History of science fiction

The literary genre of science fiction is diverse, and its exact definition remains a contested question among both scholars and devotees. This lack of consensus is reflected in debates about the genre's history, particularly over determining its exact origins. There are two broad camps of thought, one that identifies the genre's roots in early fantastical works such as the Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh (earliest Sumerian text versions c. 2150–2000 BCE).^[1] A second approach argues that science fiction only became possible sometime between the 17th and early 19th centuries, following the scientific revolution and major discoveries in astronomy, physics, and mathematics.

Science fiction developed and boomed in the 20th century, as the deep integration of science and inventions into daily life encouraged a greater interest in literature that explores the relationship between technology, society, and the individual. Scholar Robert Scholes calls the history of science fiction "the history of humanity's changing attitudes toward space and time ... the history of our growing understanding of the universe and the position of our species in that universe".^[2] In recent decades, the genre has diversified and become firmly established as a major influence on global culture and thought.

^ Barbini, Francesca T. (14 May 2015). "The Epic of Gilgamesh & SF Origins". Sci-fi and Fantasy Network. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
^ Scholes, Robert; Rabkin, Eric S. (1977). "1. A Brief Literary History of Science Fiction". Science Fiction: History, Science, Vision. London: Oxford University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-19-502174-5.

[1] Barbini, Francesca T. (14 May 2015). "The Epic of Gilgamesh & SF Origins". Sci-fi and Fantasy Network. Retrieved 20 April 2022.

[scholes-rabkin-2] Scholes, Robert; Rabkin, Eric S. (1977). "1. A Brief Literary History of Science Fiction". Science Fiction: History, Science, Vision. London: Oxford University Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-19-502174-5.

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