances that Vernin predicted them as. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury also predicted the modern Bluetooth earbud. These did not become a mass-produced object until recent years.
Enjoyment is Key
While there are a lot of benefits to reading Science Fiction that range from personal to educational to developmental, these books are ultimately fun. Reading for enjoyment and getting transported to another world with other people is the major draw for many people. While people may not think that Science Fiction is for them, there surely is a branch of it for everyone out there.
The Broad Strokes of Delaney 