Science fiction is a broad genre of fiction often involving speculations on current or future science or technology usually in books, art, television, films, games, theater, and other media. In the age of television, computers and other technology, the fascination of contemporary fiction writers with technology has become an extension of the sphere of social realism for the exploration of writers..

Science fiction is akin to fantasy. But it differs from it in that, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically postulated laws of nature though some elements might still be pure imaginative speculation.

Science fiction is largely then writing entertainingly and rationally about alternate possibilities in settings that are contrary to known reality including:

• A setting in the future, in alternative time lines, or in a historical past that contradicts known historical facts or archaeological records

• A setting in outer space, other worlds, or one involving aliens.

• Stories that contradict known or supposed laws of nature.

• Stories that involve discovering or applying new scientific principles, such as time travel or psionics,

• Stories that involve the discovery or application of new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel or robots,

• Stories that involve the discovery or application of new and different political or social systems

Science fiction also involves imaginative extrapolations of present day phenomena, such as the thoughtful projection forward of contemporary medical practices such as organ transplants, genetic engineering, and artificial insemination or the evolving social changes such as the rise of the suburb and the growing disparity between the rich and poor.

Science fiction has a widening range of possibilities in themes and form. It embraces many other subgenres and themes.

Science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein defines it as “realistic speculations about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.” For Rod Serlin whilst “fantasy is the impossible made probable, Science Fiction is the improbable made possible.There are thus no easily delineated limits to science fiction. For even the devoted fan- has a hard time trying to explain what it is.

Hard science fiction, gives rigorous attention to accurate detail in quantitative sciences producing many accurate predictions of the future, but with numerous inaccurate predictions emerging as seen in the late Arthur C. Clarke who accurately predicted geostationary communications satellites, but erred in his prediction of deep layers of moondust in lunar craters.

“Soft” science fiction its antithesis describes works based on social sciences such as psychology, economics, political science, sociology and anthropology with writers as Ursula K. Le Guin and Philip K. Dick. and its stories focused primarily on character and emotion of which; Ray Bradbury is an acknowledged master.

Some writers blur the boundary between both. Mack Reynolds’s work, for instance, focuses on politics but anticipates many developments in computers, including cyber-terrorism.

The Cyberpunk genre, a portmanteau of “cybernetics” and “punk” ,emerged in the early 1980s.” First coined by Bruce Bethke in his 1980 short story”Cyberpunk,” its time frame is usually the near-future and its settings are often dystopian. Its common themes include advances in information technology, especially of the Internet (visually abstracted as cyberspace (possibly malevolent), artificial intelligence, enhancements of mind and body using bionic prosthetics and direct brain-computer interfaces called cyberware, and post-democratic societal control where corporations have more influence than governments. Nihilism, post-modernism, and film noir techniques are common elements. Its protagonists may be disaffected or reluctant anti-heroes. The 1982 film Blade Runner is a definitive example of its visual style with noteworthy authors in the genre being William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, Pat Cadigan, and Rudy Rucker.

Science fiction authors and filmmakers draw on a wide spectrum of ideas. Many works overlap into two or more commonly-defined genres, while others are beyond the generic boundaries, being either outside or between categories.The categories and genres used by mass markets and literary criticism differ considerably.

Time travel stories popularized by H. G. Wells’ novel The Time Machine with antecedents in the 18th and 19th centuries are popular in novels, television series ( Doctor Who), as individual episodes within more general science fiction series ( “The City on the Edge of Forever” in Star Trek, “Babylon Squared” in Babylon 5, and “The Banks of the Lethe” in Andromeda )and as one-off productions such as The Flipside of Dominick Hide.

Alternate history stories based on the premise that historical events might have turned out differently. using time travel to change the past, or simply set a story in a universe with a different history from our own. Classics in the genre include Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore, in which the South wins the American Civil War and The Man in the High Castle, by Philip K. Dick, in which Germany and Japan win World War II. .

Military science fiction exploits conflicts between national, interplanetary, or interstellar armed forces; in which the main characters are usually soldiers. It has much details about military technology, procedures, rituals, and history; and sometimes using parallels with historical conflicts. Examples include Heinlein’s Starship Troopers followed by the Dorsai novels of Gordon Dickson. Prominent military SF authors include David Drake, David Weber, Jerry Pournelle, S. M. Stirling, and Lois McMaster Bujold. Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War , a Vietnam-era response to the World War II-style stories of earlier authors is a critique of the genre. Baen Books cultivates military science fiction authors. Television series within this subgenre include Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1 and Space: Above and Beyond. There is also the popular Halo videogame and novel series.

Related genres include speculative fiction, fantasy, and horror,. alternate histories (which may have no particular scientific or futuristic component), and even literary stories that contain fantastic elements, such as the work of Jorge Luis Borges or John Barth. Magic realism works have also been said to be within the broad definition of speculative fiction.

Fantasy is closely associated with science fiction. Many writers, including Robert A. Heinlein, Poul Anderson, Larry Niven, C. J. Cherryh, C. S. Lewis, Jack Vance, and Lois McMaster Bujold have therefore worked in both genres. Writers such as Anne McCaffrey and Marion Zimmer Bradley have written works that appear to blur the boundary between the two related genres Science Fiction conventions routinely have programming on fantasy topics and fantasy authors such as J. K. Rowling and J. R. R. Tolkien (in film adaptation) have won the highest honor within the science fiction field, the Hugo Award. Larry Niven’s The Magic Goes Away stories treat magic as just another force of nature subject to natural laws which resemble and partially overlap those of physics.

In general, science fiction is the literature of things that might someday be possible, and fantasy is the literature of things that are inherently impossible.with magic and mythology being amongst its popular themes.It is common to see narratives described as being essentially science fiction but “with fantasy elements.” such narratives being termed “science fantasy”..

Horror fiction is literature of the unnatural and supernatural, aimed at unsettling or frightening the reader, sometimes with graphic violence. ” Although not a branch of science fiction, its many works incorporates science fictional elements. Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, is a fully-realized science fiction work , where the manufacture of the monster is given a rigorous science-fictional grounding. The works of Edgar Allan Poe also helped define the science fiction and the horror genres. Today horror is one of the most popular categories of film.

Modernist works from writers like Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, and StanisBaw Lem bordering Science Fiction and the mainstream.have focused on speculative or existential perspectives on contemporary reality. According to Robert J. Sawyer, “Science fiction and mystery have a great deal in common. Both prize the intellectual process of puzzle solving, and both require stories to be plausible and hinge on the way things really do work.” Isaac Asimov, Anthony Boucher, Walter Mosley, and other writers incorporate mystery elements in their science fiction, and vice versa.

Superhero fiction is a genre characterized by beings with hyper physical or mental prowess, generally with a desire or need to help the citizens of their chosen country or world by using their powers to defeat natural or supernatural threats. Many superhero fictional characters have involved themselves (either intentionally or accidentally) with science fiction and fact, including advanced technologies, alien worlds, time travel, and interdimensional travel; but the standards of scientific plausibility are lower than with actual science fiction.

Some of the best-known authors of this genre include Stan Lee, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Diane Duane, Peter David, Len Wein, Marv Wolfman, George R. R. Martin, Pierce Askegren, Christopher Golden, Dean Wesley Smith, Greg Cox, Nancy Collins, C. J. Cherryh, Roger Stern, and Elliot S! Maggin.

As a means of understanding the world through speculation and storytelling, science fiction has antecedents back to mythology, though precursors to science fiction as literature began to emerge from the 13th century (Ibn al-Nafis, Theologus Autodidactus) to the 17th century (the real Cyrano de Bergerac with “Voyage de la Terre à la Lune” and “Des états de la Lune et du Soleil”) and the Age of Reason with the development of science itself. Voltaire’s Micromégas was one of the first, together with Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels. Following the 18th century development of the novel as a literary form, in the early 19th century, Mary Shelley’s books Frankenstein and The Last Man helped define the form of the science fiction novel] later Edgar Allan Poe wrote a story about a flight to the moon. More examples appeared throughout the 19th century. Then with the dawn of new technologies such as electricity, the telegraph, and new forms of powered transportation, writers like Jules Verne and H. G. Wells created a body of work that became popular across broad cross-sections of society. In the late 19th century the term “scientific romance” was used in Britain to describe much of this fiction. This produced additional offshoots, such as the 1884 novella Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin Abbott Abbott. The term would continue to be used into the early 20th century for writers such as Olaf Stapledon.

In the early 20th century, pulp magazines helped develop a new generation of mainly American SF writers, influenced by Hugo Gernsback, the founder of Amazing Stories magazine. In the late 1930s, John W. Campbell became editor of Astounding Science Fiction. A critical mass of new writers emerged in New York City. Called the Futurians, This group included Isaac Asimov, Damon Knight, Donald A. Wollheim, Frederik Pohl, James Blish and Judith Merril. Other important writers during this period included Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and A. E. Van Vogt. Campbell’s tenure at Astounding is considered to be the beginning of the Golden Age of science fiction, characterized by hard SF stories celebrating scientific achievement and progress. This lasted until postwar technological advances, new magazines like Galaxy under Pohl as editor, and a new generation of writers began writing stories outside the Campbell mode.

In the 1950s, the Beat generation included speculative writers like William S. Burroughs. In the 1960s and early 1970s, writers like Frank Herbert, Samuel R. Delany, Roger Zelazny, and Harlan Ellison explored new trends, ideas, and writing styles, as was a a group of writers, mainly in Britain, who became known as the New Wave. In the 1970s, writers like Larry Niven and Poul Anderson began to redefine hard SF while Ursula K. Le Guin and others pioneered soft science fiction.

In the 1980s, cyberpunk authors like William Gibson turned away from the traditional optimism and support for the progress of traditional science fiction. Star Wars helped spark a new interest in space opera, focusing more on story and character than on scientific accuracy. C. J. Cherryh’s detailed explorations of alien life and complex scientific challenges influenced a generation of writers.

Emerging themes in the 1990s included environmental issues, the implications of the global Internet and the expanding information universe, questions about biotechnology and nanotechnology, as well as a post-Cold War interest in post-scarcity societies; Neal Stephenson’s The Diamond Age comprehensively explores these themes. Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan novels brought the character-driven story back into prominence.

The Next Generation began a torrent of new SF shows, of which Babylon 5 was among the most highly acclaimed in the decade. There was also the television series Star Trek. :A general concern about the rapid pace of technological change crystallized around the concept of the technological singularity, popularized by Vernor Vinge’s novel Marooned in Realtime and then taken up by other authors. Television shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and films like The Lord of the Ring created new interest in all the speculative genres in films, television, computer games, and books. According to Alan Laughlin, the Harry Potter stories have been very popular among young readers, increasing literacy rates worldwide

While SF has provided criticism of developing and future technologies, it also produces innovation and new technology. The discussion of this topic has occurred more in literary and sociological than in scientific forums.

Cinema and media theorist Vivian Sobchack examines the dialogue between science fiction film and the technological imagination. Technology does impact how artists portray their fictionalized subjects, but the fictional world gives back to science by broadening imagination. While more prevalent in the beginning years of science fiction with writers like Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, Frank Walker and Arthur C. Clarke, new authors like Michael Crichton still find ways to make the currently impossible technologies seem so close to being realized]

This has also been notably documented in the field of nanotechnology with University of Ottawa Professor José Lopez’s article “Bridging the Gaps: Science Fiction in Nanotechnology.” Lopez links both theoretical premises of science fiction worlds and the operation of nanotechnologies.

Science fiction has brought in the primacy of technology as a culture making it otherwise called ‘technoculture’ which in literature describes a new proximity between the author and technology. From the computer code accompanying the text of Laurie Anderson’s stories from the Nerve Bible to the metaphors of binary computer logic used by Thomas Pynchon in The Crying of Lot 49 to the full partnership of computer and authorship represented by hypertext fiction, many recent literary developments suggest a shift in paradigm linking creativity with the telecommunications machine that now facilitate- and mediate – human contact. This has also resuscitated science fiction as an experimental literary genre that has for over three decades being producing compelling dystopian visions, social allegories, and innovative variations on traditional forms of fantasy. constituting a new and powerful engagement with technology as a social and creative force.

The possibilities just as the dangers of technologies are immense. The present day technologies might be used by women and other historically disenfranchised groups as tools to embody and enforce new social relations. In Feral Lasers Gerald Vizenor’s crossblood trickster technician Almost Browne harnesses first-world technology to produce holographic laser light shows that project the ghosts of the past over the landscapes of the Quidnunc reservation and urban Detroit. And Almost Browne asserts the cause of light rights in the courtroom where he is being tried for causing a public disturbance,whilst people inspired by him deploy the lasers to revise histories to hold their memories, and to create a new wilderness over the interstates.

Born and schooled in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Arthur Smith has taught English for over thirty years now at various Educational Institutions. He is now a Senior Lecturer of English at Fourah Bay College where he has been lecturing for the past eight years.

Mr Smith’s writings have been in various international media like West Africa Magazine, Index on Censorship, Focus on Library and Information Work, myfreearticlecentral.com, freeonlinelibrary.com, mabaylareview.org and nathanielturner.com He participated in a seminar on contemporary American Literature in the U.S. in 2006. His growing thoughts and reflections on this trip which took him to various US sights and sounds could be read at lisnews.org.

His other publications include: Folktales from Freetown, Langston Hughes: Life and Works Celebrating Black Dignity, and ‘The Struggle of the Book’

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I always liked to anticipate the unpredictable, see the future. It is the epic scope of the science fiction books that attracted me. The books of a specific kind called speculative fiction try to tell today what the world looks like tomorrow. Space opera captured my childhood fantasy and still continues to. Whole galaxies lining up for a war, one party to establish supremacy and the other one defending their ground; there is suspense, thriller, unpredictability, and everything you need to unleash your fantasy. Alien races from a different dimension, prophecies, betrayal, love, honor, etc made science fiction books playing with my emotions for many years now.

Many that become sci-fi lovers asked me suggestions on science fiction books. My advice to them is to browse through collections. Science fiction books are the best categorized form of fiction writing. There come dozens of new collections every year. You can find them in different combinations. While making you choice from among the variety of available science fiction books, always make it a practice to skim through the content. At first read excerpts from all science fiction genre, and without much delay you will identify the science fiction books that are really suited for your taste. Just go with your heart – do you find it interesting to read a story? Pick it. Do you find the storyline tough? Drop it. It is that simple to make your choice.

Fantasy books sometimes overlap with science fiction books, although they are always not the same. If you have a taste of fantasy, chances are higher that you have a heart for sci-fi too and vice versa. You can clearly distinguish between fantasy and sci-fi in most cases, but there are no rules to distinguish them. Harry Potter series is pure fantasy while Time Machine is purely sci-fi. Fantasy books come with some magic, supernatural powers etc, while sci-fi characters are made more believable by defining technology, timelines and possibilities and the topics sci-fi writers choose generally will be of interest by common man.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning books. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Science Fiction Books [http://www.thebookblowout.com/books/books/a-look-at-science-fiction-books.html]

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Let’s look at a few of them.

Hugo Award:

The Hugo Award was named in honor of Hugo Gernsback, “The Father of Magazine Science Fiction.” Gernsback is the founder of the science fiction magazine “Amazing Stories.”

The award is also known as the Science Fiction Achievement Award, and is given annually by the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS) for science fiction and fantasy works for the previous year. Nominees and winners are chosen by members of WSFS.

Just a few of the many Hugo Awards given every year:

Best Novelette, Best Short Story, Best Related Book, Best Semiprozine, Best Professional Artist, Best Editor Long Form, Best Editor Short Form, Best Fanzine, Best Fan Artist, Best Fan Writer

The Nebula Award:

The Nebula is an award given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), for the best science fiction/fantasy fiction published in the United States during the two previous years.

Each work is eligible to qualify for the ballot for one year following its date of publication. During this one-year window, SFWA members can nominate the work for the Nebula ballot. When a work has received ten nominations, it immediately qualifies for the current year’s preliminary Nebula ballot. Early the following year, SFWA members vote on the works on the preliminary ballot, narrowing the field down to a final ballot of about five works in each category. SFWA members then vote on the final ballot.

The first Nebulas were given for the year 1965. Frank Herbert’s Dune won as best novel.

The categories for Nebula Awards:

Novel: a work of 40,000 words or more; Novella: a work of at least 17,500 words but under 40,000 words; Novelette: a work of at least 7,500 words but under 17,500 words; Short story: a work of under 7,500 words; Script: a script for movie, tv or radio show, play

World Fantasy Award

The World Fantasy awards are considered among the most prestigious awards given to speculative fiction (including science fiction and fantasy) This award began in 1975, and is given yearly at the World Fantasy Convention. What is different about this type of award (as opposed to Hugo and Nebula) is that it is overseen by judges.

Awards given by WFC:

Novel Novella (10,001 to 40,000 words); Short Fiction (under 10,000 words); Anthology (multiple author – original or reprint – single or multiple editors); Collection (single author – original or reprint – single or multiple editors); Artist Special Awards; Convention Award; Life Achievement; Special Award: Professional; Special Award: Non-Professional

British Fantasy Society Awards

These awards are given annually by the British Fantasy Society (BFS) to honor fantasy and horror fiction.

Categories for the BFSA:

Novel, Novella, Short Fiction, Collection, Anthology, Small Press, Artist, Non-Fiction

Aurora Awards

The Prix Aurora Award is Canada’s fantasy award. The first Aurora was presented to expatriate Canadian author A. E. Van Vogt. It was then known as The Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Award.

The Arurora awards are chosen in the same manner as the Hugo Awards, by nominations and then voting by the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association.

A few of the categories of Aurora Awards:

Best Long-Form Work in English, Best Long-Form Work in French, Best Short-Form Work in English, Best Short-Form Work in French, Artistic Achievement, Fan Achievement (Publication), Fan Achievement (Organizational), Fan Achievement (Other)

Mythopoeic Awards

Hosted by the Mythopoeic Society, the Mythopoeic Awards are given to works that exemplify “the spirit of the Inklings”-a gathering of British Christian males at Oxford during the 1930s and 1940s which included J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. The finalists and winners are determined by a committee of Mythopoeic Society members and are announced every Summer at Mythcon.

Awards are given in the following categories:

Adult Literature and Children’s Literature

Each of these awards have their own websites, and I highly recommend visiting them. You will find further information on each, guidelines for submissions and entries, as well as a list of previous winners.

Tonia Jordan is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/spidergirl so stop by and read for a while.

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Amid the best SF books available, there is a genre which draws my attention. This genre is comical SF. Humor is a virtue that touches everybody. According to philosopher Henri Bergson, laughing is the only quality that distinguishes humans from animals. As humor has a universal appeal, one may not especially enjoy science fiction stories, but might well enjoy these very funny and immensely genial masterworks.

Many science fiction authors have a talent for humor. Among those we can mention Philip K. Dick, Robert Heinlein, Frederik Pohl and Kurt Vonnegut (if you consider him a SF writer). These authors have an easy prose filled with witty protagonists. But some science fiction books stand out for their comical genius.

“The Space Merchants”, written by Kornbluth and Pohl, is a novel about a dysfunctional future where advertisement has taken over. The world described is overwhelming and very avant-gardes, thinking this novel was written in the 50’s!

Another great work is “The Sirens of Titan” created by Kurt Vonnegut. This is Vonnegut’s second novel, and probably one of his best ones. The tale would be too absurd to resume. But as usual with Vonnegut, the mysterious dystopian future world he describes is majestically filled with stingy political satire.

Lastly, Douglas Adams’ “trilogy in five parts” is a series of novels worth reading, science fiction aficionado or not. Originally created as a radio show, the story of an earthling named Arthur and his extraterrestrial friend, hitchhiking through the galaxy is a work of grandiose imagination and brute comical force.

So if you are still not convinced that science fiction books are not for you, think again and pick one of these books for a try.

For more information about the greatest science fiction books ever written, please visit: http://www.bestsfbooks.blogspot.com.

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For any sort of writing whether its speeches, articles, books, fantasy ebooks, role playing sessions, storylines for computer games or films anything at all essentially, it helps to create an active and detailed environment that is portrayed in your works. But this in itself can be a stumbling block for many writers as where do we draw our inspiration from not only for the content of what we are writing about but also for the smaller details, the characters, items and even settings? I have found a great variety of sources to be very useful in helping to stimulate my mind and passion for what I was writing about.

To get the easy one out of the way first up; other books and movies, and I’m sure that this is no big surprise to anyone, can provide you with a mountain of inspiration for characters, plot developments, atmosphere or settings. The key here as always is make it your own so it’s easiest to work with the emotions that what you are watching or reading gives you. Thus when I am watching a film, what I really concentrate on is the feelings that it gives me and then replicate those feelings in my own works rather than plagiarising what I am seeing.

Next up is holidays and travel and if you are fortunate enough to utilise this option then make sure that you have plenty of HD space for both a still and video camera as this is an opportunity that you should never pass up to get inspired. My classic example of this is when I was traveling through Scotland, apart from the pubs and castles which are obvious sources of intrigue for me the countryside itself got me enthused as what I saw in the lowlands mirrored how I saw in my head the WolfSpire Mountains to be while the Highlands sung out to me as the BlackSpear Ranges from my world. In conjunction to having an experience of visiting real world areas that matched what I saw in my head it actually gave me the opportunity to see how that environment actually worked as I would never had envisioned that every few metres there is water flowing down the mountain faces, or the types of vegetation that grows in the areas. In short travel gives you a unique opportunity to expand your knowledge of settings, people, cultures and places that you cannot achieve through any other method and it allows you to understand the finer details that make each environment unique. Although I rate this highly for some very good reasons it is also the most expensive option and obviously not that accessible for us all but if you do find yourself with the opportunity I advise you relish the moment and expand your imagination.

Now we start to get into some alternative forms of inspiration and the first amongst these is music. Like many people I know when we read it is done with music in the background and I often find that when I listen to the same music it brings back scenes from the books that I have read. This association can be used to your advantage if you choose music that suits the situation, characters and setting that you are wanting to work with and as music helps to draw your imagination into the situation you will come out with a broader range of ideas and better detailed concepts to put into your works.

Alternatively you can use another favourite, people and pets in your real world lives. Family and friends give characteristics that can be combined to produce a unique individual for your own works, although it’s best to avoid copying someone completely as they may get insulted either that they were chosen, with what happens to the character or how they are portrayed, so grabbing little bits from different people is sometimes the best approach. Pets are an unusual source and one that shouldn’t be ignored for example from my own works one of the dogs that Huntargin has is based off of my real dog in terms of attitude and also nickname “young son” and how the dog is portrayed in the story was developed around those chosen features.

This last one is a little obscure but worth a mention as its gotten me out of one or two tight spots, and it is cups of tea, although any appropriate beverage serves the same affect, drinking Russian Caravan and Irish Breakfast teas while writing about Dwarves brought me into the world and their situations, the reason is that for me these two styles of tea mimics what the characters themselves would be having on the road, rough flavoursome hot brews to sooth the weary body, and thus allowing me into their mindset and scenario.

Although by no means an exhaustive list realizing that inspiration can come from a diverse range of sources provides us with a win-win situation as it helps writers to create new and different material to use, develops the scope and depth of our works and maintains an interested and enthusiastic audience for what we create.

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Another misconception is that it is based on fantasy. Fantasy and science fiction are closely tied, but there is a main difference between the two. Producers always finds a way to justify the storyline or interactions between characters in a scientific way that makes the story plausible. On the other hand, fantasy media portrays impossible situations with no set explanation. Fantasy just allows your imagination to run free. Science fiction always gives you an explanation which lets you believe more in the story and focus more on the plot rather than question the seemingly impossible aspects.

One of the great parts about science fiction is the timelessly classic feeling that older movies contain. Sure it’s great to see the big bad new age films with explosions and multi-million dollar budgets, but there is something to be said for the old classics. Even with massive budgets and all the high talent actors possible, some of the new movies can never truly convey the imagination and creativity of the originals.

Science fiction novels and movies are put together as a way to entertain the mind with thoughts of the true possibilities of science and the future. Unlike other genres where superheroes simply fly free or spin webs, science fiction captivates audiences because it provides a way to imagine a world where the possibilities are endless. What could be possible in the future and what sort of technology might we possibly be able to look forward to? Sure many of the ideas inherent within this genre seem far fetched at times, but there is always a basis of reality that often gets fans excited about the future endeavors of our world.

From Star Trek to Star Wars and everything in between, the possibilities for the genre are infinite. While other genres may indeed run out of plot lines or have stories redone on numerous occasions, this just does not happen with sci-fi and that is what makes it so intriguing and inviting for old time fans and newcomers alike. Whether you have been a fan for decades or are just recently falling in love with the genre, there is a never ending list of movies, TV shows and books that are sure to captivate you and your mind.

Michael Ramses is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network for real vampires. He also contributes to Power Punks, a community for superhero fans.

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Fantasy books are very popular these days. This is probably due to the release of some very high profile fantasy movies the past couple years, including Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter movies, and the Golden Compass. The most recent fantasy movie released (at time of writing) was Inkwell. With the proliferation of these fantasy movies, there is quite a bit of interest in the fantasy genre. More and more people are starting to read fantasy books. Perhaps the most popular fantasy genre is the epic fantasy genre – a genre invented by J.R.R. Tolkien. There is so much crap in the fantasy genre that it’s hard to sift out the rubbish from the jewels. Fortunately, you can read my guide to the Top 5 Best Epic Fantasy Books.

1. A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin

This is absolutely one of the best fantasy sagas available today. This are immensely popular fantasy novels – and with good reason. The plot of the books is extremely unpredictable and the characters are richly portrayed. The theme of this book is Grey – the characters are completely Grey. With a good mix of action, politics, and (at least at the begging) a subtle hint of the supernatural hinting at a coming danger, these books draw you right into the marvelous world. If you are looking for some of the best fantasy books, you won’t go wrong at all if you pick these books up!

2. A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Stephen Erikson

This is epic fantasy that just doesn’t get any more epic, folks. It’s a story that follows in the epic tradition of the Greek classics with the sheer cast of characters, plots and subplots, and time frame. It’s a bit much to keep in your head at first, but if you persist with it, you are treated to an indelible world with some of the most well written and intense battle scenes every put to pen.

3. The Kingkiller Chronicle (Patrick Rothfuss)

This is absolutely one of the most remarkable fantasy debuts ever. No kidding. While you may have heard this platitude spouted on the cover of every fantasy book since Tolkien, believe this one. On the surface, it’s a story about a young boy who seeks to become the greatest magician in the world. Now, the premise may sound pretty cliche, but give the book a read and you’ll see it’s anything but. Read this fantasy novel, it’s one of the best fantasy books you will ever read, and a shinning example of what epic fantasy should be like.

4. The Farseer (Robin Hobb)

Now for those of you who love deep characterization, you will want to treat yourself to Robin Hobb’s take on the epic fantasy genre. In this series, character development is always paramount. But, the story, plot, and vivid, magical world just suck you right in. The series has been around for a few years, but it’s still a classic epic fantasy that should be read by every fantasy enthusiast. Forget all the David Eddings crap and go for this!

5. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

This is a pillar of the fantasy genre. WOT is right up there with Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings as far as popularity goes. It’s that monstrous series that takes up an entire book shelve in the bookstores’ fantasy section. These days, there is lots of hubbub about where Jordan has gone with this series, but the fact remains that this fantasy saga has indelibly influence the fantasy genre as a whole. You should read this series. The story contains a compelling mix of politics, kingdoms, magic, and an epic story that cannot be squeezed (literally) into 13 volumes. Unfortunately, Jordan passed away recently, but another (talented) author is completing Jordan’s vision. Don’t let this sway you. If there is a modern fantasy series, then this is “the” fantasy saga to read.

These recommendations are some of the best epic fantasy sagas in the genre. It’s always hard to judge books; judging books is much like judging beauty – tastes and perceptions change from person to person. Whether you agree with these choices or not, these epic fantasy series have really changed the fantasy genre. If you haven’t read them, do yourself a favor and get reading – these fantasy books are sure to keep you entertained.

These are some of the top fantasy books in the fantasy genre. You may have different set of favorite fantasy books, but if you haven’t read them yet, you should pick these ones up and give them a read – chances are you will be adding at least a couple to your “favorite fantasy books” list.

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1. A Song of Ice and Fire by George Martin
This series is highly touted as the best epic fantasy series. It’s a must read for any fantasy or historical fiction reader. The world is brutally disturbing and the cast of characters mostly grey. Martin is the king of unpredictability, so prepare to be surprised and shocked over and over.

2. A Tale of the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Stephen Erikson
A series that matches the epic scale of the Greek classes. There’s nothing quite on the fantasy market like the Malazan books. They are epic fantasy, but wear a different face. An absolutely massive cast of grey characters, and intriguing (and confusing) magic system, and large time frames really give this series some special qualities. Oh yea, there’s some serious action and large battles in every book.

3. The Kingkiller Chronicle (Patrick Rothfuss)

A new fantasy series, but a stunning one. Only the first book has been released, but if the first book is any indication of what’s in store for the rest of the series, then you don’t want to miss this one.

4. The Farseer (Robin Hobb)

If you love deep characterization and a cast of fascinating and very well drawn characters, this book is for you. Those seeking pure action with heroes that can beat all odds, avoid these books. But if you want a real, magical story with some of the best characters in the fantasy genre, read this series.

5. The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
The King of epic fantasy – if not in complexity, then in pure size. You will need a large bag to haul this series around. There is probably no other fantasy series (or books, period) that have the level of detail built into this EPIC story. There are dozens of peoples, cultures, customs, kingdoms, characters, and everything else you can imagine. You may or may not get lost in the world build by Jordan. This is one of the most popular fantasy series out there.

Finding the best fantasy series can be a tough enterprise. But if you love epic fantasy and you want to shortcut to the best of the best, do yourself a favor and read fantasy book recommendations given above.

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“The Voice of the Stone will destroy his power, the Voice of the Stone will destroy his power”.

This prophecy looms obsessively inside Helena’s mind. Her musician parents have mysteriously disappeared.

Overwhelmed with doubt and anxiety, Helena seeks shelter in her music and comfort in the friendship that binds her to Sohane and Constantine; that is until all three of them are submerged into a Gothic world and have to deal with the most malevolent of creatures and people.

At that moment in time, they embark on a journey none of them could have imagined possible, to an oppressing universe.”

The author says:
“Music that doesn’t make you dream is useless. A musical tale calls for a fantasy world where the characters live extraordinary adventures. Because we are not in the real world, the music can expand freely, and that’s a good thing. Through the heroic fantasy universe, many feelings and situations are driven to the extreme. They lead to stronger and more interesting illustrations.”

This new story is out on a free download site, in streaming video, mp3, text, music soundtrack and bonuses. This fantasy audio book exists in six languages as well.

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Mostly because…

In my opinion the thing that sets fantasy books apart and takes them to another level is the fantastical part. You might be thinking something along the lines of “wooh big surprise”. However it’s not because of the fancy monsters and the magic, well not just because of those magnificent objects of imagination. It is mostly due to the potential in the aspect of fantasy.

The potential I am speaking of is the potential to do “anything you want”, the characters can disappear, get melted, fly, walk through mountains. This is pretty intriguing to me because although my imagination seeks to be limitless, there are still possibilities and scenarios I have yet to explore. Also the scenarios themselves can be thrilling, entertaining and enlightening.

Some say all books are “exercise for the mind”, and others say only some are, books like “Ulysses” and other even more bizarre. Books that seem directionless and purposeless to young fellows like me, boring to put it simply. However fantasy books, as the name implies, provides exercise to your imagination, a challenge if you will, and pushes you towards greater heights.

Ultimately you should be able to evolve your imagination, even your creativity through reading quality fantasy books. A few that comes to mind, The Lord of The Rings, Malazan Book of The Fallen series. There are massive amounts of books that are somewhat similar to Tolkien’s work, but they never reach the same level. This is why reading the original Lord of The Rings is what I would recommend.

However although Malazan Book of The Fallen can probably be interpreted in a way that makes it seem similar to LOTR, but the excellent fictive characters and the thrilling universe in general makes such a thing seem completely unimportant.

The conclusion being, if you don’t read fantasy and you want to evolve your imagination or creativity, read some fantasy books of your own choice.

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