Is military sci-fi an outcast sub-genre within science fiction?

[Ray]

I'm the author of a military science fiction series. There are two books already published and I'm working on the third. But I've gotten a few comments saying that the series isn't really science fiction because of its military theme and the fact that it is base entirely on Earth. The series takes place over a hundred years in the future and the main characters are all genetically enhanced. The geopolitics of the world are completely different from the way they are now.


My question is: if the series is not science fiction, then what is it?

[Robert]

It's science fiction.
The subset is what you are wondering about.

[Martin]

It is Science Fiction. Try not to worry over pedantic comments.

Military SciFi is very popular right now.

The only time categories matter is when you are marketing the book. You want to find the right target audience.

[Micah]

Martin wrote: "It is Science Fiction...

The only time categories matter is when you are marketing the book. You want to find the right target audience."

What he said.

Military SF has been a long standing sub genre in SF and pretty much all the big names in SF have done it in some form and set in near-future to far-futures timelines.

[Christina]

Science fiction does not automatically require outer space. It doesn't even require a futuristic setting. All sci-fi requires is some sort of science element, provable, entirely theoretical, or even pulled from one's butt. Obviously, military sci-fi is a big enough subgenre to get its own Amazon category. I would echo those above and say not to worry about what some folks think.

[Martin]

On Amazon, there is the main category:

Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > Military >

[Angel]

I've read military sci-fi before. I wouldn't say it's an outcast. But I have seen it being written and published quite often. Saturated market maybe? But overall no matter the subgenre sci-fi will still be popular. I've been a die hard sci-fi fan for decades including all its subgenres. I'm a Whovian and Trekkie from way back. But I think some subgenres will evolve into an even broader spectrum or newer subgenres. Things are always changing.

[Matthew]

The people telling you it's not SF don't know what SF is. That being so, I would guess they aren't your target audience. File under ignore

[K.E.]

The characteristic that makes a story sci-fi is the manipulation of time. That is why there is an incredible spectrum of novels within the genre, and challenging for authors and readers alike.

[J.J.]

There is a lot of stuff labelled sci-fi where the sci-fi element is weak. It's not really sci-fi unless there is that science element, time/future often fits the bill. Heck, something I find myself doing in stories is stripping away the technology - one story placed the characters in a primitive camp with no heat and nothing to run off the electricity.

[Farah]

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https://farahmehboob.wordpress.com/20...