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 3:40p.m. on Friday, January 11th, 2019.
A future advance in technology always a made up story.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robert A. Heinlein. Science fiction is a story about futuristic stuff.
ReplyDelete"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). I find this quote being the closest to my definition of science fiction because science fiction is mostly taking place in the future, and the future is a mysterious and cloudy place. sometimes all we would have in the future would be the past. It is also because the future may hold currently unrealistic possibilities and sci-fi helps us to explore these possibilities.
ReplyDeleteTheodore Sturgeon's quote was the quote i most agree with and was the only quote that got me thinking on what science fiction is. I believe that Science fiction is a story of real people in an unreal world that could have been ours if some little thing would have been different.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that best defines Science Fiction in my opinion is 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'" (as quoted in "Atheling, More Issues", 12). This quote represents Science Fiction because Sci-fi is all about the possibility and looking at life now, and possibly then, through a different lens.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction is fiction based in science, with ties to what could be possible in the future, or closely related to what could be just outside of our reach forever. like time travel or interstellar travel.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Theodore Sturgeon. I think that what makes a science fiction story or movie interesting is when it was all a very human problem but it never would have occurred in the first place without science.
ReplyDeleteHeinlein's definition I think explains Science Fiction. Like in Star Wars, they still have basic things such as “blasters” and “Lightsabers” which are based on guns and swords.
ReplyDeleteI agree most with Robert Heinlein because he points out that Science fiction must be based on actual fact rather than totally comprised of imaginary things. I would definitely say there is a grey area though, because Science fiction can almost become fantasy if it if set very far in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe second and last quotes fit my definition of Science Fiction best because its stories tend to be about people, but the genre boundaries are fairly loose. Most books are about humans, but some focus on aliens, robots, etc. I think science fiction is a great way to explain things we don't understand and to find something human in things that are decidedly not.
ReplyDeleteI most agree 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'". I agree because thats what makes people enjoy science fiction readings or movies is that we can relate to them because of the human problems.
ReplyDeleteI agree on Robert A. Heinlein's definition of science fiction because there should be at least a little understanding in the real world in order to create a future where technology understanding has increased.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robert and Theodore. Robert's explanation makes me think about dystopian societies and how those stories make readers think it is a possibility. Theodore's quote support that we as humans can make these things happen. A lot of science fiction is a wake up call for others to change how they are thinking (out of fear?)
ReplyDeleteThe quotation that aligns with my definition of Science Fiction is “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).” By Robert A. Heinlein an author and critic because this is how I have perceived it throughout the years. An example is the movie E.T. and any other show with an “alien” in it, I believe in the future this will be possible due the rate of current technological advancements. The news shows Nasa going to other planets such as Mars, with time we will be able to travel here and explore other life sustainable planets and/or how we can make them so. Many centuries ago, we didn’t even know what space was or that we would be able to travel to such a destination which further helps to prove my belief that anything is possible with certain technology, discoveries and timing.
ReplyDeleteThese quotations aligns with my definition of science fiction is the second one. Based on science fiction literature I have read most of the stories are about a human problem or achievement that was affected by technology advancements that humans then have to solve or enjoy. Science fiction is not real.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the second quotation from Theodore Sturgeon. I feel that science fiction almost always deals with a human, or human like thing. They always have a problem that they most overcome, and they are usually not a problem that a real human would have. These problems are not able to be solved without the futuristic technology, and sometimes the technology is the problem.
ReplyDeletehonestly, it's just fiction set into the future using theories or fictitious (and partially true) laws of science and how these sciences affect life in that future
ReplyDeleteI agree most with Robert A Heinlein’s definition that 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 believe that science fiction mainly focuses on portraying possible future events by using science and facts. My definition of science fiction is most similar to Robert A Heinlein’s.
ReplyDeleteThe quote by Robert A. Heinlein best aligns with my definition of Science Fiction. I agree with him when he says that it is the “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,” (Kigh in Bishop). Science fiction is a way of thinking out of the real world. Things that may seem possible because science makes them, but aren’t because in reality there isn’t the technology or the world doesn’t have the resources. It is a fun way of thinking and fun way of exploring different ways science can occur.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Sturgeon's definition the most. The most important element of science fiction is the human one. The science does not necessarily have to be plausible, but as long as it is accomplished by humans, it is science fiction. Humanity is what separates science fiction from other fictional genres.
ReplyDeleteI agree with George Hay the most on this topic. I don't know much about Science Fiction, so I basically just hear that something is Science Fiction, and I believe it without question. I've never been much of a Science Fiction person as much as action and adventure, so I could never give an accurate definition of the words Science Fiction.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that aligns with my definition of science fiction is the first quote by Robert A. Heinlein. I think this describes science fiction from my perspective because the first part talks about realistic future events because we don't know how advanced technology will be many years from now and what will happen in the future. People's imagination of the future is what leads to great science fiction texts and movies. I also think it is based on what has happened now and how much technology has advanced in such little time, so people use that to guess what will happen in the future. Science fiction is based on science facts that can advance.
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ReplyDeleteThe quote that aligns most with my definition of science fiction is the quote by Robert A. Heinlein. His quote described how science fiction is based on reality and what could possible occur in the future. I think that a lot of science fiction novels are based in reality, but have just enough imagination to develop an intimidating and interesting future. This prediction of future events can be seen in the "Steam Man and Airships" article as it describes how many predictions about future technology were made within early science fiction novels. Overall, science fiction is the advancement of real scientific ideas into something even more unimaginable.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Theodore Sturgeon. While he only accounts for the good Science Fiction stories and not the bad science fiction stories, some of which would do better if they were written as comedies. That being said, science fiction remains a mainstay in modern media and the best part of the story being they are extremely relatable, but the circumstances are impossible, and that duality leads to wonder.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction more similarly relates to the Robert A. Heinlein quote. Without worry, interest, or imagination science fiction would be nothing. If people did't wonder about robots taking over the world a movie about it wouldn't be interesting. If people weren't interested in space and other planets Star trek and Star Wars wouldn't be as intriguing or wouldn't have been as popular.
ReplyDeleteMy Definition of Science Fiction is a story that is told to strike interest in the person taking in that story whether by movie, book, ect. It is something that many people take in and fantasize about as if to make it there own reality. Science Fiction is a big part of the culture in today's society because so many people fantasize about the stories that are told.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robert A. Heinlein because all Sci-Fi has to with what has happened in the past to create and cause what is happening now.
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ReplyDeletemy definition of science fictoin would be future scientific or technological advances of social environmental changes frequently like space,time, time travel ,life on other planet but the main idea is the out of ordanary unique creative and has its own persanalty
ReplyDelete"Science fiction is what you find on the shelves in the library marked science fiction." I agree with this quote because science fiction is a very broad range and there are so many science fiction novels. Also the definition I used is the most accurate
ReplyDeleteI define science fiction is a style and genre of writing which opens the eyes of the reader to new perspectives and truths. It uses the past to warn about the future. Not all science fiction is meant to be taken literally, so there is room for interpretation in many different ways through many different stories.
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