Science Fiction WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION Science fiction

Science Fiction

WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION? • Science fiction is a writing style which combines science and fiction. • It is only limited by what we presently know about the basic physical laws of nature. • It evolved as a response to fantasy. • In Science Fiction, there needs to be some possibility that the events could possibly happen. • In Fantasy, the author can use far-fetched assumptions. ie; unicorns, three-legged creatures etc.

SCI FI AUTHOR’S DEFINITIONS The author Theodore Sturgeon said, "'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'"

• The first true science fiction novel was Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. • She wrote about scientific practices and tried to persuade the reader that her story could actually happen. • Frankenstein was the first novel in English to deal with the possibility that science can create a monster that can destroy science, and possibly mankind. • Mary Shelley did not wish the story to be considered "supernatural“. She made the main character a scientist and his scientific efforts were highlighted.

WHAT IS EXTRAPOLATION? Extrapolation: is when a writer takes a known scientific fact and imagines what might happen if certain events or circumstances evolve. For example: 1. Man can build space shuttles. 2. Let’s imagine, man can travel to far-away planets.

MAJOR THEMES IN SCIENCE FICTION • Space travel to and from other planets (ie: Star Wars, Star Trek) • Time travel to the past and future (ie: Back to the Future) • Psychological/biological changes to man brought about by scientific changes (ie: The Incredible Hulk, Spider Man) • Science applied to human relations for constructive or destructive purposes (ie: Weird Science, Frankenstein) • Battle with alien life forms (ie: Signs, The Day the Earth Stood Still, District 9) • Alternate Universe (ie: Star Wars)

PLOT CONVENTIONS OF SCIENCE FICTION Examples of Story Ideas: • The Last Man/Woman on Earth • The Robot • The First Landing Story • Time Travel • The Alternate World • The Lost Civilization • The Alien Encounter • The Colonization of a New Planet • The End of the World • The Long Spaceship Voyage • The Computer • From the point of view of an alien

WHY SHOULD WE STUDY SCIENCE FICTION? • Entertaining • Makes the audience wonder “What If? ” • Encourages creativity in writing and role-playing • Introduces students to a new literary genre • Teaches lessons about the value and dangers of advanced technology • Enhances imagination

TOMORROW, TOMORROW • • • Written by a famous American science-fiction author, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. The story deals with the issue of overpopulation. World population: • 1804 – 1 billion • 1927 – 2 billion • 1960 – 3 billion • 1974 – 4 billion In 2014, that number had risen exponentially to 7. 1 billion. The world’s population increases by 2. 3 people each second. All information on overpopulation has been adapted from World Population Day 2014: History, Facts and Risks of Overpopulation By Lydia Smith at http: //www. ibtimes. co. uk/world-population-day-2014 -history-facts-risks-overpopulation-please-publish-midnight-1456183

PROBLEMS CAUSED BY OVERPOPULATION • Lack of food – 25, 000 people die of malnutrition every day. 18, 000 of them are less than five-years old. • Lack of water – more than a billion people on the earth lack access to adequate water supplies. This affects consumption of water, cleanliness, and agriculture. • Oil and fossil fuels – these are non-renewable and limited resources and are being used up quickly • Air quality – more people means more cars and factories that pollute. • Ozone layer – Many industries release CFCs into the atmosphere, which destroy the protective ozone layer. It is decreasing by 4% every decade. • Overcrowding – too many people living in a small space can lead many problems, among them hygiene, violence, unemployment and air pollution. It is also easier for infectious diseased to spread. • Conflicts and wars – people fight and die for access to land, food, water, and oil.

The. The World Tomorrow World Today…