Even if you’re not a fan of Star Wars or Guardians of the Galaxy, we’re here to tell you that space-fi (which is basically sci-fi but set in or about space) is a trend we can all get on board with.
If you aren’t familiar with space-fi, now’s a great time to check out what all the buzz is about. Let’s break down what makes it so galactically spectacular. . . .
1. The story takes place in space.
Now I know this may be a given because, duh, this is space-fi, but it’s also what makes this genre stand out and why it’s so fun to escape into. The worlds or space where the story occurs isn’t usually ours. Sometimes the entire story takes place on spaceships, in a world, or on a combination of both.
Such as the Illuminae series, which begins on another planet . . .
2. The fight between good and evil.
Good versus evil is pretty distinct in these stories, with the lines drawn and set. You know who the good guys and the bad guys are and where they stand. Sometimes there’s a character who straddles the line and you’re not sure whether they’ll turn on you or not, but generally you know which side everyone is on. Think the Jedi versus the Sith.
Then some stories pit more than just good and evil against each other. This one is all about the color of your blood.
3. The good guys are usually the underdog, and we all love to cheer for the underdog.
You’re probably familiar with the usual scenario where the world or galaxy is about to be destroyed or conquered and the smaller group of good guys is the only thing standing in the way. We should be sick of this trope, but we’re not. We get sucked in. Every. Single. Time. We can’t help ourselves because the stakes are so high.
Want to get sucked in with us? Then grab a copy of . . .
4. Oh, how we love a motley crew!
Definition: “a roughly organized assembly of individuals of various backgrounds, appearance, and character.” You’ve got the muscle, the damsel in distress (even today the damsel is usually a woman—but don’t worry, she kicks ass in the end!), the charming scoundrel, and the super nerd, along with a few other memorable characters who make up a lovable band of misfits you can’t help rooting for.
If you’re a fan of this type of crew, check out . . .
5. Lots of action.
We have to admit that one of the best things about space-fi is the action. There are battles between ships, armies, and individuals. They may use guns, swords, or special powers. We like it all, as long as we’re pulled into intense, nail biting, don’t they’ll make-it-so-hold-on climactic scenes.
Want to dive into some action? This story has two characters with distinct powers.
6. Really good villains—good as in really evil.
They’re so good at being evil that we can’t help admitting how truly perfect they are as villains . . . and we can’t help having a love/hate relationship with them. Usually they have a sinister plot or two as well, like genocide or world domination. The better the villain, the better the hero. So we’re cheering for the villains, just that our heroes can conquer them in the end.
This one is full of sinister plots. . . .
7. Gadgets, technology, and ships that are out of this world . . . quite literally.
There are really cool tools, robots, different types of transportation, and a whole bunch of things woven through these stories that aid the heroes as well as the villains. We have no clue how they work and if what they do will ever be possible, but we still geek out over them. In t his story, there’s a machine that’s almost alive . . .
