Techno-thriller

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A techno-thriller or technothriller is a hybrid genre drawing from science fiction, thrillers, spy fiction, action, and war novels. They include a disproportionate amount (relative to other genres) of technical details on their subject matter (typically military technology); only hard science fiction tends towards a comparable level of supporting detail on the technical side. The inner workings of technology and the mechanics of various disciplines (espionage, martial arts, politics) are thoroughly explored, and the plot often turns on the particulars of that exploration. This genre began to exist and establish itself in the early 20th century with further developments and focus on the genre in the mid 20th century. [1]

Contents

History

The genre dates back to early in the 20th century. Invasion of the Sea by Jules Verne (1905) has been called an early techno-thriller. [2] Many techno-thrillers are comparable to science fiction—and several modes within science-fiction. The popularity of the genre has maintained itself and evolved over the years. [1]

One of the earliest techno-thrillers is thought to be The Satan Bug (1962) by Alistair MacLean, [3] while a lot of what counted for science fiction in the pre-war and early post-war Soviet Union were essentially techno-thrillers, full of technical details and featuring complex spy-rich plots, one of the most enduring example being the Grigory Adamov's The Mystery of the Two Oceans (1939). Michael Crichton and Tom Clancy are considered to be the fathers of the "modern techno-thriller"; [4] Crichton's book The Andromeda Strain and Clancy's book The Hunt for Red October set out the type example which defined the genre, although many authors had been writing similar material earlier, such as Craig Thomas, whom BBC News also credits as an early innovator. [5]

Style

Techno-thrillers focus strongly on details, especially on the technology, which is frequently of military origin. [6] [7] Techno-thrillers tend to have a broad scope in the narrative, and can often be regarded as contemporary speculative fiction; world wars are a common topic. Techno-thrillers often overlap, as far as the genre goes, with near-future science fiction, military fiction, and espionage fiction. [8] To the extent that technology is now a dominant aspect of modern global culture, most modern thrillers are "techno-thrillers" in broad sense, and the genre is somewhat diffuse. Techno-thrillers blur smoothly into the category of hard science fiction; the defining characteristics of techno-thriller are an emphasis on real-world or plausible near-future technology. There is often a focus on military or military-political action. Techno-thrillers also overlap with conspiracy fiction and apocalyptic fiction. While techno-thrillers borrow concepts and ideas from other forms and styles of other genres, notably science-fiction and its subcategories, it is a fresh and still developing style with it being more of a hybrid genre, more closely related to thrillers and technology. Since technology is always changing, that brings a fresh take on techno thrillers with advancement always on the scope. [1]

Varieties

Techno-thrillers have at least five varieties within the genre. These are military techno-thrillers, spy techno-thrillers, crypto-techno-thrillers, disaster techno-thrillers, and science-fiction techno-thrillers.

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Themes : Technothriller : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  2. https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780819564658 Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  3. "Alistair MacLean's THE SATAN BUG: Birth of the Techno-Thriller - by CEJ". gullcottageonline. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  4. "Father Of Our Country? Tom Clancy Created The Techno-thriller, And He Did It With A Pro-american Mindset". tribunedigital-sunsentinel. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014.
  5. "Techno thriller writer Craig Thomas dies". BBC News . 8 April 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  6. Kaltenbach, Chris (2 October 2013). "Clancy invented 'techno-thriller,' reflected Cold War fears". The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  7. Minzesheimer, Bob (3 October 2013). "Appreciation: Tom Clancy mastered the techno-thriller". USA Today . Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Boush, Sam (19 July 2018). "Crypto, Sci-Fi, Soldiers, Spies (and Disasters): 5 Varieties Within the Technothriller Genre". Writer's Digest . Retrieved 19 July 2018.