Writing Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction 

Overview 

Science fiction and Speculative (Counterfactual) fiction are two overlapping genres, which ask us to enter ‘other worlds, alternate worlds and societies. Ideas about the future; economic and social, developing science and technology, and the way humans organize themselves and behave, can be explored in imaginative and daring ways.   

The course will look at the historical context, from Frankenstein, to authors such as H.G.Wells, Arthur.C.Clarke and Margaret Atwood. There will be a focus on social, feminist Sci-Fi, with a look at Margaret Atwood’s dystopian ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ 1985, and Ursula La Guin’s 1969 novel ‘Left Hand of Darkness’. Speculative, alternate history fiction will be looked at, with authors Philip K. Dick ‘The Man in the High Castle,’ and Philip Roth’s ‘The Plot against America’ 2004 studied, as well as English-based fantasy, such as Susanna Clarke’s ‘Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel’, 2004.   

This online learning course enables you to study from home and participate in an online community of other students learning about this topic. The module is delivered through Blackboard, our online learning environment. This module can be studied as a stand-alone course, but it is also an optional module for the Certificate of Higher Education in Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University.  

Programme 

Activities and tasks will be embedded into each unit so students can practise the techniques they have learned and develop their skills. Students will be encouraged to share their own work and participate in discussions on Blackboard. Alongside the learning materials on Blackboard the tutor will be on hand via email to answer any queries and provide guidance throughout the course. They will also participate in the online discussions.     

• ​ An historical overview; with a look at Frankenstein, The Time Machine, Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Handmaid’s Tale, a look at the different genres and ideas that have developed from animating a new being/ robotics, time travel, totalitarian regimes and dystopia’s subjugating women/minorities. Contemporary preoccupations in Sci-Fi.   
• Alternate histories; the idea of ‘diverging’ at some point into a new alternative history. A look at authors from H.G. Wells, Philip K. Dick, Harry Turtledove, Kingsley Amis, Philip Roth, Diane Wynne-Jones and Susanna Clarke.   
• Research and its important role in Sci-Fi and Alternative history narratives.   
• A more in-depth look at Margaret Atwood’s ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ 1985, her main character Offred, and their relevance today, also Ursula La Guin’s ‘Left Hand of Darkness’ 1969, with her androgynous Hainish universe.   
• A more in-depth look at Philip K.Dick’s ‘The Man in the High Castle’ in a Nazi-ruled 1950’s San Francisco, and Susanna Clarke’s alternate magical England, ‘Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrel’ 2004.   
• Creating some enduring main characters, underdogs, investigators, the curious and misunderstood.   
• Creating an immersive and convincing sci-fi world using sensory and technical details.   
• Setting up and maintaining suspense, tension and interest.   
• Opportunities within publishing, new trends. Sharing of your short story/ extract from a longer piece. Advice on your critical portfolio.    

Conclusions:  

• Live Teams Meeting – a celebration! At the end of the module the tutor will hold a live webinar to bring all the strands of the module together and students can submit questions to be answered.

Learning Outcomes 

On completion of this module, students should be able to:   

1. Identify key authors who are writing within the genre (and subgenres) of science and speculative fiction, assessed in the critical portfolio.   
2. Identify and apply the different techniques used in this type of fiction in your final piece of writing. 
3. ​Critically evaluate your own creative process and position your final written piece within the genre, assessed in the portfolio.  

Assessments 

1. Written piece (1500 words) 70% of the overall mark.   
   Produce a Sci-fi or Speculative fiction short story or extract from a longer piece.  
2. Written piece (500 words) 30% of the overall mark.   
   A critical portfolio which records and reflects on the process of generating the fictional piece and how the piece is positioned within the genres and subgenres of Science Fiction/Fantasy and/or Speculative Fiction.    

Reading Suggestions 

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements 

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements. 

What Do I Need? 

As this is an online course, you would need the following: 

• Internet access.
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit.
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.