Pastoral science fiction is a subgenre of science fiction that uses bucolic, rural settings in the manner of other pastoral literature, with stories set either on Earth or on another habitable or terraformed planet or moon. Unlike most science fiction, it downplays the role of futuristic technology; its pioneer is the author Clifford Simak, whose output included stories from the 1950s and 1960s about rural people who come into contact with extraterrestrial beings hiding their alien identity.
Facts
Place of Origin Notable Example Defining TraitDownplays the role of futuristic technology, unlike most science fiction 2 Connections
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Clifford D. Simak
Introduction, first sentenceQuote, Introduction, first sentence
was an American science fiction writer and journalist.
2. Wikipedia: Pastoral science fiction
Hidden aliens in a rural area section
Sam Jordison states that Simak 'pioneered 'pastoral science-fiction' with Way Station (1963) and earlier stories by creating scenarios in which aliens land in the isolated woods.
Introduction, first paragraph
Unlike most genres of science fiction, pastoral science fiction works downplay the role of futuristic technologies.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.