Science Fiction

Starter Questions What is fantasy? What is science fiction? What does this quote mean? “ Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Arthur C. Clarke

What is fantasy?

What is science fiction?

What does this quote mean?

“ Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Arthur C. Clarke

Elements of Science Fiction Setting Future Alternative reality (e.g. “What if Hitler won WWII?”) Ahistorical past (e.g. “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.”) Outer space/involves aliens Story features advanced or fantastic technology

Setting

Future

Alternative reality (e.g. “What if Hitler won WWII?”)

Ahistorical past (e.g. “Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.”)

Outer space/involves aliens

Story features advanced or fantastic technology

Key Terms in Sci Fi Genres Hard science fiction Science fiction fantasy Science fiction horror Science fiction mystery Military science fiction Space opera Cyberpunk Steam punk Themes ETs/little green men First contact Robots Artificial intelligence Space wars Time travel Utopia Dystopia

Genres

Hard science fiction

Science fiction fantasy

Science fiction horror

Science fiction mystery

Military science fiction

Space opera

Cyberpunk

Steam punk

Themes

ETs/little green men

First contact

Robots

Artificial intelligence

Space wars

Time travel

Utopia

Dystopia

Pop SciFi vs. Hard SciFi Popular Science Fiction More fantastic; doesn’t follow the laws of physics Example: there are sounds in space Action-oriented instead of mystery-oriented Example: human beings fighting aliens More common in movies Hard Science Fiction Follows scientific knowledge closely Example: space travel takes a long time Mystery-oriented instead of action-oriented Example: uncovering a lost alien civilization More common in novels

Popular Science Fiction

More fantastic; doesn’t follow the laws of physics

Example: there are sounds in space

Action-oriented instead of mystery-oriented

Example: human beings fighting aliens

More common in movies

Hard Science Fiction

Follows scientific knowledge closely

Example: space travel takes a long time

Mystery-oriented instead of action-oriented

Example: uncovering a lost alien civilization

More common in novels

Science Fiction Writers

Mary Shelley Early 19 th century English writer Wrote Frankenstein She was a Romantic, and warned about the dangers of science A “Frankenstein monster” is an idiom for science out of control

Early 19 th century English writer

Wrote Frankenstein

She was a Romantic, and warned about the dangers of science

A “Frankenstein monster” is an idiom for science out of control

Jules Verne Late 19 th century French writer called the “Father of Science Fiction” Wrote about many technologies before they were invented: nuclear power, space travel, submarines, air conditioning, automobiles, and global communications

Late 19 th century French writer called the “Father of Science Fiction”

Wrote about many technologies before they were invented:

nuclear power, space travel, submarines, air conditioning, automobiles, and global communications

Notable Works by Jules Verne Journey to the Center of the Earth From the Earth to the Moon Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Around the World in Eighty Days

Journey to the Center of the Earth

From the Earth to the Moon

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Around the World in Eighty Days

H.G. Wells Early 20th century English writer Also called “The Father of Science Fiction” Predicted the European Union, genetics, atomic bombs

Early 20th century English writer

Also called “The Father of Science Fiction”

Predicted the European Union, genetics, atomic bombs

Notable Works by H.G. Wells The Time Machine The Invisible Man The Island of Dr. Moreau The War of the Worlds

The Time Machine

The Invisible Man

The Island of Dr. Moreau

The War of the Worlds

Isaac Asimov 20th century Russian-American scientist and science fiction author Considered the greatest science-fiction author of the 20th century Novels focused on future history and robotics and featured rational thought

20th century Russian-American scientist and science fiction author

Considered the greatest science-fiction author of the 20th century

Novels focused on future history and robotics and featured rational thought

Asimov’s “Three Laws of Robotics” Asimov’s stories on robots introduce three laws to control robot behaviors One: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Two: A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Asimov’s stories on robots introduce three laws to control robot behaviors

One: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

Two: A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Arthur C. Clarke 20th century British science fiction author Inventor of the communications satellite Topics include space stations, space elevators, first contact between humans and aliens, and the future evolution of humanity

20th century British science fiction author

Inventor of the communications satellite

Topics include space stations, space elevators, first contact between humans and aliens, and the future evolution of humanity

Space Elevator A space elevator is an idea found in Clarke’s science fiction It’s a large wire that stretches into space and works like an elevator to take things up and down It would make space travel much easier

A space elevator is an idea found in Clarke’s science fiction

It’s a large wire that stretches into space and works like an elevator to take things up and down

It would make space travel much easier

Notable Works by Arthur C. Clarke 2001: A Space Odyssey 2010: Odyssey II Childhood’s End Rama

2001: A Space Odyssey

2010: Odyssey II

Childhood’s End

Rama

Robert A. Heinlein 20th century American science fiction writer Wrote military science fiction or hard science fiction, some for children and some for adults Common themes Individualism Future history “ World as Myth”

20th century American science fiction writer

Wrote military science fiction or hard science fiction, some for children and some for adults

Common themes

Individualism

Future history

“ World as Myth”

Notable Works by Robert A. Heinlein Starship Troopers The Moon is a Harsh Mistress Stranger in a Strange Land The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Starship Troopers

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

Stranger in a Strange Land

The Cat Who Walks Through Walls

Michael Crichton Late 20th century American author and movie director Writer of hard science fiction or “technothrillers” Main theme is the development of advanced science that gets out of control

Late 20th century American author and movie director

Writer of hard science fiction or “technothrillers”

Main theme is the development of advanced science that gets out of control

Notable Works by Michael Crichton The Andromeda Strain Congo Jurassic Park Timeline Prey Next

The Andromeda Strain

Congo

Jurassic Park

Timeline

Prey

Next

Science Fiction Films

Recommended Films The Day the Earth Stood Still Forbidden Planet 2001: A Space Odyssey Planet of the Apes Soylent Green Star Wars Close Encounters of the Third Kind Alien The Road Warrior Blade Runner ET Jurassic Park Gattaca The Matrix I, Robot The Prestige Children of Men

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Forbidden Planet

2001: A Space Odyssey

Planet of the Apes

Soylent Green

Star Wars

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Alien

The Road Warrior

Blade Runner

ET

Jurassic Park

Gattaca

The Matrix

I, Robot

The Prestige

Children of Men