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Definition of Science Fiction Lyrics by Andrew Robie

The Relationship Between Science and Science Ficiton

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Darko Suvin, in his Metamorphoses of Science Fiction, defines science fiction as “the genre of cognitive estrangement” (Metamorphoses 4). Cognitive is defined as:
of, relating to, being, or involving conscious intellectual activity (as thinking, reasoning, or remembering) based on or capable of being reduced to empirical factual knowledge
(Merriam-Webster)
Estrangement is defined as:
to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of
to remove to or keep at a distance
to divert from the original possessor
(dictionary.com)
So cognitive refers to things that we know empirically or observe. Estrangement is a separation from something. Pairing these, we get a separation from what we understand to be factual (science) and what we—or, in the case of literature, our characters—do (fiction), which is where Suvin bases his definition of science fiction.
Given this definition, Suvin’s idea of science fiction might seem to be along the lines of fantasy, something that goes against our understanding of the natural world. However, he addresses this, saying that fantasy is not an inconsistency between our current knowledge and what happens, but a disregard for our current knowledge with regards to the events of the story (Metamorphoses 7-8). Science fiction, on the other hand, is aware of this knowledge and approaches it in ways that are different from our current understanding.
This definition is very similar to how Robert Heinlein and Asimov regard science fiction (Turning Points 10, 33). In his essay “Social Science Fiction,” Asimov discusses the idea of science fiction as extrapolation based upon what we know, resulting in imagining “fictitious societies as possessing potential reality rather than as being nothing more than let’s-pretend object lessons” (Turning Points p. 33). Heinlein compares this extrapolation to “a man [looking] out a train window, [seeing] that another train is coming head-on toward his own on the same track—and [predicting] a train wreck” (Turning Points p. 12). All three ideas state that a story must acknowledge the existence of science, but take certain liberties with the current knowledge, though none that are, at least at the time, truly impossible.
Credits
Andrew Robie

Andrew Robie

About “Definition of Science Fiction” by Andrew Robie

Read the complete lyrics to "Definition of Science Fiction" by Andrew Robie from the album "The Relationship Between Science and Science Ficiton". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Non-Music, Literature.

"Definition of Science Fiction" is performed by Andrew Robie. from the album "The Relationship Between Science and Science Ficiton" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Definition of Science Fiction", explore more songs by Andrew Robie using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Definition of Science Fiction" is credited to Andrew Robie. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Definition of Science Fiction" appears on "The Relationship Between Science and Science Ficiton".

Visit the Andrew Robie artist page at /artist/andrew-robie for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.