Military science fiction is a hybrid genre of military fiction and science fiction that depicts the use of science-fictional technology, including spaceships and weapons, for military purposes. It usually features principal characters who are members of a military organization, often during a war occurring sometimes in outer space or on a different planet, and exists across a range of media including literature, comics, film, television and video games.
Facts
Place of OriginPrecursors appear in Victorian-era 'future war' stories, at least as early as George Chesney's The Battle of Dorking (1871). 1 Notable ExampleRobert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers (1959) and Gordon Dickson's Dorsai (1960) are credited with popularizing the subgenre among young readers. 1 Defining TraitA subgenre of science fiction depicting the use of futuristic technology, including spacecraft and weapons, for military purposes, usually centered on characters belonging to a military organization. 1 Connections
Sources
1. Military Science Fiction (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation (Wikipedia)lead paragraph, first and second sentences
Military science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction that depicts the use of science fiction technology, including spaceships and weapons, for military purposes.
body text on Starship Troopers and Dorsai
Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers (1959) is another work of military science fiction, along with Gordon Dickson's Dorsai (1960), and these are thought to be mostly responsible for popularizing this subgenre's popularity among young readers of the time.
History section, on 'future war' precursors
Precursors for military science fiction can be found in 'future war' stories dating back at least to George Chesney's story 'The Battle of Dorking' (1871).
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