Analysis Of Isaac Asimov's 'The Last Question'

Star War, Star Trek, those are probably the names that pops into your head when you think of science fiction. However, for over a hundred years, artists and philosophers from all around the world, has never been certain of the true definition of Science Fiction. Although, individual definition of science fiction has erupted in the few decades, especially during the 19th century, when the idea of extraterrestrial surged the media. Today, there are numerous definition of science fiction, each different from one another in its own element. For example, science fiction stories, according to Ray Bradbury are a possibility that has happened in the past or will happen in time. This means that science fiction is the past, the present and the

Science fiction is a genre of writing involving plots and themes related to future scientific advances and major social changes, often coming from the author’s imagination rather than from factual knowledge. With the advancement of Man’s knowledge resulting from the scientific revolution, fictional predictions about the future resulted in believable new works of science fiction. Some authors pictured future technologies that would benefit mankind in some way or would let mankind explore new boundaries that had previously limited the human experience. One of these authors was Jules Verne whose imagination allowed him to pen ideas about electrical submarines and solar sails. However, other authors envisioned a bleak dystopian world in which mankind has lost many important objects, and sometimes intangible values as well. Three examples of dystopian fiction are Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s two novels, Animal Farm and 1984. Through these and other

Extraterrestrial beings, dazzling light shows, and dangerous laser guns are among the many thoughts that go through a person's mind when the genre science fiction is brought up. It seems as if each piece is so different, and so unique. However, many science fiction pieces are extremely similar. The science fiction pieces "Anthem," "Fahrenheit 451," and "The Pedestrian," are similar in the fact that they all encompass an expansion of technology, a new perspective on the well being of society, and each author's purpose for writing the book.

An author’s influence is always conspicuous in their writing. Their work is swayed by major events and little things that deeply affected their lives. Historical content during that time period also inspires their writing. The fantasy and science fiction writer of the mid-1900’s, Ray Bradbury, admitted about the magician, Mr. Electrico, “I could run to him, embrace him, and thank him for changing my life and helping me become a writer” (In His Words 2). Ray Bradbury was a leading contributor to fantasy fiction during the 20th century became stirred by the influences of the effects of his personal life, magic, the speedy scientific inventions during his life, and the worldwide fear of the atomic bomb of WWII.

“So they were trying to re-invent themselves and their universe... Science fiction was a big help.” (Chapter 4)

Science fiction is often written as a commentary on our world. Events that may occur in the future, things that may have been invented, technology that has advanced further than our imaginations. Books like Fahrenheit 451 and the short story of Harrison Bergeron talk about how our society could be controlled by one larger being. In order to make everyone equal, happy, and clueless. Knowledge is the power to understand, in both books it tells us how to think about how much we truly understand our society and why is the truth hidden and silenced from us.

Throughout the first semester of our English class, we have debated and discussed many key ideas of science fiction, all the way from an overreliance in technology to genetic mutations. We have discussed these ideas through the short stories, films, and books that we have read and watched. The most prominent aspect of science fiction that resonated and created the most interest for me was an overreliance in technology and the harmful effects of technology. People’s overreliance on technology helps destroy human interaction and basic human wants, needs, and desires. For my honors presentation my partner and I decided to discuss this idea through Ray Bradbury’s short story “The Pedestrian,” and the movie Wall-E. Both of these pieces of art have major connections to technology and the impact that it has on society.

Over the course of Kurt Vonnegut’s career, an unorthodox handling of time became one of many signature features in his fictional works (Allen 37). Despite The Sirens of Titan (1959) being only his second novel, this trademark is still prevalent. When delving into science fiction, it is often helpful to incorporate ideas from other works within the genre. This concept is exemplified by the “megatext,” an aspect of science fiction that involves the application of a reader’s own knowledge of the genre to a new encounter (Evans xiii). By working within the megatext, Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Dispossessed (1974) provides an insightful avenue in exploring the handling of time and its consequences in Vonnegut’s The Sirens of Titan.

Science fiction and graphic novels both possess special niches in literature. Writers like H.G. Wells, Ray Bradbury, Douglas Adams, and Phillip K. Dick progressed the genre to reach a broader audience through increasing exposure in society. Today, writers like Orson Scott Card continue to popularize science fiction through both published works and online stories. The new medium presented by the increased accessibility of the internet allows for the genre to grow, allowing recognized authors and aspiring authors to share their stories in an easier manner. Moreover, the newer wave of graphic novels such as Maus and Fun Home break through the barrier of popularized text with recognized literary merit due to the ability to engage readers by adding deeper meaning and employing literary devices. A highly regarded Science Fiction novelist should reimagine the text with a dignified Science Fiction illustrator in order to recreate Phillip K. Dick’s novella Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? as a graphic novel, creating a new experience in the novel and facilitating in bridging the gap between science fiction and graphic novels.

Ray Bradbury is known as one of the most influential writers in the science fiction genre. His most famous works “Fahrenheit 451” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes” incorporate common science fiction themes but are made to be something even more interesting with Bradbury’s unique style and ideas. Although he is most well-known for his science fiction novels, he also wrote within the genres of fantasy and horror. Bradbury would often incorporate all three genres in one novel to create a work that truly went with the ideas running through his head. Ray Bradbury influence the science fiction genre through his distinct writing style, use of children as symbols, and his use of influences from the world around him to criticize modern warfare.

Ray Bradbury tells a lot of stories and poems which is a science fiction.because he has the story called there will come soft rains and this story is a science fiction it takes about a hole home with nature.And if you read the story well you will notice that everything in the house represents everything in earth.And the house represents earth.The story is about the universe been burned and we the people that burned the universe.

Literature sounds too stuffy and high-browed an descriptor for Science Fiction as a genre. Science fiction is meant to be fantasy, something that is not real and does not strive to meet the literary aspirations of those who would write meaningful prose. Not to say that science fiction writers do not want to something meaningful, but even though the genre may be filled with writers who are degraded by "real" authors as a breed, does not mean that there are not classics that have been recognized as achieving a literary mark. It can be argued, because of the use of literary devices, that there are those science fiction novels that definitely reach the level anyone would consider literature, and among these is a book from Phillip K. Dick called The Man in the High Castle. This paper examines what literary devices were used in this book to make it both a work of science fiction and a work of literature.

Ray Bradbury, one of the best science fiction writers, writes his papers pertaining to his life experiences, and the people around him. Through his life experiences, they provided a great influence in all of his writings, especially his biggest, “The Pedestrian.” Throughout Bradbury’s life, his writings were influenced by the experiences and the rise of technology.

Science fiction is a literary genre that explores potential consequences related to scientific innovations. It is largely based on the idea of writing rationally about alternative worlds or futures. Provided adequate knowledge of the past and present world, science fiction tales provide realistic speculations of possible future events (ReadWriteThink). E.M. Forster’s story The Machine Stops can be regarded as a work of apocalyptic science fiction in that it is a cautionary vision of the future.

When Douglas Adams decided to write about science fiction, it was not a matter of principle. Drunk and tired on a patch of grass in Austria, he came up with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. What began as a simple exercise in science fiction transformed into