As we know from Terry Pratchett—and before him from Shakespeare—wizards and witches are very different. Wizards are old gentlemen, like Prospero in “The Tempest,” who practice magic out of books.

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Ann Kowal Smith explores workplace culture and collaboration. Every day brings a new story about AI, from great hype about its ...

Young people who are hooked on watching fantasy or reading science fiction may be on to something. Contrary to a common misperception that reading this genre is an unworthy practice, reading science ...

Science fiction allows artists to speculate about the future through imaginative and technical concepts. But so often the prevailing vision of that future in popular culture tends toward the dystopian ...

If you are emerging from post-holiday stupors in desperate need of fresh horizons and new worlds to explore, then I have some great new science fiction for your bedside table. We have some big names ...

Esther Jones does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...

The power of words Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, which begins with a form of sci-fi, led to the ban on DDT in agriculture, showing how sci-fi can influence real-world science. (Courtesy: ...

What does the future hold? In our new series “Imagining the Next Future,” Polygon explores the new era of science fiction — in movies, books, TV, games, and beyond — to see how storytellers and ...

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the May 10, 1980 issue of America as “Science Fiction and Religion.” Science fiction and religion walking—or jetting—hand in hand? Shades of the ...

What does the future hold? In our new series “Imagining the Next Future,” Polygon explores the new era of science fiction — in movies, books, TV, games, and beyond — to see how storytellers and ...