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 Tuesday, January 14th, 2020.
My idea of science fiction aligns best with Theodore Sturgeon. No matter what time the book is set in, humans are humans and humans will have human responses, human problems, and human minds. Even with all of the technology and advances in the future, the core comes down to humanity.
ReplyDeleteThe first quotation aligns the most with my view of science fiction. I see it as a story about an event that has never happened but could possibly happen in the future when society has advanced more scientifically and technologically. It’s typically a story where humans face a problem that they may be responsible for, and they have to find a way to solve it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Robert A. Heinlein's definition of science fiction. This genre is a way for people to explore, and create futuristic ideas. It may or may not involve humans and is mostly about how the world may function in the future or present day with added advanced technology.
ReplyDeleteI have never really thought in depth about science fiction, but if I had to choose which definition aligned best with my own definition I would chose the first quotation. To me science fiction is all about futuristic ideas that are way beyond others minds. Robert A. Heinlein described science fiction as an understanding of the future and what will happen in that era. Although I don't agree that science fiction revolved around the scientific method, I do agree that science fiction is a genre including many futuristic events that are very imaginative. As said in an article called "Steam Man and Airships," Frank Reade was the the first science fiction appearance in the late nineteenth century and these stories consisted of many innovative applications and fictional events. I believe that the Frank Reade stories are an excellent resemblance of Heinlein's definition of science fiction as well as my own.
ReplyDeleteMy definition of science fiction aligns with Robert A. Heinlein's quotation. Science fiction to me means unlikely human interactions. Taking humans and putting them into a unlikely situation. I once read the book "The Martian Chronicles." It was about people living on Mars. It really fascinated me because these people live totally different lives than we do. These things could potentially be possible in the future based on how humans are evolving but as of right now, these humans living in obscure places are part of science fiction.
ReplyDeleteMy definition and idea of science fiction most aligns with Robert A. Heinlein’s quote because I believe that history tends to repeat itself so science fiction writers can think of problems that may come within the future, and look at solutions and apply new technological advancements to the solutions to base a probable outcome of the event and create science fiction content. I think that a large part of science fiction novels are problems humans tend to create and there seems to be a constant battle between the world of science and the world of nature, and that dynamic is what creates a good science fiction novel. I believe that many science fiction novels are a look into events that could happen in the future and can be seen as a slight warning for humanity if science advances into dangerous territory or if humans lose the parts of nature they depend on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Makenzie. I also think science fiction is a way for authors or directors to express themselves and worries. I also think science fiction could be greatly based off history and how it may repeat itself as our world continues and grows. I think this because we tend to repeat mistakes rather than actually learning from them. I see science fiction books or movies or shows in the way that humans created the problem it is always going to be our fault in science fiction weather on purpose or not is determined on the story.
ReplyDeleteThis was me
DeleteMy definition of science fiction is more aligned towards George hay. In my opinion science fiction doesn't have to be tied down to human related problem. It just has to have some element of science in it. Because even though its science fiction, its still fiction.
ReplyDeleteMy view of science fiction best aligns with that of George Hay. I believe that as the world evolves science fiction will have to as well when what seemed to be a far fetched idea become reality, as seen in the short story Steam Man and Airships.
ReplyDeleteFor me, my idea of science fiction definitely is similar to George Hay's. With a genre as large, impactful, and innovative as science fiction, you can never have one definition for it. The genre is constantly changing with a new era of writers, so I believe it is best left to the writers to categorize their books. Sure, there are typicals themes and repeated cliches among many sci fi stories, but in the end, it is the author who decides what they are writing.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Robert A. Heinlein about his idea of what the science fiction genre is about. He seems to think that the thought of science fiction evolves with how people think with the time that they are writing about. Like in the article we just read Steam Man and Airships: Technology of the Future in the Past, they people from 1882 thought the next big thing in technology was going to be electric wagons which isn't necessarily what happened, but that's what the magazines of the science fiction genre showed those types of machines. Mainly because the author thought that's how the time was going to go. So rather then them thinking up the thought of cars they went along with what they knew, which was wagons.
ReplyDeleteRobert A. Heinlein. He talks about how Science Fiction is just a guess about the future based on what we have today and that's how I view Sci Fi too
ReplyDeleteScience Fiction is a form of writing that allows writers to be very creative, and explore themes and motives that haven't even happened yet.
ReplyDeleteThe definition of science fiction in my book is something that is unrealistic yet backed up by science at the same time. It is a complex and unusual genre, although very intriguing and fun. Not to mention, science fiction books/movies are also very well thought out and genius plot-wise.
ReplyDeleteall of there comments are true because it can be a mixture of all future events weather it is human or just events humans don't have any control over and that it is its own special literature.
ReplyDeleteScience Fiction is the action of trying to come up with alternate realities of the past or the future. in whatever circumstances.
ReplyDeleteMy defintion of Science Fiction most strongly aligns with Robert A. Heinlein. Science Fiction is exactly what it sounds like, "Fiction". It isn't real, but that doesn't mean it can't be real in the future. Science Fiction invovles technology or current technology we have, and with the rate that we progress as a species in terms of Technological Advancements, we can very well be able to create the inventions that were only written about in Science Fiction and make it reality. If we have the vision to think about, and write about these futuristic inventions, then I don't see why we can't make it a reality given enough time.
ReplyDeleteI think that there are many different ways to interpret science fiction. My take on science fiction is that is a prediction about things that could be created in the future and also it is about things that are used to make you forget about things in the present.
ReplyDeleteI think science fiction is a very complex idea. I think it relates to possible happenings that we could encounter most likely in the future. I think some of it is also based on modernized technology
ReplyDeleteI think that a science fiction story must consist of a major science element, but doesn't sound so far fetched. For example, Jurrassic Park is a science fiction, however in this day and age, bringing back animals with genetics doesn't sound so distant.
ReplyDeleteThe person who wrote this is Lukas Wolf
DeleteI think science fiction is the things nobody really talks about, i think it is people fears, dreams, and imaginations and more mixed together in one. It is the ¨unknown¨
ReplyDeleteScience fiction is the literary exploration of the unknown through fiction. Often focused on themes of space travel, the future, etc, science fiction provides insight on current worldly problems, human curiosity, and our ideas of the future.
ReplyDeleteScience fiction to me is magical fantasy science.
ReplyDeleteAll quotes referenced align with my idea of science fiction. It's a story using humans with imaginary objects and such that could be in the humans future.
ReplyDeleteMy idea of science fiction is the most realistic version of imagination. Science fiction walks the fine like between realistic and completely fictional. It uses real world ideas and inventions and uses them in an imaginative way. For example starwars. They use space ships which are built and function like rockets that we use to send astronauts to space. They fire and battle eachother like submarines in the ocean. There are many more real world similarities in star wars but as you can see the show/book uses many real world inventions and ideas and takes them to imagination and beyond.
ReplyDeleteThe description of science fiction for me differs as I think harder about it. Science Fiction is a world created with predictions about the future and a mixture of a look into the past. It is a realistic story with an imaginative film, that makes the story interesting and hard to look away from.
ReplyDelete