1. A to Z on Sci-Fi Basics
Rachel Rybarczyk

2. Andrea Smith
• Author of “Beyond Pro-Choice”
• Feminist and anti-violence activist
• Voice for women of color and minorities

3. Beginnings
• Sci-Fi is a genre for new beginnings and
cathartic experiences
• Some beginnings are not always good
however. The post apocalyptic theme of
“Dawn” was a terrible new beginning for
the human race

4. Camover
• Anarchy group in the UK against government
control
• Uses vandalism to point out the overwhelming
amount of cameras and recordings
• Spray paints over cameras to prevent further
filming
• Like the rebelliousness of Day in “Legend”

5. Decolonization
• One group takes over another people and
enforces their policies
• This theme is seen in Dawn, specifically
how the alien race takes over the humans
and forces the people to spawn with them

6. • TedTalk participant
Elahi, Hasan
• Harassed by the
CIA and accused of
secret acts of
possible terrorism
• Retaliated by
posting his every
move to the internet
• Reminded me a lot
of people being
watched in “Legend”

7. Freedom
This is a theme that drives science fiction.
Whether characters are fighting against the
government, aliens, or a royal kingdom, the
overall goal is to be free.

8. Germ Theory
• The theory that disease is the reason why
humans have progressed through history
• Many Sci-Fi books have used this theme as the
premise of entire series
• Apocalyptic connotation, like in “Dawn”

9. Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
• Science Fiction book by N. K. Jemisin
• The heir to the throne of the Arameri
Kingdom, but is abducted as a child. Later,
she meets different gods and learns that
they have great plans for her

10. Interrogate
• Act of intensive
questioning
• In Mary Lu’s
Legend the
Republic
interrogates people
who act out of
order

11. A society lead by a hierarchy.
Kingdom
The setting for many sci-fi
books and films, like “Hundred
Thousand Kingdoms”

12. June Iparis
Strong, young female lead in Mary
Lu’s Dawn. She was raised in the
Republic, the controlling
government. Upon realizing the
corruptness of the Republic, she
takes them down from the inside.

13. Lilth
Main character in Octavia
Bulter’s Dawn. Is one of the
few human survivors. Is “rescued”
by aliens who force the humans to
reproduce with them. Lilth is the
clear leader of the group, but
instead of fighting the aliens, the
humans pose more of a problem at
times.

14. Militarized Femininity
Defined by Laura Sjoberg as female militants used to
widen the gap between the gender roles of men and
women.

15. N. K. Jemisin
• Author of Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
• Famous Science Fiction Author, winner of
many awards
• Includes various themes of freedom and
feminism

16. Octavia Butler
• Author of “DAwn”
• nicknAmeD “genius
grAnt”
• Strong female leads in
science fiction books
• Recipient of the Hugo
Award and Nebula
Awards

17. Policy
• Science fiction is based a lot around
the government and their social and
economical policies, comparing the
fictional story to the corruptness of
reality.
• This theme can be seen in “Legend”
and “Hundred Thousand Kingdoms”

18. Quasi-Reality
Sci-fi can exist in
many forms, some
are extremely
fictional, while
others have a
strong connection
with the real world.

19. Race
Ethnic background and
cultural experience.
Identifying biological
parameters. May cause
discrimination due to
ignorance in people, racism.

20. Science Fiction
A genre that does not follow
the laws of physics. Many
metaphors of unnecessary
government control and
minority discrimination can be
inferred in this genre.

21. Transhumanism
Artificial improvements in
physiology. Highly debated
if transhumanism is racist or
not.

22. Utopia
A dream society. A functioning system where
human happiness is the top priority.

23. Washington, Harriet
Author of Medical Apartheid, a book
detailing the plight of the African Americans
who had to undergo experimental surgery

24. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz
Wrote article on biotechnology. She
is an award winning international
indigenous activist.

25. Xenogenesis
The original title for Octavia
Butler’s Dawn Trilogy. Xeno
meaning “relating to a foreigner”
and genesis meaning “the origin
or mode of formulation of
something”

26. Yeine
Main character in The Hundred Thousand
Kingdoms. Strong female leader who comes
into her own while fighting for what is right.

27. Zhakkarn
A goddess in The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms.
The goddess of war, an incredibly strong female.