Movies

A science fiction Western is a work of fiction which has elements of both the science fiction and Western genres. Science fiction elements are transported to the American West, in a steampunk fashion.

Western Science Fiction occurs in the past, or in a world resembling the past, in which modern or future technology exists. The anachronistic technology of these stories is present because scientific paradigms occurred earlier in history but are implemented via industrial elements present at that time, or because technology is brought from another time or place.

Contents 1 Differences in Science Fiction genres 2 Examples 2.1 Film 3 References

Differences in Science Fiction genres

The genre differs from Steampunk primarily in that the setting is the American Old West rather than the Victorian era. The genre differs from Space western in that it has Science Fiction themes or technology in a Western setting rather than Western frontier themes in an Outer space setting.

Examples

The film serial The Phantom Empire may be the earliest science fiction Western. Since then, science fiction Westerns have appeared in film, television, novels, comic books, anime and other media. Since the characteristic elements of science fiction can occur in any setting, science fiction lends itself to combination with other genres (Gunn). In 1953, J. B. Priestley described the "Western" as one of the three types of science fiction.

Film

Alien Outlaw
The American Astronaut
As Time Goes By
The Aurora Encounter
Back to the Future Part III
The Beast of Hollow Mountain
Futureworld
Jesse James Meets Frankenstein's Daughter
Moon Zero Two
Oblivion
Oblivion 2: Backlash
Outland
Serenity
Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann
The Valley of Gwangi
Welcome to Blood City
Westworld
Wild Wild West

References

• Gunn, James (1995). Teaching Science Fiction. Center for the Study of Science Fiction. University of Kansas. Retrieved on 2006-01-15.
• Priestley, J. B. (December 5, 1953) "Thoughts in the Wilderness." New Statesman, p. 712. Cited in Padlipsky, Michael A. (1960), "More Than Pulp(?): Science Fiction and the Problem of Literary Value", undergraduate thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. URL accessed on January 15, 2006.