Is there one essential theme the best of sci-fi always has?

[T'Baio]

Is it 'what makes us human?'

Perhaps 'is the transience of life important?'

Could be 'machines are a threat to the human condition.'

Or maybe, 'exploration is the greatest adventure?'

Is there one question or theme that science fiction does best, and is essential for your favourite sci-fi books/games/shows/movies?

Perhaps it's 'space ships, laser beams and 'splosions are kewl?'

 

[Mistral]

Um, no.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Not just one, no.

 

[xortex]

Star Trek had one message. Just one.

GET A JOB!

America = amore rica =- I love riches, not Lucy or Lucifer.
Heaven = he ave on - he he praises on. Love = ove - eggs and potatoes. Oven = o ve = oye ves. My life = Life = lie for.
The lie makes the truth possible./ G zeus, oh boy.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

I've never come across any science fiction that has no bearing on the human condition, but the same can be said of any work of fiction that I'm aware of.

 

[sojourner]

^So you haven't read any science fiction that has been about new science?

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Unless you know of an example that doesn't explore imaginary science in the context of how people or an individual person might behave in light of it, it's as I said.

ETA: The use of alien races to compare or contrast with humanity is of course a way of treating the human condition. So, the technicality that all the characters are alien doesn't negate the point.

So, if the question is whether there is something intrinsic to science fiction, as opposed to any other kind of fiction, that is essential to SF, I have to say "no" as well.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

No.

 

[TerraNovan]

Introducing novelty on an intellectual concept.

Alien is a prime example of this.

The parallels with the face huggers and male rape.

Strong female character from very randoms events.

etc.

 

[sojourner]

Braaaaiiinnnsss!!!!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

If your uniform is red, LOOK OUT!

 

[HIjol]

I think one thing the genre does well is to compare/contrast one person or group's version of good and evil/ right and wrong to another's...

 

[js]

"What if?"

 

[C.E. Evans]

I'd say it's "Anything could happen."

That doesn't mean that everything is really possible or practical, but within the fictional stories you could have anything from giant cities floating on air to giant walking machines with only the thinnest of rationales making them acceptable in the stories being told, IMO.

 

[BigJake]

Catgirls.

 

[RandyS]

Catgirls.

Cat SUITS!

 

[Gov Kodos]

Catgirls.

CatWomen, sir!

 

[theenglish]

The best Science Fiction always says something about the human condition, regardless of the sub-genre. At its core, it is always about people.

Somebody said to me once that he never watches Science Fiction or Fantasy because it is never about reality--this pissed me off because this is completely the opposite of what it is about.

 

[Greg Cox]

Trying to limit SF to "one essential theme" sounds incredibly reductive and restrictive to me.

SF is a big tent, that encompasses myriad themes, topics, messages, styles, subgenres, and approaches. The last thing we want to do is try to cram it into a little box that "always" has to have one essential ingredient.

 

[Silvercrest]

The best Science Fiction always says something about the human condition, regardless of the sub-genre. At its core, it is always about people.

Somebody said to me once that he never watches Science Fiction or Fantasy because it is never about reality--this pissed me off because this is completely the opposite of what it is about.

I wonder if that person watches reality TV.