Sci fi is just as American as apple pie and NASCAR!

[Nihilist74]

What were the first science fiction books? Jules Verne's books? Were there earlier books you could consider science fiction? Maybe Frankenstein? HG Wells?

[Kalis]

I wouldnt call that a pie. Not saying apple pie is an American invention, just that, to me, thats not a pie.

That is the French verison, the American version is based on the British style apple pie, like this...

[belfpala]

What were the first science fiction books? Jules Verne's books? Were there earlier books you could consider science fiction? Maybe Frankenstein? HG Wells?

Many people argue that The Epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest. Almost 4000 years ago.

[Kalis]

What were the first science fiction books? Jules Verne's books? Were there earlier books you could consider science fiction? Maybe Frankenstein? HG Wells?

H G Wells wrote after Jules Verne, Mary Shelley is the earliest of those three, but I am not sure if she was the earliest, or just one of the most famous.

[Deleted]

apple pie american?? get over yourself, its english!!

[ranzino]

What were the first science fiction books? Jules Verne's books? Were there earlier books you could consider science fiction? Maybe Frankenstein? HG Wells?

Johannes Kepler's "Somnium", as far as Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov said.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somnium_(novel)

[Nihilist74]

Many people argue that The Epic of Gilgamesh is the earliest. Almost 4000 years ago.

Isn't that more like fantasy? Maybe the story of Atlantis?

[Tijuana]

You guys are missing the point here. Sci Fi is awesome, ergo American. American is a synonym for awesome.

[belfpala]

Isn't that more like fantasy? Maybe the story of Atlantis?

Isn't that the debate going on? It's the first recorded story where humans are depicted as rational beings. That's science, in a way.

[Kalis]

Isn't that the debate going on? It's the first recorded story where humans are depicted as rational beings. That's science, in a way.

Somewhat of a stretch to call Gilgamesh sci fi, whereas Plato's Atlantis had futuristic science in it.

[TwistedSkull]

You guys are missing the point here. Sci Fi is awesome, ergo American. American is a synonym for awesome.

I cannot disagree more...

[Tijuana]

I cannot disagree more...

You spelled agree rong.

[Kalis]

You spelled agree rong.

You spelt wrong wrong.

[Tijuana]

You spelt wrong wrong.

You spelt spelled rong.

[belfpala]

Somewhat of a stretch to call Gilgamesh sci fi, whereas Plato's Atlantis had futuristic science in it.

You could be right. I just think it's best to go as far back as possible when I'm asked, "What was the first..." anything.

Really, we could consider oral tales of gods and spirits to be the Sci-Fi of an earlier age.

[Kalis]

You spelt spelled rong.

No, I spelt spelt correctly, I chose not to spell spelt spelled.

[Tijuana]

No, I spelt spelt correctly, I chose not to spell spelt spelled.

This is so much more fun than arguing with politics people.

[belfpala]

And I'll just drop this for funzies...

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." --Arthur C. Clarke

In essence, there is no barrier between sci-fi and fantasy.

[heerobya]

Modern era sci fi started with Frank Herbert, an American.

Ultra popular sci fi that mainstreamed the genre and led to everything since- Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas. Also Americans.

'murica!!!!

[Tijuana]

Regarding apple pie, it's widely considered the most American thing there is, hence the use of it in the thread. It doesn't really matter if we invented it. Heck, most of what we actually did invent, was invented by someone whose family just came here, as we are in fact a nation of immigrants. But it's hard to argue that apple pie is not present just about any celebration that involves food here in the states. Also, cherry pie is clearly better.

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Modern era sci fi started with Frank Herbert, an American.

Ultra popular sci fi that mainstreamed the genre and led to everything since- Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas. Also Americans.

'murica!!!!

I feel like the biggest name in sci fi is being left out here: Asimov