Military science fiction

Military science fiction is a specialized subgenre of science fiction and military fiction.

It focuses on the use of advanced technology for military purposes. This includes tools like spaceships and futuristic weapons. The stories usually center on characters who are members of a military organization. These characters often face the challenges of war. These conflicts might occur on different planets or in the vastness of outer space. This genre exists across many media, including literature, comics, film, television, and video games.

A typical work in this genre provides a detailed description of conflict. It explores the belligerents, which are the groups or sides fighting. These may include humans or extraterrestrials. Authors describe specific tactics and the weapons used in battle. They also examine the role of military services and individual soldiers. Many stories use features of real Earth conflicts as a base. They might replace countries with planets or galaxies. In these settings, battleships become space battleships. Small arms and artillery are replaced by lasers. Soldiers are often reimagined as space marines.

There are several ways these stories handle technology and themes. In some works, technology is highly advanced and described in great detail. The use of a new weapon or spaceship might even drive the plot forward. In other stories, technology remains fairly static. These stories might use weapons similar to those used by modern soldiers. Instead of focusing on machines, these authors might explore military cultures or social changes. For example, some stories depict women as equal or preferred partners in combat roles. Some works also explore the growth or decline of galaxy-spanning empires. These empires might have a capital on a "core world" near a supermassive black hole.

The history of this genre stretches back to the 19th century. Early precursors include "future war" stories like George Chesney's "The Battle of Dorking" from 1871. This story featured a futuristic wonder-weapon that destroyed a navy. H.G. Wells also contributed with "The Land Ironclads." This work described armored fighting vehicles that carried soldiers and engineers. As science fiction became its own established genre, military science fiction grew. Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel "Starship Troopers" is a major example. Along with works by Gordon Dickson, it helped popularize the genre among young readers.

Real-world history has deeply influenced how these stories are written. The Vietnam War caused a polarization within the science fiction community. In 1968, some authors published pro-war lists while others published anti-war lists. This era also produced many veterans who chose to write science fiction. Authors like Joe Haldeman and David Drake used their combat experience to add realism. Haldeman's "The Forever War," published between 1972 and 1975, is a notable work. David Drake's "Hammer's Slammers" series helped start a fashion for stories about mercenaries. These authors explored how human suffering and progress affect military doctrine.

Military science fiction can sometimes overlap with other subgenres. It is often compared to "space opera," which focuses on large-scale adventures and melodrama. While space operas feature civilian or paramilitary protagonists, military science fiction focuses on warfare and technical details. Some works are also called "military space opera."

Another connection is to the "space Western." These stories might feature frontier towns or even cowboys in space. The series "Firefly" uses a visual style evocative of classic Westerns. In these settings, six-shooters might be replaced by ray guns. Some stories even focus on ex-military characters working in civilian law enforcement.

Authors use various scientific concepts to make their worlds feel plausible. Some writers, like Larry Niven, create conflicts based on the colonization of the asteroid belt. They use the laws of physics as we currently understand them. Other authors, such as Joe Haldeman and Alastair Reynolds, examine the consequences of interstellar travel. They look at the long spans of time required to travel between stars. This might involve traveling at relativistic speeds. Some writers even posit faster-than-light travel to make interstellar war possible. These scientific details help ground the extraordinary themes of the genre.