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 2:30p.m. on Monday, January 12th, 2015.
I believe that the quote by Theodore Sturgeon best represents my views of science fiction. A common genre in literature is dystopian societies that tackle fundamental issues with human culture or existence and try to bring light to these problems. Using science roots the story in reality and makes it seem foreign yet believable at the same time enticing readers. Films like Avatar confront environmental issues while stories like the giver state the importance of human nature while addressing its downfalls. Science fiction is used to confront issues present in modern society through an art form that can make individuals care about and appreciate what they have currently.
ReplyDeleteI believe the quote by Robert A. Heinlein offers the best example of what Science fiction truly is. Science fiction is actuality mixed with fantasy. This offers such a diverse genre of material and content when referring to science fiction, the options of what could be written about are seemingly endless.
ReplyDeleteI believe the quote by Robert A. Heinlein best describes what science fiction really is. We constantly see that science fiction accurately predicts or demonstrates events and principals that show up after the fact. Even though some may disregard science fictions merit as a serious form of literature, the valuable lessons that can be taught by it cannot be ignored. We can learn from science fiction to help influence our future for the better.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI feel like George Hay's quotation aligns best with my definition of science fiction. What defines a piece of fiction as science fiction is subjective. The fact that there are 3 differing quotations trying to define science fiction is proof of this. The class being asked what science fiction is, is also proof that what defines science fiction is subjective. If I found a piece of fiction marked as science fiction, there would be no reason why that would be incorrect.
ReplyDeleteThe quote by Robert A. Heinlein is more fitted to my definition of Science Fiction. I view Science Fiction as advancements due to scientific advances and technological developments that is close to grasp. Science Fiction is the fuel of our imaginations and the source of our favorite imaginary worlds.
ReplyDeleteGeorge Hay's comment on Science Fiction is different view on what I believe. I believe that Science Fiction could possibly be the best window in to how the future societies would look, maybe not on such a grand scale like in the books but close to that. It can also be the fact well Science fiction can't be defined as one specific thing because everybody has there views on what could be true and false.
ReplyDeleteThe quote by Thomas Sturgeon best fits what I believe Science Fiction to be because I view a lot of it as little more than just some bit of imagination. I think one of the scariest things about reading science fiction is the fact that you can see our world in a lot of the works that can be read. While some of them are extremes, others depict worlds that could very easily be futuristic depictions of our world today.
ReplyDeleteThe quote by Robert A. Heinlein is probably the view that would correspond most directly with my views on science fiction, though each of the quotes separately I could agree with. I believe that science fiction is knowledgeable speculation that people could derive solutions from, even if the place or time spoken of has not yet come to pass. Heinlein described the importance of science fiction taking knowledge from the past and present in order to be created, and that is something that I very much agree with in order for a science fiction book or story to be worth reading.
ReplyDeleteThe quote I most strongly agree with is Robert A. Heinlein's. Without authors hypothesizing about the technology of the future, many science fiction novels would have no point in being written.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Heinlein's argument the most because science is based on facts and facts are how people perceive and anticipate our world. I believe that the science part of "science fiction" is where all of the facts from the past and present are brought up. Such as issues in the world and our government, but to an exaggerated point. The fiction part is not that "make-believe" part, but rather the possibility of something. If someone were to look at the facts of recurring or occurring events, then they could predict something that could potentially happen in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe quote by Theodore Sturgeon aligns most with my beliefs. It shows how Science Fiction stories really aren't that different from most. It's about normal people with their own problems. However, the excitement comes from a unique plot twist involving science which is in every different story. My definition of the genre is exactly that, a story with a scientific related twist. These two ideas are connected in several ways and it is supported in all four types of sci-fi we looked at in class.
ReplyDeleteI would agree with George Hay's quote because the one before that defines soft science fiction, and the first defines hard science fiction. I truly believe that science fiction is only what you label it as. Sometimes science fiction blends with other genres and the lines between fantasy and science fiction often blur but that is truly the fun of it. Science fiction is such a broad topic because it's based on things that have not or have not yet happened, such as the future or the change of the past. The possibilities what could happen are best when rooted in facts that we have currently but to put it simply, things change!!
ReplyDeleteI belive that the quote by Robert A. Heinlein best fits science fiction because with what you first think about when you here the term is just thinking about the future and what is to come. when i personally think about it I think of futuristic societies and robots and things of that nature. And also when you think of the future it is mostly imagination that builds off something of actuality. So I belive that science fiction is the thought of future and things to come.
ReplyDeleteRobert A. Heinlein is the closest to definition to mine. I think science fiction uses scientific theories and current inventions to predict possible advances in science. I am sure that many scientific invention have obtained their ideas from science fiction and vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI concur most with Robert A. Heinlein's statement. I believe that science fiction is an idea that turns in to a possibility and somethings turns into a reality. We use knowledge of the past and the future to determine how far we can push technology to advance further and strengthen our way of life.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of Science Fiction best fits with George Hay's definition, "Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction." I don't really read nor know a lot about Science Fiction.
ReplyDelete#2 not only does it describe sci fi but if you remove that last little bit it would explain good stories in general.
ReplyDelete#3 because to me science fiction is only a story that is in almost every book mostly never has a point that makes sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement said by Knight in Bishop. The story does a great job in demonstrating that science fiction does not have to be something based off of something created now it can be something that is not yet created. The quote also points at the fact that science fiction is not fake until otherwise proven.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Theodore Sturgeon’s idea that science fiction holds many humanistic problems and they get solved by using new technologies and advancements. Even the robots and aliens have problems that a human might have. This shows in I, ROBOT when a robot gains feelings and helps save the world due to having those feelings.
ReplyDelete