Classic Sci-Fi On British TV

Science fiction is a genre of speculative fiction, related to fantasy, horror, and superhero fiction, which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as:

• advanced science and technology, including brain-computer interface, bio-engineering, super intelligent computers, robots, and ray guns and other advanced weapons; also teleportation, time travel, and faster-than-light travel or communication

  • Examples: Doctor Who (TV series, 1963-89), The Time Tunnel (TV series, 1966-67), The Six Million Dollar Man (TV series, 1973-78) and The Bionic Woman (TV series, 1976-78), The Incredible Hulk (TV series, 1977-82)

• space exploration, including travel in outer space, settings on other worlds or in subterranean earth, or in parallel universes

  • Examples: Star Trek (TV series, 1966-69)

• temporal settings, including the future and alternative histories

• political and social systems and situations, including utopian, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, or post-scarcity

  • Examples: 1990 (TV series, 1977-78)

• biology, including extra-terrestrial life, mutants or enhanced humans

  • Examples: V (TV series, 1983-85)

• paranormal abilities, including mind control, telepathy, and telekinesis

  • Examples: The Twilight Zone (TV series, 1959-64/1985-89), Ace Of Wands (1970-72), The Omega Factor (TV series, 1979), Scanners (Film, 1981), The X-Files (TV series, 1993-2002)

Observations

I have difficulty in accepting the paranormal as science fiction, mainly because I don't necessarily believe in it. It also infers more horror elements. I find it fascinating but fantastical. Ace Of Wands revolves mostly around stage magic, which is an accepted fantasy concept. The Omega Factor centres around psychic powers and I cannot see any science fiction elements explicitly being involved. The X-Files delves very much into the supernatural, but there are also very clear science fiction elements. In the series, the concepts are kept separate so that particular episodes can be identified as science fiction.  The same is true of The Twilight Zone. Scanners is slightly easier to include in science fiction because it includes human interaction with technology as opposed to 1978's The Fury; one of the characters hacks into a computer with their telepathic abilities.

There are those that wish to classify certain accepted science fiction films and shows as science fantasy. In particular, Star Wars and Superman are science fantasy as they take place in either our past or present day, rather than the future. Science fantasy blends fiction with fantasy, sometimes omitting the magical or the sword & sorcery element.

Whilst science fiction covers temporal settings, this is restricted to the future yet to be decided or alternative histories. Star Wars is not an alternative history as events occur concurrently with our own. So, is it a parallel universe? Well, no, because that infers events happen instead of our own. Therefore, I am happy to call Star Wars science fantasy despite science fiction elements such as advanced science and technology. The saga also uses the magic, or the sword & sorcery element, of fantasy story telling. Similarly, Superman includes settings on other worlds and extra-terrestrial life but events are happening in our present day. So, once again, I am content to class Superman as science fantasy.

Science fiction is seen as being related to superhero fiction, but there must be some specific element of science fiction in the mix. In the case of The Incredible Hulk, for example, the show includes advanced science and technology. 

My thoughts on the differences lead me to omit the likes of Ace Of Wands and The Omega Factor, but include the likes of Star Wars, Superman, and Scanners, and to pick out individual episodes of the likes of The Twilight Zone and The X-Files.