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Where to begin
about science fiction? No, really. There is so much of it out there, in so
many different varieties, I can only say that I know very little about the
specifics of it. I am acquainted with, I believe, none of it. No Asimov, no
Heinlein, no nothin'. No! Wait. I did read Dean Koontz's Watchers when
I was in junior high, and I remember it to be an enjoyable read. As is my
duty, however, I must report that the film adaptation starring Cory Haim was
not as good as the book.
Gratefully the fine folks at Wikipedia
know a hell of a lot about it, so I'll jump in head first from there. (This
is also where you jump in as well.) According to the Wikis,
science fiction is a form of speculative fiction upon which the impact of
science on people and society, whether real or imagined, is examined. Taken
directly from Wikipedia,
it follows something like this:
- The impact of imagined
science [on stuff]
- The imagined impact
of actual science [on stuff]
- Imagined technology
based on actual science
- Imagined technology
based on imagined science
- The impact of science
and/or technology upon imagined societies
- The impact of science
and/or technology upon imagined individuals
I think Watchers,
which, if memory serves, revolves around government breeding of superdogs,
may actually be The Impact of Imagined Science and/or Technology upon Real
Individuals, but that's beside the point.
A discussion of classics seems
as fair a starting point as any. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, seemingly a
pioneer in a lot of forms of fiction, certainly utilizes science as the backdrop
of her threat. It should be noted, however, that apparent in her work is the
Victorian backlash against the great scientific advancements of the Enlightment,
which included a detachment from the church as well. So no wonder. Science
is worth worrying about. Same goes for Stevenson's The Strange Case of Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: Look what will happen to you if you take science too
far. You will bloat and grow a lot of hair.
Science fiction is, though, a
breeding ground for big minds, allowing authors to scan their seemingly unlimited
imaginations across thousands of pages, all while making a good living at
the same time. The stuff science fiction authors come up with to me is amazing,
the crazy ideas they reach toward, considering that I can't even imagine how
to balance my check book let alone actually do it. I understand that a suspension
of belief is often necessary with these books, particularly those that offer
a completely alternate scientific world. I would recommend that if the writing
is good, you should follow along, going where the author takes you, but stay
away from other readers who have a ready definition of a parsec handy. They
are nerds and should be avoided.
Likewise, it allows the stories
of beloved science fiction films and TV series to live on way past their primes.
The Star Wars books are a good example. Even I was sucked into the novelization
of Episode I, having been so giddy at the prospect of a new Star Wars film.
I don't remember any of it, and I don't think I'd remember anything from any
of the books written in between. Star Trek, which enjoys convention as well
as publishing success, produces similarly forgettable books, keeping Starfleet
alive while proving Shatner to be even more an evil genius than before.
I'm afraid that your dear editor
has not been able to offer you much here, except that if you have an interest
in science and what it could maybe do, perhaps pick up William Gibson (Neuromancer),
Italo Calvino (Cosmicomics), Phillip K. Dick (We Can Build You), or
the science fiction standard bearer, Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange
Land. Asimov's a pretty heavy hitter in the genre, although I hear he's
difficult to get through. Michael Crichton's pretty popular as well, although
I'm not sure he's strictly science fiction. I am sure, though, that the man
can't write. So don't try him first.
From here I entreat, nay, beg
you, my dear readers to help flesh this out. I know there's much more to science
fiction, but I don't know enough to treat it well. Help! -ed.
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