Science Fiction

Science fiction is a type of narrative that utilizes real or imagined scientific theories and technology. Although Shute is not typically recognized as a science fiction writer, On the Beach can be considered a science fiction novel because it contemplates the consequences of a global nuclear war.

Some critics do not take science fiction literature seriously as a genre. However, since the late 1950s, many science fiction authors have tackled themes of enormous importance with spectacular results. Many of the writers associated with the genre, such as Harlan Ellison, Kurt Vonnegut, and J. G. Ballard, have earned the respect of critics for their insightful and stylish work.

The devastating potential of a nuclear war is the subject of many science fiction novels and short stones. Pat Frank's Alas, Babylon (1959), Harlan Ellison's "A Boy and His Dog" (1969), and Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker (1980) are just a few diverse examples...