Sci-Fi Book Clubs +
Research
Yeah. This is going to be sweet.
The basics.
 You will pick one of 5
novels + the corresponding
research topic.
 You need to choose your
novel and get it approved!
 Max of 7 people per book!
 Then get the book ASAP!
 You will have 7 quizzes on
the book + an interview with
me about the book.
 You will also read +
annotate 4 research articles
 You will watch a movie.
 Your group will make a
presentation to the rest of
us.
This will be fun! Don’t worry!
 Yes, you have to read a
book.
 But it will be a good book!
 Yes, you have to do
research.
 But you don’t have to write
a paper! You’ll work with
the other people who read
that book to make a fun
presentation for the class!
 Yes, you have to watch a
movie.
 But you get to watch a
cool movie for points!
The choices:
Book ONE: The Time
Traveler’s Wife
The Time Traveler’s Wife +
Researching Time Travel
 What if, for some reason, you
couldn’t control when you were in
time?
 Henry has a genetic disorder: he
gets “unstuck” in time and
randomly disappears/shows up in a
different time and place.
 Naked.
 With no idea how long he’ll be
there (wherever there happens to
be).
 What if you fell in love with
someone who had this “condition?”
 NOTE: This is a Science Fiction
ROMANCE!
WARNING!
 Although this is a great book that I imagine many of you
would like, I’m uncomfortable assigning it due to its adult
nature (the sex scenes are very graphic).
 I will need a signed parent permission slip from everyone
who wants to read it.
 The permission slip is necessary to avoid a potential
complaint from a parent (I really don’t want to deal with this).
 PS: No, I will not be quizzing you on the sex scenes. In fact,
I’d feel better if you just “skipped” them. Honestly.
 Also, this is the longest book of the bunch. If you’re going to
read it, you might want to start early!
The Research: Time Travel
Theories about how time travel
might work/be possible.
Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Wormholes (and their relation to
time travel).
Theories about what would happen
if someone went back in time and
changed something/if past events
can be changed.
Parallel worlds/universes + String
Theory.
Watch a Time Travel Film:
Back to the Future
The Time Machine
Terminator
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Timeline
12 Monkeys
The Source Code
Quantum Leap (TV show) =
watch any 2 episodes
Book TWO: Brave New World
Brave New World & a few short stories
+ Research predictions about the
future, future technology, etc.
 The future is an odd place.
 People are not born: they are grown.
They are “conditioned” to be either a
leader, worker, etc.
 Their ways are not our ways—drugs
and random sex are the norm. It is
considered strange not to sleep with a
lot of people or take a lot of drugs.
 Bernard goes to a reservation that is a
“natural state.” He brings a “native”
into the future society.
 The various reactions are telling of
human nature, our society, etc.
 NOTE: This book is kind of short, so
you will also read a few short stories
as a supplement.
The Research: The future
What new technology do scientists believe
will exist in 20 years, 50 years, 100 years?
Why do they think so?
How could these future inventions affect
us/our society/the world?
Current “scientific doomsday” scenarios
(how the world might end)
Theories about how technology can “hurt”
us.
Theories about how current politics,
environmental issues, or crises might
change the world we live in.
How society may change in the future,
who says so, and why.
Watch a future or dystopia film:
1984
Children of Men
Equilibrium
V for Vendetta
Minority Report
Waterworld
The Fifth Element
Book THREE: The Demolished
Man
The Demolished Man & a graphic
novel + Researching Super
Powers.
 Telepaths exist. In order to keep society
working and normals happy, telepaths
“police” themselves by making sure that
no telepath reads people’s minds
without their permission. . .
 Unless a telepath happens to “over
hear” a murder plot. If that happens, the
telepath must inform the police and help
prevent the murder.
 But what if you want to get away with
murder? How can you do it in a society
where people can read your every
thought?
 What if the police detective assigned to
the case is a telepath?
 This is an Action Sci-Fi story in which
you almost want the bad guy to win and
kill somebody.
 NOTE: We have copies of this book
because it is currently out of print!
Graphic Novel
 Since this novel is a bit
shorter than the others, you
must ALSO read an
approved graphic novel that
has something to do with
the research topic: Super
Powers.
 This does NOT have to be
a super-hero graphic novel.
 I can make suggestions
based on your own
interests.
Research: Super
Powers/abilities
The possibility of super human
powers, enhanced senses,
incredible abilities, etc.
 ESP
 Telepathy
 Telekinesis
 Precognition
 Amazing feats of strength,
agility, etc.
Experimentation on people to
create a “master race” or
anything else.
Watch a “Human Potential/SuperPower” film
Minority Report
X-Men
V for Vendetta
Jumper
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Phenomenon
Spider-Man
Limitless
Captain America
Book FOUR: Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park+ Researching
Genetic Engineering.
 Scientists and Entertainers
team-up to clone dinosaurs
for a zoo. What could
possibly go wrong?
 This is a griping, very
tense, sometimes gory,
action science fiction novel.
Not for the squeamish.
 This is a great novel and
great example of how
science experiments can go
too far, causing a lot of
harm.
 NOTE: The book differs
significantly from the film.
Research: Genetic Engineering &
Cloning.
What have we successfully
cloned? How was this done?
What can we do (or hope to
do) by way of genetic
engineering? What benefits
are there/might there be in
our lifetimes?
Why is human cloning
illegal?
What ethical and/or religious
issues are connected to this
topic?
Watch a film about genetic
engineering/cloning
Frankenstein (any version)
The Island
The 6th Day
Avatar
Gattaca
Jurassic Park (any movie)
Book FIVE: Old Man’s War
Old Man’s War + Researching
space travel, aliens, etc.
 On his 75th birthday, John
Perry joined the army, went
off world, got a new body,
and began fighting to
defend Earth and human
colonists on other planets.
 It’s a great deal. A new
chance at life . . . For the
few who survive.
 This is a cool action sci-fi
book with plenty of
interesting aspects and a
lot of combat.
Research: Space Travel, life on
other worlds, aliens, UFOs, etc.
 Current theories about how
manned interstellar space travel
might work, problems to
overcome, etc.
 What scientists think about life
on other worlds.
 What scientists think about
intelligent life on other worlds.
 SETI
 UFO sightings + alien abduction
stories.
Watch an alien/space travel film
Men in Black
Predator
Superman (1978)
Alien
Contact
Paul
2001: A Space Odyssey
Star Trek (1978)
E.T.
Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind
I am Number 4
Green Lantern
Independence Day
Now . . . Choose!