As the literary landscape shifts, we might be witnessing a significant transition in genre dominance. Science fiction, once a staple of speculative fiction, may be losing ground to fantasy, particularly among younger readers like Generation Z.
The unique cultural and societal factors shaping Gen Z suggest that science fiction’s popularity might not endure beyond Generation X. Let's take a look at why.
For decades, science fiction captivated readers with its visions of the future, exploration of technology, and deep dives into what it means to be human. Generation X, having grown up amid the rapid technological advancement of the late Cold War era, found that science fiction reflected their hopes and anxieties alike.
However, Generation Z, born between 2001 and 2011, has grown up in a vastly different environment. The themes of Campbellian sci fi are less novel to a generation that grew up not just with the internet, but with ubiquitous smartphones. As a result, science fiction reflects Zoomers' mundane lives more than it presents an aspirational view of the future. And dystopian cyberpunk hits too close to home, being less an escape than a grim mirror.
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In contrast, fantasy set in secondary worlds where magic replaces technology offers Zoomers more of an escape. Fantasy allows readers to step into settings that are more distinct from their own. The fundamental rules can be different, so the world feels more removed from the pressures of modern life.
That greater flexibility when it comes to world building may explain why Gen Z readers are flocking to fantasy over science ficion.
Fantasy’s appeal to Gen Z also lies in its communal nature. The rise of online fandoms, fan fiction, and social media platforms has allowed readers to interact with fantasy worlds in ways that transcend the original texts. They can not only read about these worlds, they can expand upon them and create their own stories within them. This participatory culture aligns well with Gen Z’s tendencies toward collaboration and customization, making fantasy not just a genre to consume but a place to live in and shape.
Now, you could argue that the same phenomena are possible–and do happen in–science fiction. But the often rigid rules and structure of Big Men With Screwdrivers sci fi can deter audience participation. While sci fi has its dedicated fandoms, the genre’s post-1930s focus on hard science, speculative technology, and a future that seems less plausible by the day can create barriers to entry for younger audiences.
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As Generation X ages, the question arises: Will science fiction survive as a dominant literary genre?
While sci fi will almost certainly retain a dedicated following, its broad appeal may wane as Gen Z and subsequent generations gravitate more toward fantasy.
Wolheim and Michel were right after all. Sciencre fiction must evolve to stay relevant. The way past a dead end is to go back, and the way forward for sci fi may be a return to its adventure fiction roots. If it fails to adapt, we might see a future in which the genre of tomorrow becomes a relic of the past, overshadowed by the magic of fantasy.
Again, this potential shift does not spell the end for science fiction. But it does suggest that the genre will have to innovate to maintain its place in the mainstream. If it can blend its traditional strengths with the elements that make fantasy so appealing to Gen Z, science fiction may yet find a way to thrive in the future.
But if sci fi remains tied to the zeitgeist and concerns of previous ages, its popularity may indeed fade, leaving fantasy to capture the hearts and minds of younger readers.
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My social groups like sci-fi, they just say it's overly pozz and poorly written. Any time "After Generation X" means Baby Boomers will be long dead. Boomers are the main institutional gatekeepers choosing boring pozz writers to fill the offices of approved narrative fiction writers. Once they are no longer doing so the floodgates will open with scifi that will be smutty, undignified, violent, heretical, experimental and perhaps even good.
The reception of people like Elon Musk, whatever the truth may be, shows that people are still fascinated with space, cybernetics and electricity. It's that the current crop of 'approved narrative writers' won't allow anyone to dream of a better future.
Aside from returning to a sense of adventure by exploring the vast reaches of space, sci-fi could also live on by becoming science fiction/fantasy, where science and magic are intertwined. If you think about it, science has already reached the level of magic. We compelled rocks to think by carving runes onto them and striking them with lightning. If that's not magic, then I don't know what is.