Science Fiction: To Infinity and Beyond!!!

1. Science Fiction: To Infinity and Beyond!!!

2. This is an alien Blammo!!!! Zap!!!! • Years of scientific study has revealed that all extraterrestrial organisms are actually box-like invaders who plot to conquer the Earth by advancing in waves that gradually move down the screen. Fortunately, these “invaders” who are from “space” are easily destroyed by a well timed blast of… um… well, it looks like a baby bottle… of some sort…. “People of Earth! We are coming… verrrry slowly!” “Noooooooo!

3. Ha ha ha! Just kidding! • These images, and many like them, are what commonly come to mind when someone mentions “Science Fiction.” However, the literary tradition known as “science fiction” is older and deeper than mere tales of space boogeymen and flying saucers—it is a unique and versatile genre that allows authors to look towards the past, present, and future through the prism of scientific discovery.

4. “Speculate” means to make an educated prediction “I will destroy you!” Science fiction is always concerned with commenting on people or societies, and often uses creative devices such as alien worlds or inhuman characters. A key to science fiction is its basis in some sort of science that obeys the laws of the physical world. This separates it from the fantasy genre. So what exactly is “Science Fiction?” Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals.

5. Always, science fiction follows some sort of physical laws– there is no such thing as “supernatural.” Thus, Frankenstein is science fiction, whereas Dracula is fantasy. Example: Isaac Asimov’s Nightfall is about a planet where the sun only sets every 2,000 years. As the sunset approaches, the inhabitants begin to fear the end of society. Y2K, anyone? Example: Phillip K. Dick’s Minority Report predicts a futuristic society where people will be convicted of crimes they have not yet convicted. Example: Stan Lee’s X-Men is a popular comic book full of incredibly beautiful supermodels who also happen to have mutant abilities. It’s an allegorical lesson on how you should be nice to supermodels or they’ll melt your face off. Example: Phillip Roth’s The Plot Against America envisions an America where Charles Lindbergh became president and helped institute Nazi policies against American Jews. There are many kinds of science fiction • Some science fiction deals with unusual worlds that still seem familiar • Some science fiction deals with a futuristic society where things are either better or worse • Other science fiction looks at an ordinary world with an extraordinary individual(s). • Another subgenre looks at alternate histories—versions of history that never happened, but could have possibly occurred.

6. “Seriously! I’m totally coming for you! Invaders!” Authors developed a sub-genre of science fiction known as dystopian literature • Famous Dystopian Novels: • Brave New World • 1984 • Fahrenheit 451 • Dystopian literature shows how the corrective power of science has failed. An evil, dehumanized society is the result. • Dystopian literature taps into the fears of being overwhelmed or replaced by technology. • In a dystopia, science is corrupted, technology is out of control, and humans are either killed or turned into machines.