Suspended animation in fiction

Suspended animation in fiction refers to the temporary cessation of life processes experienced by fictional characters, followed by their subsequent revival. This process is commonly employed as a plot device in numerous science fiction narratives. It is frequently utilized to transport a character from the past to the future (a form of forward-only time travel) or to facilitate interstellar space travel, which necessitates extended journeys spanning months or years (refer to space travel in fiction). In addition to accomplishing the character's primary objective in the future, they often encounter the unfamiliarity of a new world, which may bear only faint resemblance to their previous surroundings. On occasion, a character is portrayed as possessing skills or abilities that have become lost to society during their period of suspension, enabling them to assume a heroic role in their new temporal setting. The methods employed for the suspension and subsequent revival of characters can vary greatly. In early stories, a common approach involves the use of magical enchantments that induce a prolonged slumber. In contrast, many modern narratives aim to present the concept as scientific suspended animation or cryonics, often simplifying and disregarding most of the intricacies involved. Within numerous science fiction settings, the challenges associated with contemporary cryonics are overcome prior to the development of faster-than-light travel, making it a viable means of interstellar transportation. In fictional renditions, the cells typically remain viable, and the revival process is depicted as straightforward or even spontaneous. Accidental freezing scenarios are prevalent in many stories, with technobabble utilized to rationalize how the characters managed to survive the process. Various terms are employed to describe the state of suspended animation, including cryosleep, hypersleep, hibernation, and soma. The term "corpsicle" is utilized in science fiction to describe a deceased body that has been cryopreserved through cryonics.