SPACE OPERA
LIT-HANDOUT13
-A play on the term "soap opera," sci-fi stories that take
Topic: Science Fiction and Hypertext Poetry
place in outer space and center around conflict, romance,
and adventure.
I. Introduction
Example: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
With your prior knowledge from our past lessons,
SPACE WESTERN
let’s journey together to learn more about this
-Sci-fi stories that blend elements of science fiction with
generation’s literary forms, themes, and traditions.
elements of the western genre.
Example: Cowboy Bebop by Shinichirō Watanabe
II.Science Fiction
CYBERPUNK
Often referred to as “literature of ideas” and is
-Sci-fi stories that juxtapose advanced technology with
also known as “scifi,” “SF,” or “speculative fiction,” science
less advanced, broken down society.
fiction is a modern genre that explores the possibilities of
Example: Alita: Battle Angel by Yukito Kishiro
human societies and technologies. This genre is heavily
STEAMPUNK
dependent on scientific facts, theories, principles,
-Sci-fi stories that blend technology with steam- powered
observation as framework for the plot, characterization,
machinery.
themes and setting. One thing to bear in mind about this
Example: Attack on Titan by Hajime Isayama
form of writing is that although it is plausible or
scientifically possible, the storyline and its elements are
III. Sci Fi Novels
still imaginary because this kind of story falls under
Sci-fi novels and even those turned into major
fiction.
motion pictures, encompass a wide variety of futuristic
concepts. They are “complex, nuanced (details copied
Types of Science Fiction:
from actual events or experiments), and explore larger
● Hard Sci Fi - They are based on scientific facts and
themes and commentary (Gunner, n.d.). Among the
inspired by “hard” natural sciences like physics,
common elements include time travel, teleportation,
chemistry, and astronomy.
mind control, telepathy, aliens, extraterrestrial lifeforms,
Example: Heaven’s River by Dennis E. Taylor
mutants, space travel and exploration, interplanetary
● Soft Sci Fi - They can either be “not scientifically
warfare, parallel universes, fictional worlds, alternative
accurate” or “they’re inspired by ‘soft’ sciences
histories, speculative technology, super intelligent
like psychology, anthropology, and sociology”
computers and robots.
Example: The Female Man by Joana Russ
Examples of Famous Sci Fi Novels:
● What Happened to Monday?
Sub-genres of Science Fiction:
● The Good Doctor
FANTASY FICTION
● Matrix
-Sci Fi stories inspired by mythology and folklore
● 1984
that often include elements of magic.
● Star Wars
Example: The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
● Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
SUPERNATURAL FICTION
● War of the Worlds
-About secret knowledge or hidden abilities (e.g.
witchcraft, spiritualism and psychic abilities)
IV. Hypertext Poetry and Fiction
Example: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Rather than using a printed page, hypertext
UTOPIAN FICTION
poetry and fiction use a computer screen to navigate
-About civilizations the authors deem to be perfect, ideal
through sections of the text. This literary genre relies on
societies.
the uniqueness of the digital world and uniquely presents
Example: Gulliver’s Travel by Jonathan Swift
information. Aside from the content and message, it also
DYSTOPIAN FICTION
creates effects such as movement and sounds. It is said to
-About societies the authors deem to be problematic for
be nonlinear and more complex than a traditional poem.
things like government rules, poverty, or oppression.
Example: The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
HYPERTEXT POETRY
Also known as cyber poetry, it consists of words,
although not necessarily organized in lines and stanzas, as
well as sounds, visual images, movements or other special
effects.
Example: Tarot Poems Poetry by Mike Timonin, Art by
Cindy Duhe
HYPERTEXT FICTION
Hypertext fiction is a collective effort between
reader and writer, where the writer provides interlaced
web pages of text and the reader decides what order to
read the pages. In some hypertext works, readers can
even add their own work to the fiction and change the
plot.
Example: 24 hours with someone you know by Philippa
Burne.
CRITICISM ON HYPERTEXT GENRE:
Many critics in literary circles see hypertext
literature as a “humorless digital postmodern joke” that
assaults readers with floating neon fonts and crude
literary strategies (Lillington, 1998). They view hypertext
as a threat to the overall integrity of literature because
most anyone, without any training or editing, can post
hypertext poetry or fiction, even if their work does not
include any traditional conventions. Proponents of
hypertext literature argue that online texts are an original
art form, which combines cinematic technique with live
performance qualities, and is not designed to be viewed
in the same light as printed literature.
Reference
Balderas, R. (2020) 21st Century Philippine Literature.
Department of Education
