Time travel, futuristic technology, advanced weaponry outside the scope of possibility, are all themes of the science fiction novel. Teleportation, the ability to travel at faster than the speed of light, and paranormal abilities such as reading minds and mind control are also typically included. It is almost impossible to define a genre, because no two authors are alike and there are not a set list of rules that any one author must follow, but the SF novel has a few commonalities. Outer space travel, or humanoid characters are common. Androids and mutants can play a role in some novels. Typically these novels attempt to explore the outcome of scientific technology on the human race.

No one knows exactly which was the first SF novel ever written, but many have argued the topic. Some say it was Jonathan Swifts Gulliver's Travels that earned the title of first true SF work, but many give this to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. While it may be true that these two authors gave birth to the first recognized SF novels, hints of this genre can be found in even earlier writings. The ancient Indian tale Ramayana talks of a flying machine that can travel through space and underwater, and has weaponry that can destroy cities. Early Hindu mythology weaves tales of time travel, so this genre was in the making long before Shelley, and Swifts novels ever came to fruition.

Time travel novels are a sub-genre and made popular by authors like H. G. Wells with The Time Machine, and A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain. Cyberpunk is yet another sub-genre and this differs slightly in that it takes place in the not so distant future, and usually never leaves earth. It deals with artificial intelligence, corporations, and cyberspace. William Gibson won three awards for his novel Neuromancer in this genre. Other authors include Pat Cadigan and Neal Stephenson.

Phillip K. Dick has written many SF novels, and he wowed us with Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Orson Scott Card gained fans of the genre with Enders Game, and Ray Bradbury gave us Fahrenheit 51.

We cannot forget the movies and television series that science fiction has given to us. In television, the popular series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Star Trek led to others such as, Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and X-Files. Today we see science fiction with a paranormal element being played out on television in the series Medium and Ghost Whisperer.

Television loves the SF genre as well. X-Files was a popular series for many years. Twilight Zone, both the old and more recent version still airs today. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Star Trek started the SF television phenomenon. Today we see SF series with a paranormal twist like Medium or Ghost Whisperer.

Science fiction has been delighting fans for years, and is sure to continue for many more years to come.