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 Friday, August 25th, 2017.
"'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).
ReplyDeleteThe second quote by Theodore Sturgeon is the one I most identify with when I think of science fiction. Although I don’t read a lot of science fiction I do watch a lot of movies that have to do with it, and I read a fair amount of dystopian novels which usually are a subset of science fiction. Everything from the Hunger Games to Matched to The Red Queen has some aspect of science fiction, usually hidden in the background of the story. A book I’ve read that actually is pure science fiction is Ender’s Game, a novel in which the plot is both plausible in its human aspects but not in the technology that is utilized. The idea of war with space aliens or a giant battle school is far-fetched in our time, but with the human desire to find out what lurks in space, perhaps isn’t entirely impossible for our descendents. The problems that the protagonist faces in science fiction are human problems, albeit ones for humans living in a world very different from our own. But they still make sense; the idea of humans meeting a much more intelligent race and then trying to fight them is entirely plausible, maybe inevitable. And because as a human race we are rather resourceful, it makes perfect sense for those protagonist to enlist the help of the technology that got them into that mess, to escape the consequences they face.
Science fiction is most definitely what you find on the shelves under science fiction, but i do not agree with the fact that 'science fiction is human beings, with human problems and human solutions' because some of the best science fiction writers do not use human based stories whatsoever
ReplyDeleteI agree with the definition given by Robert A. Heinlein. What comes to my mind as science fiction is for example the Jurassic Park movie/book. In this series, the story is based on dinosaurs that did exist in the past, but are brought back to life using science. However, we know that current science is not able to do this (fiction). The idea is that this would be possible in the future though, but the truth is that most of people currently think that the method used in the movie would never work.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Theodore Sturgeons definition because Science fiction is all about how there is a problem and people try to figure out ways to solve it. This is also how I would describe science fiction because for an example there are things like hover boards in back to the future and this will help people to figure out a newer and possibly safer way to skate.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robert A. Heinlein because he mentions that science fiction is not a confirmed fact but theories often have some sort of explanation to how they got the theories. Each theory was reached by using real world examples, beliefs and the scientific method used to gather information to make the theory possibly realistic.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction most aligns with Theodore Sturgeon’s quote, “‘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)”. When I think of science fiction, space plays a factor, which can be connected to Star Wars or Ender’s Game. Space is one of the main ideas that science fiction incorporated in the genre. This specific genre has stories that all have a futuristic element merged into the story line. Sturgeon’s quote demonstrates how all science fiction stories need a part of science that in the present time no one understands. The Hunger Games has the capital that has amazing technology, The Divergent Series also has aspects that at the moment no one has made public. This quote shows that the futuristic science also can go against the rise of humanity. It may seem out of this generation’s element, but science fiction can become possible.
ReplyDeleteMy science fiction definition would most likely align with Theodore Sturgeon's quote, “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." I think that this quote aligns with my definition most because most of the past and present ideas that seemed impossible happened with science. Even present ideas could be a thing with the help of science. I find it interesting that something you think couldn't possibly become a thing, may actually happen. Now not everything about science fiction could happen, but there is a good chance a percentage created could actually be something in the future.
ReplyDeleteMy interpretation of science fiction most like Robert A. Heinlein because he describes it using a sort of definition that makes a lot of sense. Science fiction books are the books about the people going to space and discovering worlds and meeting new sentient beings on other planets and other things like that which are not possible today but sometime in the future they may be. It states that science fiction is an educated guess on what the future could be like and what it could hold. It is not like a fantasy where anything can go. It is largely based in facts and things that might seem impossible but may not be. A lot of popular Science Fiction is based in space and space travel with technology far beyond our today that makes life easier for future humans but also raises many problems. He kind of addresses this when he mentions the scientific method which makes tells me that he is really addressing the science part of Science Fiction.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction would be the quote by Theodore Sturgeon "'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'". I haven't read a whole lot of science fiction besides the hunger games but from the movies I have watched I notice the impossible being accomplished by scientific improvent years beyond our technology now. And an imagination only those who wish to see a change in this world could think about. The advancement of science fiction could very well mean the advancement of science as we know it.
ReplyDeleteMy personal definition of science fiction most aligns with the second quote by Theodore Sturgeon that stated
ReplyDelete"'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). Science fiction to me has always been about solving problems and looking into the future to see what solving those problems would do. Such as in The Giver when we solved the problems of overpopulation, war, and famine to name a few, but at a cost of losing individuality and true feelings. This, although not exactly what Mr. Sturgeon was saying, relates the closest to it because in his quote he talks about the human problems and human solutions being a big part of science fiction. This is very close to my definition in which I talk about playing out the solving of problems and seeing how it would affect the future.
I would Identify with George Hay's quote "Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction." I believe this only because there are so many definitions of science fiction out there. There are some that involve true science and others that are theoretical. People can come up with very different ideas and different approaches yet it all will go on that science fiction shelf.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction most closely resembles quote number three by George Hay. "Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction." Science Fiction to me has infinite definitions. Every book, movie, or piece of literature changes the definition Science Fiction and makes you start to question science. It makes you question science because it makes you think of how if this thing were to happen or become real on how it will slowly remove the human element from earth and its objects. But to me the definition of Science fiction all depends on how you answer this one question, Are you more afraid that there could be life that is unlike ours or are you more afraid that could be no other life except here on earth.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction lines up mostly with George Hay’s definition, which is, “Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in a library marked science fiction.” I agree with this because your own definition depends on who you are and your opinions, but this definition categorizes all of it. As long as it’s in the science fiction category in the library, it’s probably a science fiction novel.
ReplyDeleteIn my rather limited exposure to science fiction material, I’ve always found it to be based on real events or on speculations of the future. This makes me feel that the most accurate description of the genre is the one that was brought up during the Nebula Awards. Some of the sci-fi stories I’ve read didn’t even have an entirely human cast, thus leading me to disagree with the second quote. I also feel that every genre has too many special qualities to be just “what you find on the shelves in the library.”
ReplyDeleteScience 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).
ReplyDeleteMy definition is practically this one because my definition is A story based on possible science discovers or inventions but is written in the future time.
"'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).
ReplyDeleteThis quote is what I think the definition of science fiction is most realistically described as. From early science fiction, authors have always relied on futuristic but also realistic ideas of what inventions might be able to come to life. They made it so that it fit into humanization because without humanization, science fiction would be too unrealistic to enjoy. Through the years, these inventions and ideas come to life and they turn science fiction into a race where each author has to make each story/ movie greater than the last one. Good science fiction truly is a story about humans and the future as well as realistic inventions in the future. The science behind the movies of course will be rough to figure out, but isn't that what makes Science Fiction great to watch? It is great to read and watch because of its unpredictability and its very real connection to humanity itself. Without its science content, is it really science fiction? So that quote is what defines science fiction best to me.
Science fiction can be described as a theme or type of media of happenings beyond what has been discovered thus far in technology, space, and more.The quote, "Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction," said by George Hay relates to me most in what science fiction is because Science fiction is absolutley endless its not really a classical theme such as drama or comedy, science fiction changes with the times so the idea of it right now is only what has been created where science fiction could look completely different in 10 or even 5 years.
ReplyDeleteI would agree most with the definition of "Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction." Science fiction doesn't have a true definition. There are too many types of science fiction to narrow the whole genre down to explain it in a few sentences. It also changes with the times and with what the public is interested in. I feel that the definition in the quote can apply to any kind of science fiction text or motion picture because it changes with the times and types of sci-fi and doesn't narrow it down to a single set definition.
ReplyDeleteI would say that a good science-fiction is a human problem with a human solution. This is important to get the reader hooked, because they might be able to relate in some way to the story. But a lot of times science-fiction does not have a human problem or a human solution, and is about animals, or a different humanoid species. I think the science-fiction genre is too big to just narrow down like that.
ReplyDeletescience fiction is in my opinion is something like star trek and alien where there is more what ifs and more science backing it up.
ReplyDeleteI think good science fiction is a human problem with an improved answer. Science fiction can take place in the past, present, or future, in space, or on earth or even in another dimension.
ReplyDeleteA good science fiction to me shows what future technologies can bring the human race. There are many different topics science fiction authors can cover religion, alienation of one another, nuclear holocaust, and aliens.
ReplyDeleteTheodore Sturgeon definition was "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" My definition of science fiction is along the lines of Theodore Sturgeons. I think that science fiction is based on a human problem that has a human solution which also has some kind of science to it. It's based on future events but also has some realistic vibe to it.
ReplyDeleteI tend to agree with Sturgeon, but I don't fully agree with either. Science fiction doesn't need to use real science, hence the name science fiction. Star Wars has almost nothing to do with science, but is still considered to be science fiction.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the final quote, saying that Science Fiction is something you find in that section of the library. To me, science fiction is the most liberating and free thinking genre, where the author has full reign to design whatever they want, when they want, and how they want.
ReplyDeleteScience fiction is a topic usualy in movies or books but this topic is known as fake science topic such as space and earthly made up stories. Science fiction helps to extend my emagination and free my thoughts. Authors and readers can interprit these fiction stories in there own way.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction is a free thinking genre that isn't bound by normal laws and they have no limit to how far it can expaned
ReplyDelete