If you are a fan of military fiction, you may have heard stories about super-heroes taking down enemy forces in battle. This type of fiction usually portrays war as a battle between good and evil, and the heroes enter battle using cool technology. They either win or lose the war, and often, they risk their lives. You can find military fiction upbeat, sad and even disturbing. If done well, it can also have a lot of value.
Character
The role of military tactics and organizations in conflict situations is described in military sci-fi films and novels. The stories use elements from actual Earth conflicts, but change the location, technology, and weapons to make them more plausible. Starship Troopers replaces countries with planets or other galaxies. Battleships get replaced with spaceships. There are also different structures in the storylines, like chains of command.
Setting
Sci Fi's strongest setting is the military. Although the genre depicts a future that the military controls the world, it also explores our present and the people who are entangled in it. This genre is a great place to make social commentary. Starship Troopers (by Robert Heinlein) focuses on how citizens can shape the destiny their country's future. In addition, The Forever War by Joe Halderman is based on Halderman's experiences as a Vietnam war veteran.
Storyline
There are many ways you can create compelling storylines in military science fiction novels. Start by looking at the chain of command for a weapon system. Figure out how the higher levels of command operate, and what kind of autonomy each level has. Think about the structure of checks and balances. In the U.S., for example, all services have an inspector general that checks in on the major commands.
Conflict
Sci-fi stories often feature military conflict as a main theme. Battles are often fought against alien forces or between military forces in these stories. These stories often stress traditional military values and emphasize the role of willpower and military virtues.
Stories about invasion
Science fiction and military thrillers often focus on invasions. Although invasion stories have a long tradition in this genre, their meaning has changed over the years. Invasion has been caused by many forces over the last century, from Soviet invasion to Communist conquest. Many invasion stories today focus on the threat posed in China by communist China. This threat does not only threaten the US’s physical integrity, it also threatens its economic viability.
Genres of sci-fi military fiction
There are many different types of sci fi military fiction. Star Wars is not an example, but there are many books or movies that depict military action. A few examples are Battlestar Galactica, Space: Above and Beyond, and the CoDominium series.