Yugoslav science fiction

Yugoslav science fiction comprises literary works, films, comic books and other works of art in the science fiction genre created in Yugoslavia during the country's existence (1918–1991).

The origins of Yugoslav science fiction literature date to mid-19th century, to utopian and dystopian works of authors who wrote in Slovene language, most notably Simon Jenko, Josip Stritar, Anton Mahnič and Janez Trdina. By the end of the century, first science fiction works in Serbo-Croatian appeared, authored by Serbian writers Dragutin Ilić and Lazar Komarčić. The period from the formation of Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1918 until World War II Axis occupation of the country in 1941 was marked by several prominent authors, like Vladimir Bartol, Aldion Degal, Damir Feigel and Milutin Milanković, the latter, a renowned scientist, authoring Through Distant Worlds and Times, which combined autobiography, scientific essay and science fiction. During the era, science fiction elements also appeared in the works of non-genre authors, like surrealists Stanislav Vinaver and Rastko Petrović.

Serbo-Croatian and Slovene science fiction literature re-emerged in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in early 1950s, followed by the appearance of first science fiction works in Macedonian language. In the early years of socialist Yugoslavia perceived mostly as children's and young adult literature, 1950s and early 1960s Yugoslav science fiction brought a large number of works dedicated to these age categories. However, by mid-1960s works of a new generation of authors, like Vid Pečjak and the literary duo Zvonimir Furtinger and Mladen Blažić, started to enjoy popularity among wide audience. Late 1960s brought the appearance of the country's first science fiction magazines, and in the 1970s a number of publishing houses launched series of science fiction novels. The 1980s brough a renaissance of Yugoslav science fiction literature, with notable authors like Dušan Belča, Slobodan Ćurčić, Hrvoje Hitrec, Miha Remec, Samo Kuščer and Vlado Urošević, and with academically acclaimed authors like Branko Belan, Ivan Ivanji, Zvonimir Kostić, and–most prominently–Borislav Pekić (in his works like Rabies, Atlantis and 1999) venturing into science fiction genre.

Yugoslav cinema featured a number of science fiction titles, most notably Veljko Bulajić's Atomic War Bride, Krsto Papić's The Rat Savior and Dušan Vukotić's Visitors from the Galaxy. Yugoslav science fiction comics emerged in the 1930s, with the works of Đorđe Lobačev and Andrija Maurović, which could be considered pioneering works of European science fiction comics. Re-emerging in early 1950s, the Yugoslav comics scene saw its renaissance in the 1980s, with authors like Zoran Janjetov, Igor Kordej and Željko Pahek achieving international recognition. Science fiction also influenced works by a number of Yugoslav visual artists and popular music acts.

Science fiction enjoyed large popularity in socialist Yugoslavia, with first societies of science fiction fans appearing in mid-1970s. By the late 1980s, a number of science fiction fan societies were active in the country, most of them publishing their own fanzines.