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Speculative fiction is an umbrella phrase encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres , specifically science fiction , fantasy , horror , supernatural fiction , superhero fiction , utopian and dystopian fiction , apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction , and alternate history in literature as well as related static, motion, and virtual arts.
It has been around since humans began to speak. The earliest forms of speculative fiction were likely mythological tales told around the campfire. Speculative fiction deals with the "What if?" scenarios imagined by dreamers and thinkers worldwide. Journeys to other worlds through the vast reaches of distant space; magical quests to free worlds enslaved by terrible beings; malevolent supernatural powers seeking to increase their spheres of influence across multiple dimensions and times; all of these fall into the realm of speculative fiction.
Speculative fiction as a category ranges from ancient works to cutting edge , paradigm -changing, and neotraditional works of the 21st century. It can be recognized in works whose authors' intentions or the social contexts of the versions of stories they portrayed is now known. For example, Ancient Greek dramatists such as Euripides , whose play Medea (play) seemed to have offended Athenian audiences when he fictionally speculated that shamaness Medea killed her own children instead of their being killed by other Corinthians after her departure. The play Hippolytus , narratively introduced by Aphrodite , is suspected to have displeased contemporary audiences of the day because it portrayed Phaedra as too lusty.
In historiography , what is now called speculative fiction has previously been termed "historical invention", "historical fiction ," and other similar names. It is extensively noted in the literary criticism of the works of William Shakespeare when he co-locates Athenian Duke Theseus and Amazonian Queen Hippolyta , English fairy Puck , and Roman god Cupid all together in the fairyland of its Merovingian Germanic sovereign Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream . In mythography it has been termed "mythopoesis" or mythopoeia , "fictional speculation", the creative design and generation of lore, regarding such works as J. R. R. Tolkien 's The Lord of the Rings . Such supernatural , alternate history , and sexuality themes continue in works produced within the modern speculative fiction genre.
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Jules Gabriel Verne (; French: [ʒyl ɡabʁijɛl vɛʁn] ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the Voyages extraordinaires , a series of bestselling adventure novels including Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1870), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1872). His novels, always well documented, are generally set in the second half of the 19th century, taking into account the technological advances of the time.
In addition to his novels, he wrote numerous plays, short stories, autobiographical accounts, poetry, songs, and scientific, artistic, and literary studies. His work has been adapted for film and television since the beginning of cinema, as well as for comic books, theater, opera, music and video games. (
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“
It is easy to imagine fantasy as physical and myth as real. We do it almost every moment. We do this as we dream, as we think, and as we cope with the world about us. But these worlds of fantasy that we form into the solid things around us are the source of our discontent. They inspire our search to find ourselves.
”
—
Evan Harris Walker (1935-2006),
The Physics of Consciousness: The Quantum Mind and the Meaning of Life (2000).
Zhong Kui
Detail from a Japanese woodblock print (ca. 1741–51) of Zhong Kui (called Shōki in Japanese ), a Chinese mythological figure traditionally regarded as a vanquisher of ghosts and demons . His image is often painted on household gates as a guardian spirit, as well as in places of business where high-value goods are involved. According to folklore, Zhong Kui was a man who committed suicide after he was stripped of the title "zhuangyuan" (having achieved top honors in the imperial examinations ) by the emperor of China because of his disfigured appearance, after which he became king of ghosts in Hell . The print is entitled "Shōki zu " ("Shōki striding") and measures 69 by 10 cm (27.2 by 3.9 in). (POTD )
... that the demon Kabandha (pictured) , from the Hindu epic Ramayana , is described to be as big as a mountain, headless, and with arms eight miles long?
... that the Phineas and Ferb character Perry the Platypus was made a platypus because of the animal's striking appearance?
... that Life on Another Planet , a graphic novel by Will Eisner , has been called by James Morrow , "a kind of science fictional Bonfire of the Vanities "?
... that in 1950s giant monster films , atomic energy aroused Godzilla , The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms and Them! ?
... that while recording swordfights for Barbarian , the video game's designer Steve Brown nearly took his eye out with the Web of Death, a move copied from the film Conan the Destroyer ?
... the Halloween genes include spook , spookier , phantom , disembodied , shadow and shade ?
The Castle of Otranto (1764) is regarded as the first Gothic novel. The aesthetics of the book have shaped modern-day gothic books, films, art, music and the goth subculture.
Gothic fiction , sometimes called Gothic horror (primarily in the 20th century), is a loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting . The name refers to Gothic architecture of the European Middle Ages , which was characteristic of the settings of early Gothic novels.
The first work to call itself Gothic was
Horace Walpole 's 1764 novel
The Castle of Otranto , later subtitled "A Gothic Story". Subsequent 18th-century contributors included
Clara Reeve ,
Ann Radcliffe ,
William Thomas Beckford , and
Matthew Lewis . The Gothic influence continued into the early 19th century; works by the
Romantic poets , and novelists such as
Mary Shelley ,
Charles Maturin ,
Walter Scott and
E. T. A. Hoffmann frequently drew upon gothic motifs in their works. (
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Possible events in the future as suggested by science fiction:
In 5000, the Filipino Army defeats the Alliance at the Battle of Reykjavik during the closing stages of World War V.
In the year 500,000,000,000,000,000,000 (500 quintillion), the last descendants of humanity make some changes to our near present in order to release the universe's vacuum energy, spawn new universes, and prevent the Big Freeze from happening.
Here are ideas for how you can help improve the coverage of speculative fiction topics on Wikipedia:
Join a WikiProject or task force:
Science fiction (task force ): The 4400 , Babylon 5 , Battlestar Galactica , Doctor Who , Firefly , Futurama , G.I. Joe , Heroes , Hitchhiker's Guide , Life on Mars , Lost , Pokémon , Red Dwarf , Star Trek , Star Wars , Stargate , Superman , Transformers , Twilight Zone .
Fantasy : Artemis Fowl , Discworld , Fabelhaven , Harry Potter , Highlander , His Dark Materials , Inheritance Cycle , Lemony Snicket , Middle-Earth , Narnia , Oz , Percy Jackson , Redwall , Roald Dahl , Shannara , A Song of Ice and Fire , Warriors .
Horror : Buffy , Twilight .
Other and related: Animation , Anime and manga , Balzac , Children's literature , Comics , Disney , Machinima , Games (Board and tabletop games , Warhammer 40K , RPGs (D&D ), Video games (Square Enix )).
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This list was generated from these rules . Questions and feedback are always welcome ! The search is being run daily with the most recent ~14 days of results. Note: Some articles may not be relevant to this project.
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Behindd (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Monhiroe (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 40
Jason Kwan (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Prince of Erebor (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 20
Agent Recon (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KingArti (talk · contribs · new pages (18) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 80
Night Shift (2024 film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Twinkle1990 (talk · contribs · new pages (6) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 40
The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by TipsyElephant (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 20
Alyla Browne (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Isi96 (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 40
Being a Green Mother (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by CaptainAngus (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-05-19, score: 40
Kindred Spirits (1984 film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by The Film Creator (talk · contribs · new pages (18) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 80
Kindred Spirits (2019 film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by The Film Creator (talk · contribs · new pages (18) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 80
Lianne Valentin (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Zanbarg (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 20
María, manos blancas (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KHR FolkMyth (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-05-17, score: 20
Shojinmeat Project (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Kaasterly (talk · contribs · new pages (8) ) started on 2024-05-12, score: 20
Deathstalker (upcoming film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KingArti (talk · contribs · new pages (18) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 40
Berant Zhu (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Prince of Erebor (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 20
Irene Strychalski (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rightooth (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 20
Kamen Rider (Skyrider) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by BRoboKabutack (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 45
Kamen Rider Series (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by BRoboKabutack (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-18, score: 35
María, manos blancas (Spanish fairy tale) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by KHR FolkMyth (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-05-17, score: 20
The Devil's Chord (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Alex 21 (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-05-17, score: 40
Space Babies (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Alex 21 (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-05-17, score: 80
George Kunkel (actor) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 4meter4 (talk · contribs · new pages (28) ) started on 2024-05-17, score: 20
Dark Integers (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 45
Luminous (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 45
Oceanic (book) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 40
Crystal Nights and Other Stories (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 40
Pearl (X) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by FishLoveHam (talk · contribs · new pages (16) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 60
Anti-Nigerian sentiment (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Alfedda (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 40
X (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.86.229 (talk · contribs · new pages (53) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 20
Terminator Zero (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Jman98 (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 20
The Barbarian's Bride (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Xexerss (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 20
The Rooks (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Анатолий Росдашин (talk · contribs · new pages (15) ) started on 2024-05-16, score: 20
The City of Unspeakable Fear (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Uriahheep228 (talk · contribs · new pages (22) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 20
Assassin's Creed Shadows (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by MonsieurX2019 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 20
Didicosm (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 40
Wang's Carpets (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 45
Castle Sinister (1948 film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by LEvalyn (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 40
Companion (film) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Obi-WanKenobi-2005 (talk · contribs · new pages (3) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 80
Untitled Vince Gilligan TV series (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Rusted AutoParts (talk · contribs · new pages (7) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 40
Cait Sith (Final Fantasy) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Kung Fu Man (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-05-15, score: 40
Marvel Studios Animation (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by CollegeFootball25 (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 20
Characters of Final Fantasy V (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Kung Fu Man (talk · contribs · new pages (9) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 60
Sloane Leong (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Owlkemist (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 20
Editorial framing of The Lord of the Rings (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Chiswick Chap (talk · contribs · new pages (8) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 20
Sokpoly Voeun (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by JammyKH (talk · contribs · new pages (1) ) started on 2024-05-04, score: 40
Stephen Tung (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Prince of Erebor (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 60
Shahad Ameen (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Laurenschneider210 (talk · contribs · new pages (19) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 45
A Quiet Place (soundtrack) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by 223.178.86.229 (talk · contribs · new pages (53) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 20
Demon and Song (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by M.A.LasTroniN910 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 20
Contraction (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 80
2018-04-01 (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 80
The Beast Within (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Bkonrad (talk · contribs · new pages (8) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 45
The Village Teacher (short story) (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 85
Hold Up the Sky (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Samuel Adrian Antz (talk · contribs · new pages (14) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 40
Enigma 2 (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Masaya1111 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 20
Whiskey Tales (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Uriahheep228 (talk · contribs · new pages (22) ) started on 2024-05-14, score: 60
Anthony Osarfo (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Heatrave (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-13, score: 40
The Sunlit Man (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Michelangelo1992 (talk · contribs · new pages (2) ) started on 2024-05-13, score: 40
Kenji Tanigaki (edit | talk | history | links | watch | logs | tools ) by Prince of Erebor (talk · contribs · new pages (5) ) started on 2024-05-13, score: 20
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