Science Fiction

About a quarter of all cinema tickets sold every year are for science
fiction (SF) films. People love to watch films like Avatar, The Avengers,
Star Wars and Blade Runner, which take us to other times and worlds
far away.

Although science fiction films have themes that are very futuristic, their
storylines are usually quite traditional. For example, science fiction films
can be thrillers, detective stories, war films, adventure stories, comedies,
love stories, fantasy films or horror films. Can you match each of these
descriptions with the storylines?

a. a film with a story about warfare and lots

1. adventure story of fighting.
b. a film with an amusing plot that makes
2. horror film you laugh.
c. a film with an imaginative plot centred on
3. detective story the supernatural or magical.
d. a frightening film with disgusting or
4. fantasy film scary special effects.
e. a romantic film with a plot about a
5. comedy film relationship between two people.
f. a story with an exciting plot with lots of
6. love story suspense.
7. thriller g. a story with lots of action.
h. an interesting film with a plot in which a
8. war film crime is solved.

Most science fiction films have one of these eight futuristic themes.

Extract: Global Challenge: Where is Science Taking Us? (D) © Grahame & Angie Bilbow, 2023 1
 Some films are about time travel, e.g. Back to the
Future - a comedy film in which our hero goes back in
time and has to correct a mistake that will stop him being born!

Some films are about robots and androids, e.g.

Blade Runner - a detective story in which our hero is a
detective in the future who hunts down and kills dangerous humanoids.

Some films are about a dystopian future, e.g. Ready

Player One - a thriller in which our hero is a boy in the
future who take parts in a dangerous game in a virtual world.

Some films are about aliens, e.g. Avatar - a love

story in which our hero is a soldier who visits a planet
far away, uses an avatar to get around and falls in love with an alien.

Some films are about super heroes, e.g. The Avengers

- a series of fantasy films in which our heroes are people
with super powers who fight evil aliens to save the world.

Some films are about space, e.g. Star Wars - a war film
in which our hero is fighting an evil empire on a planet
far away.

Some films are about the end of the world, e.g.

San Andreas - an adventure story in which global
warming destroys the world, and our hero rescues his family and
takes them to safety.

Finally, some films are about zombies, e.g. Dawn of

the Dead - a horror film in which our heroes are
survivors of a pandemic who must fight hundreds of ‘zombies’ in order
to survive!

Extract: Global Challenge: Where is Science Taking Us? (D) © Grahame & Angie Bilbow, 2023 2
Task 1
Can you match each of these films with their storylines and themes?

Back to
a. detective story 1. aliens
the Future

b. love story Dawn of 2. the end of the world

The Dead
c. thriller 3. zombies
Ready
d. adventure story Player One
4. time travel
Avatar
e. horror film 5. space
Star Wars
f. war film 6. a dystopian future
The Avengers
g. fantasy film 7. super heroes
San Andreas
h. comedy film 8. robots and androids
Blade Runner

Task 2
Here is the plot of a science fiction story. Write the opening paragraph of
the story on the next page. The first sentence has been done.

Dr Jez Quantum is a scientist at a famous university in the USA. She is an

expert on ancient symbols. She discovers evidence that advanced alien
avatars have been sent back in time to alter the world’s history. The aliens
are planning an invasion in the near future. Jez decides to travel back in
time to several periods in history to fight the alien avatars using advanced
VR, AR and weapons technology. She fights the aliens and sets history
right. In the end, everything is put back to how it should be.

Extract: Global Challenge: Where is Science Taking Us? (D) © Grahame & Angie Bilbow, 2023 3
 Jez stares again at the ancient scroll in front of her. The
images tell an amazing story. Aliens here on Earth in ancient
Egypt? She can’t believe her eyes.
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Task 2
Here are three examples of very concise beginnings of short science fiction
stories - they each have less than 30 words. Can you write three more?

“It’s me!”, I It is getting easier The robot stared

exclaimed, looking to survive. The at me with its
at the young man plague has killed single blood-red
in front of me. I billions but it has glass eye. If I
had travelled back spared me, and made no sound,
in time ten years the fighting has there was a
in the space of a almost stopped chance it might
second! now. not notice me.

Extract: Global Challenge: Where is Science Taking Us? (D) © Grahame & Angie Bilbow, 2023 4
Answers
Science Fiction
1. adventure story = g. a story with lots of action.
2. horror film = d. a frightening film with disgusting special effects
3. detective story = h. an interesting film with a plot in which a crime is solved.
4. fantasy film = c. a film with an imaginative plot centred on the supernatural or
magical.
5. comedy film = b. a film with an amusing plot that makes you laugh.
6. love story = e. a romantic film with a plot about a relationship between two
people.
7. thriller = f. a story with an exciting plot with lots of suspense.
8. war film = a. a film with a story about warfare and lots of fighting.

Task 1
1. Back to the Future is a comedy film about time travel.
2. Dawn of the Dead is a horror film about zombies.
3. Ready Player One is a thriller about a dystopian future.
4. Avatar is a love story about aliens.
5. Star Wars is a war film about space.
6. The Avengers is a fantasy film about super heroes.
7. San Andreas is an adventure story about the end of the world.
8. Blade Runner is a detective story about robots and androids.

Task 2
Jez stares again at the ancient scroll in front of her. The images tell an amazing story. Aliens here
on Earth in ancient Egypt? She can’t believe her eyes.

Possible end to the paragraph:

There and then she decides what she must do. She must go back in time
and set things right. Jez turns to her assistant, Jack, and says with a
sigh, “Looks like things are going to get interesting!” Jack smiles – he
knows what Jez is like, and he can’t wait for the fun to begin.

Extract: Global Challenge: Where is Science Taking Us? (D) © Grahame & Angie Bilbow, 2023 5