Science Fiction: Genre and/or Mode?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-8026.2026.e105579

Keywords:

Science fiction, Genre, Mode, British New Wave

Abstract

This article aims to present the discussion about the definition of Science Fiction as a genre, including older studies that enable a deeper understanding of the current theory. In addition, I revisit Patrick Parrinder's (1980) initial assertion that Science Fiction should not only be understood as a genre, but also as a mode, which can facilitate the discussion about various works that flirt with science-fictional aspects without really delving into them. Finally, a discussion about the British New Wave as a crisis of the genre is made, to support the theory that Science Fiction should be regarded both as a genre and a mode.

Author Biography

Valéria Sabrina Pereira, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

Associate professor of German-Language Literatures at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), where she is also a member of the Graduate Program in Literature Studies. He holds a PhD. (2011) and a Master’s degree (2004) in German-Language Literature from Universidade de São Paulo. She is a member of the research groups “NECA: Núcleo de Estudos de Corporeidade e Alteridade” and “Intermídias”.  Her research interests include Science Fiction, realistic representations of dwarfism in fictional works and Animal Studies.

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Published

2026-07-01

Issue

Vol. 79 (2026)

Section

Literary and Cultural Studies

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Copyright (c) 2026 Valéria Sabrina Pereira

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Creative Commons Licence
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.