A to Z on Sci-Fi Basics

Rachel Rybarczyk

Andrea Smith

• Author of “Beyond Pro-Choice”

• Feminist and anti-violence activist

• Voice for women of color and

minorities

Beginnings

• Sci-Fi is a genre for new beginnings

and cathartic experiences

• Some beginnings are not always

good however. The post apocalyptic

theme of “Dawn” was a terrible new

beginning for the human race

Camover

• Anarchy group in the UK against

government control

• Uses vandalism to point out the

overwhelming amount of cameras and

recordings

• Spray paints over cameras to prevent

further filming

• Like the rebelliousness of Day in “Legend”

Decolonization

• One group takes over another people

and enforces their policies

• This theme is seen in Dawn,

specifically how the alien race takes

over the humans and forces the

people to spawn with them

Elahi, Hasan• TedTalk participant

• Harassed by the CIA and

accused of secret acts of

possible terrorism

• Retaliated by posting his

every move to the

internet

• Reminded me a lot of

people being watched in

“Legend”

Freedom

This is a theme that drives science

fiction. Whether characters are fighting

against the government, aliens, or a

royal kingdom, the overall goal is to be

free.

Germ Theory• The theory that disease is the reason

why humans have progressed

through history

• Many Sci-Fi books have used this

theme as the premise of entire series

• Apocalyptic connotation, like in

“Dawn”

Hundred Thousand Kingdoms

• Science Fiction book by N. K. Jemisin

• The heir to the throne of the Arameri

Kingdom, but is abducted as a child.

Later, she meets different gods and

learns that they have great plans for

her

Interrogate

• Act of intensive

questioning

• In Mary Lu’s Legend

the Republic

interrogates people

who act out of

order

KingdomA society lead by a

hierarchy. The setting for

many sci-fi books and films,

like “Hundred Thousand

Kingdoms”

June Iparis

Strong, young female lead in Mary Lu’s

Dawn. She was raised in the Republic,

the controlling government. Upon

realizing the corruptness of the

Republic, she takes them down from

the inside.

LilthMain character in Octavia

Bulter’s Dawn. Is one of the few

human survivors. Is “rescued”

by aliens who force the humans

to reproduce with them. Lilth is

the clear leader of the group,

but instead of fighting the

aliens, the humans pose more of

a problem at times.

Militarized Femininity

Defined by Laura Sjoberg as female militants used to

widen the gap between the gender roles of men and

women.

N. K. Jemisin

• Author of Hundred Thousand

Kingdoms

• Famous Science Fiction Author,

winner of many awards

• Includes various themes of freedom

and feminism

Octavia Butler

• Author of “Dawn”

• Nicknamed “Genius

Grant”

• Strong female leads in

science fiction books

• Recipient of the Hugo

Award and Nebula Awards

Policy

• Science fiction is based a lot around the

government and their social and

economical policies, comparing the

fictional story to the corruptness of reality.

• This theme can be seen in “Legend” and

“Hundred Thousand Kingdoms”

Quasi-Reality

Sci-fi can exist in

many forms, some

are extremely

fictional, while

others have a

strong connection

with the real world.

RaceEthnic background and

cultural experience.

Identifying biological

parameters. May cause

discrimination due to

ignorance in people,

racism.

Science Fiction

A genre that does not

follow the laws of physics.

Many metaphors of

unnecessary government

control and minority

discrimination can be

inferred in this genre.

Transhumanism

Artificial improvements

in physiology. Highly

debated if

transhumanism is racist

or not.

Utopia

A dream society. A functioning system

where human happiness is the top

priority.

Washington, Harriet

Author of Medical Apartheid, a book

detailing the plight of the African

Americans who had to undergo

experimental surgery

Victoria Tauli-Corpuz

Wrote article on biotechnology.

She is an award winning

international indigenous

activist.

Xenogenesis

The original title for Octavia

Butler’s Dawn Trilogy. Xeno

meaning “relating to a

foreigner” and genesis

meaning “the origin or

mode of formulation of

something”

Yeine

Main character in The Hundred

Thousand Kingdoms. Strong female

leader who comes into her own while

fighting for what is right.

Zhakkarn

A goddess in The Hundred

Thousand Kingdoms. The goddess

of war, an incredibly strong

female.