1 . SF or sci-fi, short for science fiction, is a form of fiction that deals mainly with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals. It appeared in the West, where the social transformations brought about by the Industrial Revolution first led writers and intellectuals (知识分子) to think of the future impact of technology, and was popularized in the 1920s by the American publisher Hugo Gernsback. The Hugo Awards, given annually since 1953 by the World Science Fiction Society, are named after him.

Science fiction writers, whose themes are around space travel, robots, alien beings, and time travel, etc., often seek out new scientific and technical developments in order to forecast freely the techno-social changes. Though writers in antiquity sometimes dealt with themes common to modern science fiction, their stories made no attempt at scientific and technological explanation, the feature that distinguishes (区分) science fiction from earlier imaginative writing, such as fantasies and horror works.

Science fiction itself comes in two main types: hard sci-fi and soft sci-fi. Hard science fiction is based on scientific accuracy and known facts, featuring “real” science. This approach can enhance the authenticity of the story and the idea that the plot’s event could, likely, happen. Examples of hard science fiction include Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, The Time Machine, etc. Soft science fiction places greater emphasis on the human aspects of the story, integrating sciences of human behaviour. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Robert A. Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, and Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness are all soft science fiction novels.

The purpose of this genre (体裁) is to explore the possible about the unknown. It gives readers an idea of what might happen in the future if certain events—such as scientific breakthroughs or technological advances—come to pass and how humans might respond accordingly. Given its imaginative nature, science fiction inspires readers to forecast a more advanced, innovative, and adventurous future.

Science fiction is creative ground for filmmakers. Besides, there are plenty of science fiction themes of popular small-screen programmes on television, as well as in graphic novels and comic books.

2 . It’s the year 2140 and two kids ride their surfboards in the heart of Manhattan, near the point where Sixth Avenue meets Broadway. If you are familiar with this junction you will know it is far from the US’s current coastline. But in Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel New York 2140, Manhattan is flooded after continuous climate change causes the sea level to rise by 15.25 m.

Robinson’s 2017 climate fiction novel belongs to a new kind of novel, which tells “the story of the next century”. It might be helping readers across the world comprehend the situation in which we currently find ourselves.

Climate change is an indescribable crisis to make sense of. Drop some poisonous chemicals in a river now and you will see dead fish within days, but what do you witness when you release (释放) carbon dioxide (CO₂)?

“This is where fiction comes in: it brings the abstract data closer to home by focusing on the face sand stories in these futures. Show readers a detailed account of a climate-changed future,” says Robinson, and they have an easier time imagining it. “Science fiction gets people thinking in a way that another report on climate change doesn’t,” says Shelley Streeby, a professor of Literature and Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego. “It helps people feel not only about what might be coming, but also about the present. It is about taking certain conditions that exist nowadays, extending them into the future and throwing a bunch of characters into their midst.”

In the search to adopt climate change as a topic, writers are doing what they do best: trying to tell a good story. Sometimes they write with a touch of optimism as they negotiate the current crisis. But even with this optimism, these writers want to make sure the world knows they, at least, are paying attention.

6 . Based on a true story, the novel Safe as Houses by Eric Walters is an amazing book. It is about a 13—year—old girl named Elizabeth Hardy who babysits the McBride children David and Suzie. One rainy, stormy evening they walk home from school. When they arrive home, water floods (淹没) the backyard, cuts the power and floods roads, which stops Mr. and Mrs. McBride from coming home. Soon the flooding begins to invade the McBrides' home and Elizabeth, David, Suzie and their dog Daisy try very hard to escape and survive the flood,

My favorite character is David because I find him very funny and brave, and although he can be stubborn and rude at times, he is still a nice and friendly person. As much as I want to be like David I could never be like him. At least, I don't think I could ever do something as brave as he does.

I think Eric Walters does a great job in describing the characters and telling the story. I really feel like this all just happened in front of my eyes. Ever since I started reading Safe as Houses I never wanted to put the book down, and considering I was not a big fan of reading that did not happen very often. Safe as Houses changed my opinion in regard to reading and now I enjoy reading very much.

Eric Walters' writing career (生涯) all started in 1993 when Eric was teaching a grade 5 class. His students were not good readers and did not like reading, so Eric created a book called Stand Your Ground for his students and used some of the students' names to create the story. Ever since Eric published (出版) that book he has become a big time writer and has published many amazing different books like Camp X, Tiger Trap, Camp 30, We All Fall Down and Flyboy.