genre-diversity

The chapter explores the essence and diversity of science fiction as a genre, emphasizing its core 'Sense-of-Wonder' through illustrative examples from early speculative works to fantasy elements like BEMs and dragons. It discusses the lack of a unified definition for science fiction, highlighting various subgenres and reader factions, and traces the historical labeling and evolution of the genre, including the influential but flawed work of Hugo Gernsback.

This chapter is the table of contents for 'Invisible Planets: Contemporary Chinese Science Fiction in Translation,' edited by Ken Liu. It lists the included stories by various Chinese science fiction authors, such as Chen Qiufan, Xia Jia, Ma Boyong, Hao Jingfang, Tang Fei, Cheng Jingbo, and Liu Cixin, as well as essays discussing the genre's cultural context and significance. The chapter outlines the structure of the anthology, highlighting the diversity of voices and themes in contemporary Chinese science fiction.

The chapter provides an extensive alphabetical index of over 600 Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) and their series, serving as a comprehensive reference tool that highlights the genre's breadth and diversity. It concludes with an introduction that emphasizes the unique cultural evolution of JRPGs compared to Western RPGs, showcasing key franchises and sub-genres while setting the stage for a detailed exploration of the genre's history, music, and art.