Monday, August 16, 2010

What Is Your Definition Of Science Fiction?

Robert A. Heinlein, author and critic:
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" (quoted by Knight in Bishop, Nebula Awards 25, 3).


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'" (as quoted in Atheling, More Issues, 12).


George Hay:
"Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction."

(Aforementioned quotes were borrowed from Dr. Agatha Taormina's web page): http://www.nvcc.edu/home/ataormina/beyond/

Which of these quotations aligns with your definition of Science Fiction? Please respond thoughtfully using references to class discussion, prior knowledge, science fiction literature, science fiction films, etc... Type using complete sentences. This blog response is due by 6th hour Friday, August 20, 2010.

29 comments:

  1. Theodore Sturgeon's quote most directly aligns with mine: Science fiction is a story that focuses on technology that we don't have at the present, and also studies the effects of the technology on the human race.

    I also find George Hay's quote interesting. Does his quote mean that people will believe what the library tells them is science fiction? Does his quote say that there are no boundaries to science fiction? If not, what are the boundaries? What influence does Frank Tousey's "The Frank Reade Library" and "Frank Reade Weekly Reader" have on Hay's statement, and even our own concepts of the Science Fiction genre?

    Just food for thought.

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  2. Robert A. Heinlein, author and critic:
    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" (quoted by Knight in Bishop, Nebula Awards 25, 3).


    This quote most depicts what I believe Science Ficition embodies. I believe that Science Fiction has a distinct element of realism which seperates it from Fantasy. Despite the similarities of my views vs Robert A. Heinlein I disagree with Science Fiction following solid knowledge but rather using it as an aid to develop an unrealistic/imaginative solution to the unknown.

    Is Science Fiction a more mature Scientifically based version of folk tales?

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  3. Robert A. Heinlein seems to have the quote which I seem to agree with the most.

    "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"

    Sci-Fi for the most part, tends to be based on a time period far more advanced than that of what we live in today. It's sense of realism present in the stories are what separates it from other stories that can be considered to be classified as fantasy.

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  4. The third definition is probably the one that aligns with my definition the most! I do not know that much about science fiction so I just rely on the libraries to mark it correctly for me! I also however, agree with the second definition. This is because I know that the Sci-Fi genre has alot to do with new and future science/technology.

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  5. I would have to agree with the second definition because in every science fiction story there are humans who are the protagonists and the opposing force that presents a human problem. These are the antagonists. And also in the story the humans come up with the solution making it the human solution. Sci-fi has a lot to do with the end of the human race. Apocalypse is a large topic in the Sci-fi story community and ultimately it is the humans that find a solution to stay free and alive. This proves the the first quote very much.

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  6. I agree with Theodore Sturgeon’s quote because almost every science fiction book I’ve read or movie I’ve watched has had a story based around some problem involving some advance technology that becomes a nuisance for the Main characters in one-way or another. So sometimes in Sci-fi stories technology or the way technology has made society becomes the antagonist for the hero(s), which they have to overcome eventually.

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  7. My definition of science fiction was most similar to the first quotation by Robert A. Heinlein. I said that Science friction was a scientific idea that was expanded by imagination.

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  8. My definition is most similar to Theodore Sturgeon's. I have thought up some sci-fi storylines, and they're pretty similar to this definition. They're about regular human beings in a situation relating to some high level technology (the science aspect)

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  9. My definition is most like George Hay's. I think science fiction is a work of fiction, thats story revolves around a scientific concept. For instance, we know we can travel into space, so Star Trek depicts the characters exploring space on a much larger scale than what is possible in reality as of yet.

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  10. I’m not going to lie, I think that George Hay’s quote, "Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked Science Fiction” best corresponds with my definition of Science Fiction. Now this is not saying that my definition won’t change, but I have never really been acquainted with Sci-Fi. The only Sci-Fi films that I’ve ever seen are Star Wars and Star Trek, and I know that these are not the only ones, yet it is all that I have been able to associate Sci-Fi with. Because of this, Sci-Fi hasn’t been very intriguing to me, yet hopefully, by taking this class, I will be able to better understand Sci-Fi and hopefully come to enjoy it.

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  11. My definition was similar to Theodore Sturgeon's definition.

    "'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'"

    This was similar to mine because I said that science fiction is where a normal human interacts with an advanced technology or extraterrestrial being that is unrealistic.

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  12. Hay's quote best describes my definition of science fiction. I have never really been into science fiction but I am willing to expand my walls and learn more about what science fiction and what it really is. I unfortunately have a stereo type for science fiction literature. I have always thought that it was to out of this world and that none of it would ever become reality. I am the kind of person that enjoys reading literature that applies to the real world and that could actually happen.

    By taking this class i hope to learn more about science fiction beyond the Star Wars movies I have seen.

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  13. Science fiction is a human’s one of a kind struggle with a twist that is usually a secret from society, while immersed in futuristic concepts and technology. My definition of science fiction aligns best with Theodore Sturgeon. His quotation reminded me of a movie called Gataca. It’s about an imperfect young man in a world of genetically perfected people who lies about his identity to become an astronaut. I think it is a perfect example of science fiction and a medium between the definition of Sturgeon and I.

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  14. I believe science fiction is best described by Robert A. Heinlein, because i believe stories should be imaginative and fun but also relate to a human audience. I have always enjoyed movies and stories on the post apocalyps, zombies and things of that nature so i think i will like this class.

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  15. Theodore Sturgeon's quote relates most with my understanding of what science fiction is. When society finds difficulty in the world, they think of what in the future will help them with these difficulties. Science fiction often describes a better world, and how else would this imaginary world with amazing new inventions be created without a basis of human problems. New inventions are created solely to help make one's life easier.

    I do not know much about science fiction, and it is certainly not my favorite form of literature. However, seeing how a genre of literature has impacted societies for centuries, is very interesting. This class I hope will help me understand more about the influential style of science fiction literature.

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  16. I agree with Theodore Sturgeon because most science fiction has atleast some sort of human aspect to it. I believe that science fiction books need human culture in it because that is the only way that the audience/reader can connect to the story that is being presented to them. Like in the "Star Wars Saga", C-3PO is like a big brother to R2-D2. He is always looking out for R2 and bosses him around, because a big brother is a part of human culture the viewers are able to get the comedy in the two robots. I truly can not think of any Science foction storys that have no relation to humans at all, that why I side with Sturgeon.

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  17. George Hay's definitley has the most powerful quote about Science Fiction. What he was trying to say was that Science Fiction can really be anything. The subject almost has no boundries, it just requires a little imagination.

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  18. I would have to say the first quote is closest to the way I would describe Science Fiction. I think that it is a way for humans to brainstorm ideas that are not yet possible with the current technology but could be possible in the future. The whole genre of writing is like writing what the future or a different time could realistically be like.

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  19. George Hay's definition aligns most with mine since I don't really like science fiction and don't know much about it.

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  20. Robert A. Heinlein's description of science fiction is the closest relatable depiction to the one i wrote in class the other day. Most of the stories i've read have futuristic technology or advanced weaponry like laser guns, light speed, space colonies, mind reading devices, etc., etc. and purely scietific.

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  21. 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" (quoted by Knight in Bishop, Nebula Awards 25, 3).

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  22. Robert A. Heinlein description of science fiction is the one I can relate to the most since the only thing I know about science fiction is based on what I've seen on Sci-Fi.

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  23. I would have to agree most with Heinlein because his description of science fiction most closely relates too mine. He is completely correct in saying that science fiction stories are a precursor to future events. Just like the in the Reade library stories the impossibilities can become a reality, its just a matter of time. Science fiction stories to me are fantasies with fact based logic behind it. It takes a brilliant yet somewhat insane mind to write science fiction.

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  24. Theodore Sturgeon's quote mostly aligns with my perception of science fiction. This is so because i believe through our separation from that which is human, such as technology and science we almost grow closer to our own humanity. Its through the alienation (no pun intended)that we experience when discovery rushes through our society, that almost forces us back into the desire to be compassionate, caring humans. This being said i think the most critical part of Sturgeon's quote is when he references a "human solution". It just emphasizes on the fact that we as a species have achieved so much through curiosity and we have to take responsibility for some of those mad ventures.

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  26. Robert A. Heinlein's definition of science fiction is closest to my beliefs, but not totally. I believe that it is "real speculations about possible future events", but I think that it is a stretch to say that it is that so scientifically based that its based on knowledge of the real world. Science Fiction's main role is to inspire us to look in areas of technology that we wouldn't look without dream like incentive. I think that the reason we are so recently seeing such great developments in robotics and other high tech stuff is that we are starting to see the effects of some of out scientists more realistic imaginations.

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  27. Robert A. Heinleins definition of science fiction is the closest to my definition. I think of science fiction as a made up story usually including unrealistic creatures. It is a fantasy in a way; it includes a good guy, the hero, and a bad guy. The things that occur in science fiction books and movie are based on things we already know of and what we imagine will happen based on this knowledge. To me science fiction is a realistic plot with a twist of unrealism.

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  28. I would have to agree most with the first deffinition by Robert Heinlein. His statement that science fiction is a prediction of the future based on current day events or past events that lead a human to be able to acuratly predict or portray the future in their own way. My idea of science fiction is that it is a story written by an individual in an atempt to acuratly portray a fantastic or fantasy based future. So, Heinlein's description and mine are the most closely related off the three options avalible.

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  29. I think I am in agreement with Robert A. Heinlein's definition of Science Fiction because he most accurately delineates the qualities of the Science Fiction genre. I think "realistic speculation about possible future events" are the key words which accentuate him from the other two authors.

    Ben Levy

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