The following essay expresses my opinion regarding two stories classified as science fiction. A Sound of Thunder, by Ray Bradbury and Nethergrave by Gloria Skurzynski are two stories that use technology and science to express events surrounding a specific character. A Sound of Thunder, is a science fiction story about Eckels, a man who wishes to go on a hunting expedition in the age of dinosaurs. In order for this to be accomplished, his journey includes time travel via a time machine. The main message conveyed in this story is that even the smallest change in time can make a huge difference in the future of humanity. In Nethergrave, the reader is taken deeply into the mind and personal life of Jeremy, a lonely young man who enters the reality of the virtual world. His adventure brings attention to how someone's judgment regarding trust can be taken too far. Both stories end with the characters being taken away because of their choices and desires. Eckles is killed back in time and Jeremy is lost forever in the virtual world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Nethergrave offers the reader a closer connection to the characters involved and in a more believable setting. Being side by side in Jeremy's mind and personal life made it so much easier for me to be a part of the story as a reader. The connection he had with his online friends and the details of his choices made it personal. While both stories have their flaws with reality, Nethergrave, in my opinion, was more believable than A Sound of Thunder and its time machine and therefore a better representation of science fiction. I will compare both stories and how I think they support the science fiction themes of Time Travel, Faster-Than-Light Travel, and Parallel Universe, highlighting why I believe Nethergrave is, overall, the better science fiction story . A science fiction theme of time travel, there is no doubt that, A Sound of Thunder, scores higher in its depiction of this science fiction theme than Nethergrave, as the story involves a time machine. The definition of Time Travel is also typically associated with the use of a time machine. However, in my opinion, the concept of time travel via a time machine is very outdated compared to other science fiction themes and is more in line with a far-fetched fantasy. A parallel universe, also known as an alternate reality, is an existence that co-exists with your own. Nethergrave exemplifies this theme perfectly. For example when Jeremy is communicating with the unknown voice from his computer. At first he rationalizes the voice as a feature his father must have added to the computer before it was given to him. He soon discovers that the voice and everything connected to it comes from another realm or dimension that co-occurs with his own existence. This is an example of true science fiction with a huge twist of intrigue. The idea alone is thrilling compared to an obsolete time machine, even if the themes of time travel and parallel universe intersect. Faster than light travel, is another hypothetical propagation and pseudoscientific belief that is considered scientific, but has no scientific fact. All three of these scientific topics are related to each other. For example, faster-than-light travel would be required for time travel to occur, which would include arriving in a parallel universe. Take into consideration that science fiction is actually just.