Top 10 Secrets About National Science Fiction Day

National Science Fiction Day, observed annually on January 2nd, was first created by the Science Fiction Society of America. The day is intended to celebrate science fiction as a genre and authors who have written within this genre. Some ways people celebrate National Science Fiction Day are by watching science-fiction films or TV shows, reading books from famous sci-fi authors like Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury, playing video games with futuristic themes such as Halo 3 or Mass Effect 2, dressing up in costumes based on popular sci-fi characters like Batman’s nemesis The Joker or Star Trek’s Mr. Spock, and even attending conventions that specialize in all things related to science fiction!

Something You May Don’t Know About National Science Fiction Day

What follows is a list of ten secrets you probably didn’t know about National Science Fiction Day (see what we did there?), but should share with your friends so they don’t look like complete dorks at their next convention:

10 – National Science Fiction Day was first observed on January 2nd, 1937 by a group of science fiction fans and writers who wanted to convince President Franklin D. Roosevelt to declare the day a holiday. When he found out they were just trying to make his day, President Roosevelt had the group arrested, but commuted their sentences in exchange for designing all United States’ currency prior to 1989.

9 – Thomas Jefferson was born on National Science Fiction Day (January 2nd) in 1743, making him one of our nation’s most famous science fiction authors. The third president of the United States is best known for his numerous works that formed much of the American mythos including Auguste Dupin and Frankenstein’s Monster.

8 – While Marvel Comics (specifically Dr. Strange ) celebrated this date as Stephen’s birthday in 1973, DC Comics has long celebrated it as Superman’s Kryptonian name day since 1958.

7 – National Science Fiction Day wasn’t officially recognized by the United States government until 1984 when Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation making it an official day.

6 – In order to celebrate National Science Fiction Day, many large bookstores offer discounts on science fiction books and movies.

5 – January 2nd also marks the birthday of several other famous authors such as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein.

4 – Some people believe that National Science Fiction Day was created to overshadow the popularity of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope which was released in theaters one day earlier on December 25th, 1977.

3 – While some people believe that science fiction is just about space ships and aliens, others believe that it is the literature of ideas and that it should be used to explore the future of humanity.

2 – Some well-known science fiction stories include The War of the Worlds, 1984, and Blade Runner.

1 – The first science fiction convention was held in New York City on July 2nd, 1939. This event is considered to have been the birth of organized science fiction fandom.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this list of ten secrets about National Science Fiction Day. Be sure to share it with your friends so they can celebrate the day in style! And don’t forget to check out our other articles about National Science Fiction Day for more information. Thanks for reading!