Does science fiction always have to be set in the future?

Science fiction isn't always in the future. It can reimagine the past or present with sci-fi elements. For example, stories might show what if technology was different in historical events or alternate versions of our current world.

Not necessarily. The background of science fiction novels could be set at any time, any place, or even in certain fields or phenomena in the real world. The creation of science fiction relied on imagination and creativity to create a fictional world that was different from reality by combining fictional technology, future society, alien creatures, and other elements with the real world. Therefore, the background of science fiction could be the future, the past, the present, or a certain period in the future. It could even be some place or event in the real world.

Not necessarily. Some science fiction works might focus more on exploration and discovery without a clear-cut conflict.

No. Suppose there's a story set in the future that is mainly about a particular art form evolving over time. There's no science - fictional gadgetry or scientific theories involved. It's simply about the evolution of art, so it's not science fiction.

No. Consider a story set in a future post - apocalyptic world where the focus is on human survival and rebuilding basic communities. This could be more of a survival or adventure story. Science fiction typically involves elements like time travel, intergalactic travel, advanced robotics, etc. A future - set story that lacks these elements is not science fiction.

Yes, it is. By definition, science fiction often involves stories set in the future. It typically includes elements like advanced technology, new scientific discoveries, and different social or environmental conditions that might exist in the future. So, if a story is set in the future, it usually falls into the category of science fiction.

Not necessarily. Just because a story is set in the future doesn't automatically make it science fiction. It depends on the elements and themes present.

Sometimes it does. Some science fiction concepts have ended up becoming reality, but not all predictions come true.

Not necessarily. Science fiction can be short or long. It depends on the story and the author's intention.

One key characteristic is the presence of advanced technology. This could be things like flying cars, time travel devices, or artificial intelligence. Another is the exploration of new scientific concepts, such as new forms of energy or life on other planets. Also, they often have different social structures. For example, in a science fiction story set in the future, there might be a society where people are genetically engineered to have specific abilities, which is a far cry from our current social setup.