Wonderland: Science Fiction in the Atomic Age

The early classics of science fiction, including Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and work by More, Swift, Wells and Huxley, established the blueprint for the genre. Though these works incorporated wildly imaginative flights of fancy, they contained a healthy dose of reality and were influenced by the events of the day. Soon the threat of global catastrophe shaped these stories.

World War II had a profound impact and influence on culture, especially science fiction. The devastating detonation of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a weapon developed by science fiction reading scientists, added an apocalyptic edge to the genre. After the war, American writers dominated, with authors Arthur C Clarke and Ray Bradbury taking fantastical fiction to brave new worlds.

Cold War era space travel revived exploration and conquest traditions in science fiction, investigating new possibilities for human life. Gender norms were challenged, and diverse voices were heard through novels such as Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and the modern works of Liu Cixin and Ted Chiang. More dystopian and political models predicated a bleak future for society.

As scientific innovation and technology develop at a staggering rate, can modern science fiction keep up? From classic British sci-fi television shows such as Quatermass and Doctor Who to the blockbuster spectacles of Christopher Nolan and Marvel, cyberspace and AI have developed into central themes. The climate crisis has also inspired a new generation of sci-fi writers.