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-bystep 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 commonlyaccepted 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 B
An 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’s
Also 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’s
In 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’s
Batman (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-nuclearholocaust 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’s
Total 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 Revolutions
The Cell
Spiderman
Men in Black 1&2
Pitch Black
Minority Report
Signs
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 roleplaying
Introduces students to a new literary genre
Teaches lessons about the value and
dangers of advanced technology
Enhances imagination