GENRE CONTENT DECISION TREE
(Note: At each level, the “yes” response leads to the
next level in; the “no” response to the next level down.)
I.
The narrative has at least one central, salient SF element
A.
The narrative world displays logic consistent with the reader’s
1.
The salient SF content is one or more individual characters
a)
The story depends on the persistent nature of the SF character
(1)
The character is fundamentally like those in the text’s
normative social world (e.g., of the same species)
(a)
The character is separated from society by its commitment to
science
(i) MAD
SCIENTIST
(ii) PSI
POWERS
(2)
The characters are fundamentally unlike those in the text’s
normative social world
(a)
The character by its nature transgresses some natural boundary
(i) MONSTER
(ii) ALIEN
b)
The story depends on the changed or changing nature of the SF
characters
(1)
The change is in the physical capability of the characters
(a)
CAPABILITY SHIFT – PHYSICAL
(b)
CAPABILITY SHIFT – MENTAL
2.
The salient SF content is one or more social systems
a)
The social system or systems reflect the near-term
consequences of an apparently ubiquitous disaster
(1)
POST-APOCALYPSE
b)
The social system or systems reflect some more or less steady
state alternative to that of the implied reader
(1)
The reader clearly is intended to endorse the system
(a)
EUTOPIA
(2)
The reader clearly is intended to reject the system
(a)
DYSTOPIA
(3)
The reader is not clearly intended to endorse or reject the
system
(a)
UTOPIA
3.
The salient SF content is the setting or the treatment of
setting
a)
The principle use of the setting is as a domain for exploration
(1)
EXPLORATION
b)
The principle use of the setting is to present one or more
alternatives to the reader’s world or expected world
(1)
The narrative world is based on an extrapolative alternative
(a)
One or more characters has the ability to more voluntarily
through time
(i) TIME
TRAVEL
(b)
Characters cannot voluntarily move through time
(i) ALTERNATE
HISTORY
(2)
The narrative world is based on the literary model of
pseudo-medieval, often magical adventure
(a)
SWORD & SORCERY
4.
The salient SF content is an invention
a)
INVENTION
B.
The narrative defies logic consistent with the reader’s
1.
SURREAL NOVUM
II.
NOT APPLICABLE (The narrative does not have at least one central, salient
SF element)