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mental telepathy
12. Reality is an illusion; mortality v. immortality
13. Can there be a utopia? Is the world headed for a dystopia?
14. Is the world headed for a cosmic cataclysm?
15. Is humanity's future a destiny or a choice?

Combinations of these features contribute to a setting or plot-driven narrative. Often, rich characterization in science fiction literature is sacrificed to enhance a powerful plot. And underneath, like a spring running deep in the earth, there can be an ongoing challenge or plea to the human conscience; the reader's conscience. "What if this really happened?"

And now, a whole new breed of characteristics are emerging.
From the 1970's evolved feminist science fiction. Sexism became a characteristic of science of fiction. From the 1980's emerged cyberpunk science fiction. Multinationals became a new feature. New questions emerged in the 1990's onward. What could have and should have happened in history? Suddenly, science fiction was no longer the world of outer space and gadgetries in some randomly dated distant future. The future was becoming a very near yesterday or near tomorrow. Science fiction was actively re-shaping the dimension and perspective of the present time.

Fred Pohl offers an interesting view of science fiction literature. He says "A good science fiction story should be able to predict not the automobile but the traffic jam." In other words, science fiction is developing a new sensibility. It is being characterized by disturbing thought processes, not just disturbing products.

Learn more about this author, Gemma Wiseman.
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