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