The History of Science Fiction
The BeginningEarly 19th century (1800s)
A new curiosity
Fantasy existed firstSupernatural worlds (gods/demons)Mythical lands (Atlantis)Unattainable lands (the moon)Always written in past or present tense, not future
Cultural ChangesTransition from Dark Ages to High Middle Ages
Development of the plowInvention of the horse collarInvention of the printing press
Protestant ReformationSpread of literacyQuestion established authority
Scientific RevolutionNew technologiesExploration
Industrial RevolutionGreat BritainSwifter changesMachines
Results of ChangeFear related to
Consequences of changes“Nightmares” ahead
Two groupsPessimists
Mary Shelley’s FrankensteinH.G. Well’s War of the Worlds
OptimistsJules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues under the Sea
Modern IdeasTerm “Science Fiction” not used until 1920s
Literature of possibilityFollows scientific discoveries“Predicts” future scientific discoveries
ELEMENTS OF SCIENCE FICTION
an introduction toThe Martian Chronicles
by Ray Bradbury
AliensAliens are one of the central characteristics of the science-fiction genre.
~aliens coming to Earth,
~humans encountering aliens on space explorations
~sometimes the aliens are friendly, ~sometimes as mortal enemies.
ROBOTSOften have human versatility and appearance
~work alongside humans as equals
~evolve to become superior to and
overcome humans
~search to become human
~artificial intelligence to learn
from and grow from experiences
not just from programming
~simulation of human expressions
and emotions
~”robot” comes from the Czech word for a slave
GENETICS
Control of human evolution
~genetic engineering to control gene patterns before birth
~disease and birth defect eradication
~manipulate human characteristics / traits
~cloning to save endangered species
~cloning for organ harvesting
~bionic humans
~replacement organs or prosthetics
~creation of the “super” human
~intelligence
~physical strength
SPACE TRAVEL
Space travel is a common element of sci-fi
~humans wonder whether or not they're alone in the universe,
~what might happen if humans encounter other life forms.
This also encompasses Space Colonization
~Earth over-population
~Terra forming – making other
planets habitable for humans
TIME TRAVELIn scientific theory, time travel is possible based on
potential technologies utilizing scientific knowledge.
In fiction, time travel poses
many questions:~time travel paradox,
~protagonists can glimpse
the future or change
events in the past.
• Science fiction novels are often placed in a
futuristic setting, • Other sci-fi novels feature alternate histories
~world governments~honors (or not) cultural
diversity~possible inter-stellar
federations/alliances
Futuristic Setting Or Alternate History
Advanced Technology
Early science fiction focused on the hard science, and the development of advanced technology, or creative ways to utilize
existing technology.
~some traditional sci-fi technology that could be very real in the future
~computerized education
~global communication
~some science fiction writers have proven almost prophetic in predicting the rise of technology
~other have foreshadowed or outright predicted other pieces of technology.
DystopiaOne common theme of many science fiction novels is a dystopia set sometime in the future.
~used to explore current social issues,
~revolves around technological misutilization
~DEFINITION: an imagined place where everything
is unpleasant or environmentally degraded; involves a totalitarian government; the opposite of a utopia
Exploration Of Popular Societal
Or Cultural Issues:Much of sci-fi attempts to explore popular societal or cultural issues
~ class struggles
~misuse of technology,
~a world destroyed by war;
~ a world destroyed by overuse;
~ a world in which the government controls everything;
~ a world in which genetic experimentation has gone
terribly awry.
Science Fiction Follows Scientific
Rules:Science fiction novels follow scientific rules, to some degree.
Fantasy (another genre) suspends scientific rules.
Science Fiction Authors to Know
an introduction toThe Martian Chronicles
Ray Bradbury
Mary ShelleyKey work: Frankenstein
Trivia: first full-blown science fiction novel
Fiction to Fact: electric shock to restart heart
transplanted organs
Jules VerneKey work: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Trivia: considered to be the founding father of modern science fiction
Fiction to Fact: rockets, submarines, fax machines
H.G. WellsKey work: War of the Worlds
The Time MachineTrivia: first science fiction writer to be a trained scientist; first to write about alien invasions
Fiction to Fact: atom bomb, genetic engineering
George OrwellKey Work: Animal Farm; Nineteen Eighty-Four
Trivia: wrote about political horrors; totalitarian
dictatorships; “Big brother is watching you.”
Fiction to Fact: electronic spying; spin-doctors who create pseudo-news
Issac AsimovKey work: I, Robot
Trivia: had the ability to explain difficult concepts in simple, clear language
Fiction to Fact: robots in service to man, artificial intelligence, distance learning
Arthur C. ClarkKey work: 2001: A Space Odyssey
Trivia: CBS’s expert commentator on the Apollo moon missions
Fiction to Fact: communication satellites, man’s destruction of earth
Ray BradburyKey work: The Martian Chronicles;
Fahrenheit 451
Trivia: was actually anti-science and anti- technology
Fiction to Fact: earphones, TV as a
replacement for reading, flat screen (wall) TV