"Science Fiction 101" is a serious attempt to provide a source for novice readers of Science Fiction. It aims to introduce readers to themes, concepts, and stories in a genre they may not be familiar with.

How To Use This Site:

This course is divided up into fourteen weeks. One week on each lesson is suggested, but of course you may take more or less time as needed. It is also possible to cover each lesson in a different order than they are arranged in, although it is highly recommended that you cover Week 1 and Week 2 in order. The main idea is to work at your own pace.

Each lesson gives a brief summery of the topic, followed by related quotes from various sources of note. Stories and works that are "Required" reading are listed as either dowloadable PDF or text files, a suggested email source, or, as a last resort, a link to Amazon.com or other source where the work can be purchased. There is also a separate "Course Downloads" page where many of the works are available for download in a "virtual library" of sorts.

Also listed are movies and television shows related to the topic being covered. Most of these listed works are readily available for rent at your local video store. This suggested viewing will enrich your understanding and enjoyment of the subject and the course as a whole.

Each lesson may contain one or more Discussion/Essay
topics. Each one has a corresponding thread at the "Discussion Forum". Please restrict your comments to the subject of the thread. Obscene, abusive, or spam comments will be deleted. Please be polite.

Credit Where Credit Is Due:

We are indebted to Esther MacCallum-Stewart and her online outline Art/Science Programme Science Fiction, from which much of this site is based.  The only omission of note in her work is the lack of coverage of American Science Fiction, perfectly understandable since she is from the UK.  Many of the qoutes and discussion questions are hers.