Science Fiction...?

I have always thought stories of science fiction were answers to a question. So, my definition of science fiction:

Taking current technology and/or science, society, and what we know about the human race, asking what if __? and then exploring how society/the individual reacts to the changes in technology and/or science brought on by the “what if ?” scenario in this new ‘world’ that has been created.

Examples: What if we lived in space?

     What if time travel existed?

     What if genes could be altered or are altered naturally?

  What if the human race was on the brink of extinction?

     What if a supercomputer, or aliens, or self aware robots existed?

What if technology went away?

What if some people became highly intelligent beings?

The “What if ?” question opens a plethora of possibilities within the realms science and technology. The main element that would be portrayed within the answer of the question is how a society would change or react to these occurrences. Also, the events that happen in the stories are all explained, to the best of the author’s ability, in some scientific manner.

When I think of Science Fiction I think of stories such as Firefly, X-Men, Fringe, Resident Evil, Halo, War of the Worlds, Terminator, Hunger Games, Back to the Future, Heroes, Quantum Leap, Dead Zone, and Island of Doctor Moreau.

My definition and understanding of Science Fiction may be wrong, but I do have a whole semester to try to grasp the concepts surrounding Science Fiction, so there is hope for me yet. 

- Jocelyn Rozanski