Science fiction is a genre that draws on popular culture, and which engages in speculation about science, history, and social relations. This book presents essays by scholars and practitioners of science fiction, who look at the genre from many different lenses. After an introduction to the nature of science fiction, historical chapters trace science fiction from Thomas More to more recent years, including a chapter on film and television. The second section introduces four important critical approaches to science fiction drawing their theoretical inspiration from Marxism, postmodernism, feminism and queer theory. The final and largest section of the book looks at various themes and sub-genres of science fiction. If you are looking for a basic education in the genre then this is the ideal book for you.