Science in science fiction
- Science in science fiction
Science in science fiction is the study of how science is portrayed in works of science fiction. It covers a large range of topics, since science takes on many roles in science fiction. Hard science fiction is based on engineering or the "hard" sciences (for example, physics, astronomy, or chemistry), whereas soft science fiction is based on the "soft" sciences, and especially the social sciences (anthropology, sociology, psychology, political science, and so on). Likewise, the accuracy of the science portrayed spans a wide range - sometimes it is an extrapolation of existing technology, sometimes it is a physically realistic portrayal of a far-out technology, and sometimes it is simply a plot device that looks scientific, but has no basis in science. Examples are:
*Realistic case: In 1944, the science fiction story "Deadline" by Cartwell [CARTMILL, CLEVE. "Deadline." IN: Astounding Science Fiction, Vol. XXXIII, No. l, pp. 154-178. New York: Street & Smith, March 1944.] depicted the atomic bomb [ [http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/specialcollections/coll/atomic/catalogue/atomic15_2745-2925.html Atomic Energy Collection Section 15. Fiction, Poetry, Drama, etc., 1912-1989] ] . This technology was real, unknown to the author.
*Extrapolation: Arthur C. Clarke wrote about space elevators, basically a long cable extending from the Earth's surface to geosynchronous orbit. While we cannot build one today, it violates no physical principles.
*Plot device: The classic example of an unsupported plot device is faster-than-light drive. It is unsupported by physics as we know it, but needed for galaxy-wide plots with human lifespans.
Hard science in science fiction
*Kinetic energy weapons in science fiction
*Planets in science fiction
*Time travel in science fiction
*Technology in Science Fiction
*Portals in science fiction
*Weapons in science fiction
*Materials science in science fiction
Soft (social) science in science fiction
It could be argued that many of these are not real science, though behavioral and political scientists might disagree.
*Sex in science fiction
*Religious ideas in science fiction
*Women in science fiction
*Gender in science fiction
*Pregnancy in science fiction
*Nudity in science fiction
*Political ideas in science fiction
*World government in science fiction
See also
*
References
*"The Science in Science Fiction" by Brian Stableford, David Langford, & Peter Nicholls (1982)
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Look at other dictionaries:
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Science-Fiction-Schriftsteller — Science Fiction [ˌsaɪəns ˈfɪkʃn̩], (auch: Sciencefiction oder Science Fiction, abgekürzt SF, Sci Fi oder SciFi [saɪ̯fɪ̯]) ist eine Gattung innerhalb der Literatur und des Films (siehe auch Science Fiction Film), aber auch anderer Disziplinen wie… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Science-fiction — [ˌsaɪəns ˈfɪkʃn̩], (auch: Sciencefiction oder Science Fiction, abgekürzt SF, Sci Fi oder SciFi [saɪ̯fɪ̯]) ist eine Gattung innerhalb der Literatur und des Films (siehe auch Science Fiction Film), aber auch anderer Disziplinen wie etwa der… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Science Fiction — [ˌsaɪəns ˈfɪkʃn̩], (auch: Sciencefiction oder Science Fiction, abgekürzt SF, Sci Fi oder SciFi [saɪ̯fɪ̯]) ist eine Gattung innerhalb der Literatur und des Films (siehe auch Science Fiction Film), aber auch anderer Disziplinen wie etwa der… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Science fiction — [ˌsaɪəns ˈfɪkʃn̩], (auch: Sciencefiction oder Science Fiction, abgekürzt SF, Sci Fi oder SciFi [saɪ̯fɪ̯]) ist eine Gattung innerhalb der Literatur und des Films (siehe auch Science Fiction Film), aber auch anderer Disziplinen wie etwa der… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Science-Fiction — Pour les articles homonymes, voir SF. La science fiction, prononcée /sjɑ̃s.fik.sjɔ̃/ (abrégé en SF), est un genre narratif (principalement littéraire et cinématographique) structuré par des hypothèses sur ce que pourrait être le futur et/ou les… … Wikipédia en Français
Science Fiction — Pour les articles homonymes, voir SF. La science fiction, prononcée /sjɑ̃s.fik.sjɔ̃/ (abrégé en SF), est un genre narratif (principalement littéraire et cinématographique) structuré par des hypothèses sur ce que pourrait être le futur et/ou les… … Wikipédia en Français
