High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Space warfare has served as a central theme within the science fiction genre. Its roots can be traced back to classical times, and to the "future war" novels of the nineteenth century. An interplanetary, or more often an interstellar or intergalactic war is a staple plot device in space operas. Space warfare has a predominant role in science fiction writing, but is not believed to be a realistic possibility because of the distances involved and the logistical impracticalities.