[Articles](/articles.html)>[Liberal Arts](/articles.html#liberal-arts-articles) > What is speculative fiction?
# What is speculative fiction?
September 02, 2026 • 7 minutes
Written by[Jennifer Verta](/blog/authors/jennifer-verta.html)
Reviewed by[Briana Houlihan](/about/academic-leadership/dean-briana-houlihan.html), MBA, G-PM, Dean, College of General Studies
Literature can invite reflection on the human experience. In the case of speculative fiction, it does so by reimagining reality.
## Defining speculative fiction
The term speculative fiction refers to a broad literary category that explores situations and events outside reality. The exact definition of speculative fiction has been debated for decades, though. Writers and critics don't always agree on the exact boundaries of the genre. As a result, various meanings have emerged.
Author Robert A. Heinlein, who coined the term in 1941, saw it as a subgenre of science fiction that focused on how humans deal with technology, rather than the technology itself. Similarly, Encyclopedia Britannica considers it a synonym for science fiction.
Today, some authors and publishers distinguish it from science fiction, claiming that speculative stories essentially explore alternate histories and possibilities or worlds. They don’t exist, but they could. Other writers feel speculative fiction is a broad, overarching category of[creative writing](https://www.phoenix.edu/articles/liberal-arts/what-is-creative-writing.html)that embraces a variety of imaginative scenarios both possible and not possible in reality.
General[fiction](https://www.britannica.com/art/fiction-literature), on the other hand, usually takes place within a recognizable version of reality, even when characters and events are invented.
### Characteristics of the genre
Several characteristics appear frequently within this literary category to provide a unifying factor among disparate works. First, the stories tend to incorporate some fantastical element, whether that’s a setting, an event or a technology. It could also look like supernatural elements, alternative histories or entirely different social conditions, depending on the goals of the story.
Another common characteristic of the genre is the presence of the “what if” trope. Authors use whichever unusual element they’ve selected for the book to build on, exploring what other situations would occur as a result of it, and how individuals or societies would respond.
## Subgenres and their differences
As an umbrella category, the speculative fiction genre can include a number of subgenres, each with its own conventions, themes and narrative approaches.
Frequently cited subtypes include:
### Science fiction
Often abbreviated as sci-fi, science fiction tends to explore the ramifications of science and technology. One characteristic that often distinguishes science fiction from other types of speculative fiction is its effort to present sophisticated, non-existent technology as plausible or scientifically grounded.
### Fantasy
This subgenre usually incorporates magical systems, mythical beings, legendary quests or entirely invented worlds.
### Horror
Stories meant to unsettle the audience and elicit emotions like fear and uncertainty typically fall into the horror category. The threats portrayed in this subgenre can be supernatural, psychological or physical in nature.
### Alternate history
Alternate history usually questions how events might have unfolded if a significant real historical moment had occurred differently. It can effectively create timelines that diverge from recorded history.
### Dystopia and utopia
Dystopian and utopian narratives generally depict imagined societies. Dystopian stories frequently explore the consequences of societal or governmental oppression, inequality or excessive control. Utopian fiction might present ideal or improved societies. However, such stories tend to include a hidden message that such systems might be deceptive.
### Hybrid or cross-genres
Novels can also borrow elements from different subgenres, creating hybrid or cross-genre pieces. Some examples are:
- Climate fiction (cli-fi), which explores how humanity might deal with a dystopian climate
- Magical realism, which introduces fantasy elements in otherwise realistic settings
- Slipstream, which frequently presents unrealistic stories that combine fantasy and other mainstream fiction elements
- Speculative thriller, which usually adds tension and urgency to the classical speculative narratives
## History of the speculative umbrella genre
The development of the speculative genre spans centuries and reflects how writers have long been using imaginative narratives to explore emerging questions about the human experience.
### Early foundations and literary influences
Precursors of the genre can be found in ancient Greek works. For example, Plato's_Republic_, which depicts an idealized society, could fit into the utopia category. Similarly, satirist Lucian can also be said to have taken a speculative approachin his_Trips to the Moon_.
In the 17th century, Cyrano de Bergerac wrote about traveling to the moon and finding a utopian society. His imaginative piece, which makes the impossible seem plausible, includes space travel and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
### The 19th century’s first examples
The genre began to emerge more prominently during the Industrial Revolution, when scientific knowledge expanded and technology reshaped everyday life. Writers increasingly incorporated new ideas about technology, society and humanity's future into their fiction.
In 1818,[Mary Shelley](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley)played with wonder, fear and scientific plausibility when writing_Frankenstein_. Scholars often consider her novel as the first real example of science fiction.
By the late 19th century, the genre had arguably established itself. Jules Verne’s_Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea_and H.G. Wells’_The Time Machine_are two examples of speculative fiction novels. In both tales, the authors actively reflect on the meaning of technological progress and what it could mean for people.
### The 20th century is a turning point
The 20th century marked a period of significant expansion for the genre. Some authors started to lean toward using their stories as cautionary tales for future generations. That was the case of Orwell's_1984_, Huxley’s_Brave New World_and Bradbury’s_Fahrenheit 451_.
Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, the so-called Big Three of sci-fi, emphasized the importance of scientific rigor and logic in their works.
In the 21st century, writers such as Octavia E. Butler, Margaret Atwood and T. Kingfisher began moving beyond conventional genre distinctions and sci-fi to embrace more imaginative scenarios and definitions. Their works helped expand this literary category to address concepts like human identity, contemporary society and structure, and myth.
## Themes and social relevance of the genre
The speculative genre frequently uses imagined worlds, alternative realities and future possibilities to explore real social, philosophical and ethical questions. Common themes in this mega genre can include:
### Technology
The relationship between technological advancement and human society has been a recurring theme since the speculative genre first emerged. Advances such as space travel, time travel and humanoid robots have often provided the ideal contexts for exploring both opportunities and challenges associated with scientific progress.
### Identity and otherness
Encounters with unfamiliar beings, cultures and environments can also be common in speculative stories. Such works usually imagine alien life and other forms of nonhuman intelligence as well as the human reactions to them. Authors can treat encounters with unfamiliar life as a kind of empathy exercise.
### Power and governance
Imagined political systems and social structures can frequently help authors and readers indirectly reflect on the authority, control and collective organization of their times. For instance, Margaret Atwood’s_The Handmaid’s Tale_presents a dystopian narrative that serves as a warning about the potential consequences for society when power is held over many by the few. Her use of gender to convey this story has been considered particularly effective.
## Tips to study and write speculative fiction
When studying or reading this genre, it might be helpful to start by:
- Identifying the story subgenre
- Understanding the rules of the fictional world
- Tracking the ideas and themes that emerge
Beyond its themes and ideas, the speculative literary genre can also be identified by its world-building technique. Both students and aspiring authors can benefit from learning about what it entails:
### A central question
Many stories begin by introducing a change to the familiar world and considering the consequences that might follow. Authors might then develop narratives by exploring how individuals, communities or institutions respond to that change.
### Plausibility
Whether a story takes place in an alternate history, a distant future or an entirely imagined society, to build a believable fictional world, writers generally need to establish certain rules or find plausible ways to maintain a consistent internal logic.
### Balanced exposition
Providing enough information about the world, rules and context without slowing down the story or overwhelming the readers can help maintain reader engagement.
### Character development
Part of world building involves creating complex characters with backstories. Accordingly, where authors of general fiction may create character history, authors of speculative fiction must create that alongside an invented time, place or set of beliefs or opportunities.
## Learning more about speculative fiction and other forms of writing
Whether exploring speculative fiction for fun or as part of a[career in creative writing](https://www.phoenix.edu/articles/liberal-arts/careers-and-jobs-in-creative-writing.html), establishing strong foundations in literature styles and writing techniques can be a useful starting point.
University of Phoenix offers an online[Bachelor of Arts in English](https://www.phoenix.edu/online-liberal-arts-degrees/english-bachelor-arts-degree.html)to bridge that knowledge gap.
Contact University of Phoenix[for more information](https://www.phoenix.edu/request/request-information).
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### ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jennifer Verta is a multilingual writer and content manager based in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. She holds a background in languages, marketing and digital communication and brings an international perspective to her work. Her areas of focus include legal, health, wellness and career advice content. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and discovering new cultures.
### ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Briana Houlihan is the dean of the College of General Studies at University of Phoenix. For more than 20 years, Houlihan has strongly advocated for first-generation and underserved working learners. She has made it her mission to enhance the skills focus within general education coursework to bring value to undergraduate students from day one of their program.
This article has been vetted by University of Phoenix's editorial advisory committee.
[Read more about our editorial process.](/blog/editorial-process.html)
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