The Real History Of Science Fiction

Sci-fi has always fed upon our need to explore uncharted territories, literal and figurative, from recreating the realities of space travel to painting allegorical backdrops onto which we project our reality.

First contact is a recurring theme in sci-fi, and from The War of the Worlds to Doctor Who, aliens who land here on Earth rarely have good intentions. Even when they do, our fear and paranoia might get the best of us.

The idea of artificial life finds fertile ground in sci-fi, whether you're talking about robots, replicants or droids. From Metropolis to The Terminator, artists find the humanity (or lack of it) in their creations.

A popular plot device in sci-fi comes with a collection of conundrums. What-ifs abound from the grandfather paradox to the butterfly effect, from H.G. Wells' The Time Machine to the BBC's Doctor Who.