YA Lit Textbook ch 13 review

Ch 13 Fantasy & Science Fiction
Science fiction books are categorized as a subgenre of fantasy. While a book may be both fantasy and science fiction, not all fantasy is science fiction.  The criteria for evaluating fantasy and science fiction should be used to ensure that the types of books available for readers are of quality.
Criteria:
  1. Do the characters behave consistently and in believable ways?
  2. What rules are in that fantasy world?
  3. Did the author assist readers in the “willing suspension of disbelief?”
  4. Does the theme explore universal truths?
These types of books still contain aspects of fiction books, such as setting, problem, solution, setting, etc.  The types of things that a character deals with many of the things that characters in realistic fiction deal with.  
There are many types of science fiction books
  1. Apocalyptic & Post-Apocalyptic
    • A-End of civilization, living with the ramifications of the end of a civilization. PA-years after the catastrophe, does not usually show evidence of the catastrophe, primitive setting.
  2. Steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk
    • Super cool tech though it is steam powered, Victorian era.
    • hacking , pc tech, humans & pc interaction, bleak, dark
    • Hackers, manipulation of humans or human’s dna, dark bleak
  3. Dystopia
    • Restricted independent thought, conformity (or lack thereof ) no individuality, resistance, disillusionment
  4. Extra-sensory Perception
    • Telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition
  5. Robots, androids, cyborgs, and artificial intelligence
    • Robot machines, automaton, humans aided by mechanical device, AI-artificial intelligence
  6. Space, alien, extra terrestrial
    • Alien invasion, setting in space, 1st contact, colonization
  7. Time travel & parallel universe
    • Circular problems bc of time travel
  8. Virtual reality & gaming
    • Lost in virtual reality worlds or gaming world
  9. Miscellaneous 
    • Zombies in real world, invisibility, brain sharing, cryogenics, mind swaps
The books that may fall under a certain type may also fall under a 2nd or even 3rd type. 
Take Aways

I like that Dr. Perry kicks off her video saying that she isn’t a fan of all science fiction. If you had asked me in the past, I would have said that I was not a fan of science fiction books at all, after listening to her book talks and descriptions of books, I realize that I do like science fiction books. If I have felt this way for so long, I am certain that I have students in my library that are the same way. It is my goal to help those students know that they really do not dislike science fiction, my “dislike” went on for too long, can't let theirs be that way too. Making sure that I offer the different types of science fiction books in my library is the best way to ensure that I expose my students to the many books available. I believe that reading science fiction allows students to be able to step into a world outside of their reality and maybe even “forget” about any issues they may be dealing with. Science fiction reading is most times used for pleasure reads. Using the list and their characteristics will allow me as a media specialist to ensure that I suggest the type of science fiction that my students may want to read. I also think the list can help suggest books outside of the realm that the student may be used to, assuming they want to read something different.  I think that Dr. Perry’s book will be a great addition for me to have in the library as I begin my sci-fi learning and picking books to read on my own and to start sharing books with students. The themes encountered and lessons taught in science fiction can be things that my young adult readers can use in their lives. I also believe that science fiction truly is for young adult readers as they have to be able to differentiate from realistic fiction and science fiction. A media specialist really needs to know their reader/patron to be able to suggest something that is not too mature for them.

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