SF CORE Best Lists
- Top 25 Best Science Fiction
- The 'Alternative' Top 25 SF
- Top 100 Best Science Fiction
- Top 50 Best SF Movies
- Best SF Movies of the 21st Century
- Best SF TV Shows
- Best SF Graphic Novels
- Best Science Fiction Series
- Best Stand Alone SF
- Best Modern Classic SF
- Underrated Science Fiction
- Best SF by Women
- Best YA Science Fiction
- Best Kids' Science Fiction
SF ERA Best Lists
- Best Science Fiction of 2014
- Best Contemporary SF (2000's)
- Best Modern SF (80's-90's)
- Best New Wave SF (60's-70's)
- Best Classic SF (40's-60's)
- Best Early SF (1890-1930's)
- Best Proto SF (pre-1890)
SF GENRE Best Lists
- Best Hard SF Books
- Best Cyberpunk Books
- Best Space Opera Books
- Best SF Mystery Books
- Best SF Books about Mars
- Best Moon SF Books about Moon
- Best Dystopian Books
- Best Post Apocalyptic SF Books
- Best Alternate History Books
- Best Time Travel Books
- Best Robot Books
- Best A.I. Books
- Best Post-Human Books
- Best Literary SF Books
- Best Books ABOUT SF
OTHER Best Lists
SF Subgenre Guides
- Space Opera
- Hard Science Fiction
- Soft Science Fiction
- Firm Science SF
- Mundane Science Fiction
- Social Science Fiction
- Near-Future Science Fiction
- Age Regression Science Fiction
- Immortality Science Fiction
- Mind Transfer Science Fiction
- Transhumanism Science Fiction
- Robot Science Fiction
- Cybernetic Revolt Science Fiction
- Synthetic Biology Science Fiction
- Cyberpunk
- Nanopunk
- Biopunk
- Wetware
- Steampunk
- Retro Futurism
- Dying Astronaut Science Fiction
- First Landings Science Fiction
- First Contact Science Fiction
- Alien Invasion Science Fiction
- Alien Conspiracy Science Fiction
- Shapeshifting Science Fiction
- Xenofiction
- Dystopian Science Fiction
- Utopian Science Fiction
- World Government Science Fiction
- Alternate History Science Fiction
- Parallel Worlds Science Fiction
- Multiverse Science Fiction
- Time Travel
- Gothic Science Fiction
- Literary Science Fiction
- Recursive Science Fiction
- Slipstream
- Comic Science Fiction
- Political Science Fiction
- Religious Science Fiction
- Christian Science Fiction
- Clerical Science Fiction
- Mythological Science Fiction
- Cozy Catastrophe Science Fiction
- Restored Eden Science Fiction
- Dying Earth
- Apocalyptic Science Fiction
- Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction
- ESP Science Fiction
- Sports Science Fiction
- Zombie Fiction
- Sci-Fi Horror
- Sci Fi
- Science Fantasy
- Speculative Fiction
- Media Tie-In Science Fiction
- Detective Science Fiction
- Hard Boiled Science Fiction
- SpyFi
- Pulp Science Fiction
- Space Western Science Fiction
- Scientific Romance
- Sword and Planet Science Fiction
- Planetary Romance
- Lost Worlds
- Bigger Than Worlds
- Voyages Extraordinaires
- Hollow Earth Science Fiction
- Exotic Ecosystems Science Fiction
- Undersea Science Fiction
- Microbiology Science Fiction
- Astrobiology SF
- Astrosociobiology SF
- Ecological Science Fiction
- Frontier Science Fiction
- Generation Ship Science Fiction
- Colonization Science Fiction
- Terraforming Science Fiction
- World Building Science Fiction
- Hyperspace Science Fiction
- Spunky Heroine
- Erotica Science Fiction
- Gay Science Fiction
Social Science Fiction
What is Social Science Fiction?
Science Fiction (Sci Fi) is epic, it is varied, it is imaginative, it is rational, and it has something for everyone. Sci Fi, while itself a genre, can be divided further into sub-genres each with its own specific features. In fact, most Sci Fi stories pull attributes from multiple sub-genres which can make it difficult to describe one story, book, or movie as a single sub-genre. Nonetheless, to have a firm grasp of the genre a knowledge of its sub-genres is advised.
Thus, let the exploration begin with a sub-genre that is so pervasive in today's Sci Fi that some theorists do not even consider it a sub-genre anymore because its attributes are so embedded in the genre as a whole.
Social Sci Fi is primarily concerned with the often problematic effects of technology and science on humans and human society. Isaac Asimov defined Social Sci Fi in 1953 as one of three possible plots for a science fiction story (the others are gadget and adventure). What sets this sub-genre apart is that the futuristic technology the story centers around is already present and its presence is the driving force of the plot. The Social Sci Fi story is a vehicle for the author to comment on human society as it is effected by technology and science.
In a Social Sci Fi story the society is different than ours, but not so different. The focus is on the human condition, so aliens are at a minimum. When aliens do exist they are a foil for humans, an antagonist to move the plot forward, or metaphorically represent another type of human society.
In short, Social Sci Fi is sociological speculation rather than scientific speculation (no epic laser battles here).
You can View the crowd-ranked Social Science Fiction Books and vote and/submit entries to it.

Your Text Link Book Ad
This could be your text link book advertisment here, shown on every page. Contact us
www.yourbookadhere.com
Sample Book Ad
Get pulled into the world of Av'lor and fly with Sir Lanclor to defend the portal to Earth. Armor is optional.
www.asamplebookadhere.com
Visit our Forum
Want to talk fantasy? Visit our awesome fantasy forum to find out what's what in the fantasy world and to meet other cool fantasy lovers.
Other Features of Social Science Fiction

- Level of Real Science
Minimal. In the Social Sci Fi sub-genre science is the driving force of the plot, but takes a backseat to the commentary of the effects of the science. The science is already established in the story's society and as a result there is little effort to explain the science. There is no emphasis on how the technology works, but rather on its effects on individuals and society.
- Level of Characterization
Decently high. While Social Sci Fi is all about societal implications and social commentary we, as readers, arrive at these ideas and experience them through individual characters. As such, the characters have to be flushed out with realistic motivations. Ultimately, characters are only as complex and deep as needed to move the reader through to the grand ideas.
- Level of Plot Complexity
Moderate. Yes, there is a plot and it is important as a means for exploring all the grand ideas. The story must advance through events, the reader must see cause and effect, so as to make sense of all the social commentary going on in the narrative. The full arc (exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) must be present if only so the reader full experiences the world and can understand the social commentary. As such, plot is sometimes pushed to the foreground.
- Level of Violence
Variable. Violence can be a part of the social implications being explored in a Social Sci Fi story, but not always. Sometimes violence is in the forefront, sometimes it is on the peripheries, and sometimes it is nonexistent.
Related Science Fiction subgenres

-
Most of today's Science Fiction incorporates Social Sci Fi. Post-Apocalyptic, Alternate History, Utopian, and Dystopian Science Fiction sub-genres are relatives of Social Sci Fi because they all ask the reader to think critically about the posited society.
-
Soft Science Fiction is also related to Social Sci Fi because neither sub-genre focus on the how of the science or technology.
-
Even Zombie Fiction can be seen as part Social Sci Fi because the drama that unfolds as zombies clamour for brains is often a commentary on humanity—the individual and the group—itself.
Social Science Fiction isn’t for you if
If you don't like thinking about what you read. But really, Science Fiction lets us explore ideas and worlds outside of ours, so if you don't want to do that maybe all of Science Fiction isn't for you.
- 1
- 1984 (George Orwell)
-
377
- 3
- Dune (Frank Herbert)
-
236
- 10
- I, Robot (Isaac Asimov)
-
92
- 13
- The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
-
85
- 14
- Babel-17 (Samuel R. Delany)
-
42
- 20
- Old Man's War (John Scalzi)
-
31
- 21
- Frankenstein (Mary Shelley)
-
21
- 25
- Hominids (Robert J. Sawyer)
-
14
