When did science fiction begin?

Answer 1

Science Fiction as a genre began to take shape in the 19th century with works like Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (1818) and Jules Verne's "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870). The term "science fiction" was coined in the 1920s, becoming popular in the early 20th century with the works of writers like H.G. Wells and Isaac Asimov.

Answer 2

From the Earth To the Moorn (l869 as I recall) by Verne. Old Jules never used the sobriquet ( science-fiction) though he founded the genre. Earlier Edgar Allen Poe did some way-out fantasies- the narrative of A.Gordon Pym which dealt with hollow-earth and reversed gravity fields near the polar regions-and as there was some element of scientific speculation there, that might be considered pioneer sci- fi There are even elements- such as a longer differential life span- 300 years for mermaids- in the fantasy novels of Hans Christian Andersen! Andersen also theorized the Mermaids dissolved into the water a the end of this period- neatly avoiding any bodies or fossils being found by explorers, a neat science-fictional touch!

Science fiction isn't anything new, only the classification is new. Science fiction can be found in the Legend of Daedalus all the way back in the bronze age.

Answer 3

The term 'science fiction' was coined in the 1930's however the genera has always been a part of literature ever since its earliest conception. Many authors and works have been cited as the first science fiction writer/story but such can be traced all the way back to the bronze age when oral traditions were all that there were.

The best examples I can think of of ancient science fiction are the legends of Daedalus which are really just gagetry science fiction stories.

Answer 4

Some credit Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Some say that Jules Verne was the first author of science fiction. Others say that the ancient Sumerian tale of Gilgamesh was the first science fiction story.

Answer 5

The oldest surviving work of fiction in 'The Epic of Gilgamesh' the King of Kish who (supposedly) lived six thousand years ago.

Answer 6

No one discovered science fiction. Science fiction is a literary genre.

Answer 7

"The Land of the Changing Sun," (1894) by Will Harben. Harben was influenced by the British science fiction writer Jules Verne, and the American "Hollow Earth" theorist John Cleves Symmes.

Answer 8

Some people consider Frankenstein by Mary Shelly to be the first example. Others say Utopia was the first.

Answer 9

Some credit Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. Some credit Jules Verne. However some would call Gilgamesh the first science fiction story.

Answer 10

Mary Shelly's Frankenstein was considered the first science fiction novel. It talked about scientific ethics and "playing God."