Honors English

Introduction to Science Fiction

What is Science Fiction?Science fiction is a writing style which combines science and fiction.

It is constrained by what we presently regard as the basic physical laws of nature.

It evolved as a response to fantasy.

Sci Fi Author’s Definitions

Theodore Sturgeon, author:"'A good science-fiction story is a

story about human beings, with a human problem, and a human solution, which would not have happened at all without its science content'"

Robert A. Heinlein, author:  

Science fiction is "realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method"

Sam Moskowitz, fan and biographer:  

"Science fiction is a brand of fantasy identifiable by the fact that it eases the 'willing suspension of disbelief' on the part of its readers by utilizing an atmosphere of scientific credibility for its imaginative speculations in physical science, space, time, social science, and philosophy"

The first true science fiction novel was Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.

She used a scientific rationale to persuade the reader that her story took place in the realm of the possible.

Frankenstein was the first novel in English to deal with the possibility that science will create a monster that can destroy science, and possibly mankind.Mary Shelley did not wish the story to be considered "supernatural" She made the main character a scientist and his scientific efforts a focal point of the reader's attention.

In mood the novel is a tale of terror, in plot a laboratory experiment gone awry.The fusion of Gothic materials and science in this novel brought the tale of terror clearly into the stream of science fiction and also gave it a more credible base.If not the first science fiction novel, Frankenstein is at least the first novel that showed what a science fiction novel would be (James Gunn).

Remember: Writers take scientific possibilities and develop them step-by-step from known data to form a story.

What is Extrapolation?

Extrapolation is when a writer takes a known scientific fact and imagines what might happen if certain events or circumstances evolve.

Ie: Man can build space shuttles.

Man can travel to faraway planets.

Science Fiction VS. Fantasy

In Science Fiction, there needs to be some possibility that the events could possibly happen.

In Fantasy, the author can use far-fetched assumptions. ie; unicorns, three-legged creatures etc.

A Handbook to Literature defines science fiction as: "A form of fantasy in which scientific facts, assumptions, or hypotheses form the basis, by logical extrapolation, of adventures in the future, on other planets, in other dimensions in time, or under new variants of scientific law" (Holman).

The same Handbook defines fantasy as "a work which takes place in a nonexistent and unreal world, such as fairyland, or concerns incredible and unreal characters. . . or employs physical and scientific principles not yet discovered or contrary to present experience as in science fiction and utopian fiction" (Holman).

Miriam Allen deFord explains the difference more succinctly: "'Science fiction deals with improbable possibilities, fantasy with plausible impossibilities" (Aldiss 26).

  It is a common science fiction

convention that authors should not contradict known scientific fact (e.g., humans flying without on their own without the use of devices), but may do what they wish with commonly-accepted scientific theory (e.g., humans flying to distant planets in a space shuttle).

The author of fantasy does not feel such restraints.

Major Themes in Science Fiction

Space travel to and from other planets (ie: Star Wars, Star Trek)

Time travel to the past and future (ie: Back to the Future)

Psychological/biological changes to man brought about by scientific changes(ie: The Incredible Hulk)

Supernormal powers/talents

(ie: Superman, Spiderman, Batman)

Science applied to human relations for constructive or destructive purposes

(ie: Weird Science)

Battle with alien life forms

(ie: Signs)

Alternate Universe

(ie: Star Wars)

Plot Conventions of Science Fiction

Examples of Story Ideas:

The Last Man/Woman on Earth

The Robot

The First Landing Story

Time Travel

The Alternate World

The Lost Civilization

The Alien Encounter

The Colonization of a New Planet

The End of the World

The Long Spaceship Voyage

The Computer

From the point of view of an alien

Sci Fi in the Movies

Even before talkies, science fiction made its mark on film:A Trip to the Moon (1902) by the Frenchman Georges Melies

Metropolis (1926) by the German Fritz Lang, the first classic science fiction film

In the 1930s several great classic films were produced:

Frankenstein (1931), with Boris Karloff, followed by endless sequels and remakes, Invisible Man (1933), starring Claude Rains, from the novel by H.G. Wells

Things to Come (1936) from the screenplay by H.G. Wells and based on his novel The Shape of Things to Come. This is the first great sound picture in the field and the first film to show a utopian future that includes the promise of space flight.

Two prominent serials of the era are Flash Gordon (1936) and Buck Rogers (1939).

HE FIFTIES BAn estimated 500 feature films and shorts that can be classified science fiction were made between 1948 and 1962.Science fiction really began to proliferate on film after the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. This event prompted a rash of after-the-bomb and alien invasion films.  1950sDestination Moon (1950), is a pseudodocumentary based on Robert A. Heinlein's juvenile novel Rocketship Galileo.The Thing (1951), based on John W. Campbell's short story "Who Goes There?," features James Arness as a fearsome, defrosted alien carrot; the film was remade in 1982.

Sci Fi Movies in the ’60’sAlso in 1960 came The Time Machine, starring Rod Taylor, from the novel by H. G. Wells.  Stanley Kramer made another foray into science fiction in 1964 with Dr. Strangelove;

Love the Bomb. This dark comedic satire of nuclear war features Peter Sellars.  Fahrenheit 451 (1966) stars Oskar Werner in François Truffaut's film of the Ray Bradbury novel. 

Sci Fi Movies in the 70’sIn 1977 the debut of Star Wars sparked a revitalization of science fiction. Due to the huge success of this film, the market for and interest in science fiction as film and as literature skyrocketed into the stratosphere again, rejuvenating and expanding the entire field.Star Wars (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) comprise the middle trilogy of a projected three-trilogy cycle of films by George Lucas, based in part on Joseph Campbell's The Hero With a Thousand Faces.

The long-awaited first trilogy began with The Phantom Menace in 1999; Ewan MacGregor plays the young Obi Wan Kenobi. In its sequel Attack of the Clones (2002) Hayden Christiansen plays Anakin Skywalker who will become Darth Vader. Filming started on the third film in this trilogy in 2003.Lucas has no current plans to develop the third trilogy.

Movies in the 80’sBatman (1989) is a stylish telling of the story of the Caped Crusader (Michael Keaton); unfortunately Jack Nicholson dominated as The Joker.The sequel Batman Returns is memorable for appearances by the Penquin (Danny DeVito) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).Batman Forever features a new Caped Crusader (Val Kilmer), the debut of sidekick Robin and villains played by Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey.Batman and Robin (1997) stars George Clooney as Batman, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Mr. Freeze, and Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy. Alicia Silverstone debuts as Batgirl.

Blade Runner (1982) is Ridley Scott's stylish film of Philip K. Dick's novel, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? A director's cut (1992) clarified the nature of the film's major character.The Road Warrior (1982) is the second and best of the Mad Max films about a post-nuclear-holocaust world. E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), another blockbuster from Steven Spielberg, was reissued with new footage for its 20th anniversary in 2002. The Terminator (1984) is a James Cameron film featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as a killing machine of the future; the sequel Terminator 2 (1991) picks up where the first film left off. A third film, T3: Rise of the Machines, was released in 2003.

Sci Fi Movies in the 90’sTotal Recall (1990), another Schwarzenegger vehicle, is loosely based on Philip K. Dick's short story, "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale."Edward Scissorhands (1993) is a Frankenstein take-off.Timecop (1994) became a television series as did Stargate (1994).Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994) was directed by and stars Kenneth Branaugh as Victor. Robert de Niro plays the Monster.Independence Day (1996), a wildly-patriotic film, also turned out to be eerily prophetic in the wake of 9/11.

Several major films came out in 1997:Men in Black Contact, based on a novel by Carl Sagan

Starship Troopers, based on the novel by Robert A. Heinlein. Face/Off, a fantasy thriller about stolen identities directed by John Woo

Sci Fi Movies Today

What are some famous science fiction movies in this decade?Matrix, Matrix Reloaded, Matrix RevolutionsThe CellSpidermanMen in Black 1&2Pitch BlackMinority ReportSigns

Roles of Characters

Hero – Often reluctant

Side-kick – Usually accompanies the hero.

Female Roles usually limited to a complicating role or love interest.

Plot/Story Line

A problem in present to be solved by going back in time.

What began as an easy mission becomes complicated by love interest or difficult choice the hero must make.

Choice usually threatens integrity of future time streams.

Examples of Time Machines

Dr. Who’s Time Machine

Examples of Time Machines

The Time Traveler’s Time Machine

Examples of Time Machines

Back to the Future

Examples of Time Machines

Napoleon Dynamite

Examples of Time Machines

Bill and Ted’s

Examples of a Time Machine

Click

Why should we study Science Fiction?

Entertaining

Makes the audience wonder “What If?”

Encourages creativity in writing and role-playing

Introduces students to a new literary genre

Teaches lessons about the value and dangers of advanced technology

Enhances imagination