Value Of Science Fiction

In a chilling recollection of mankind’s current misdeeds towards the environment in “The End of Nature,” McKibben’s call for action is one paramount to the survival of the human race. In essence, McKibben argues that the futures of both nature and ourselves are delicately yet undeniably interconnected. Furthermore, he urges that “we” (ALL humans) are the deciding chip in said bond. By doing so, McKibben implies that action must be situated if we are to expect any change in such bleak a situation. This argument can clearly be found when McKibben speaks out on a myriad of environmental issues in the past, present, and future. McKibben begins to accustom readers to a pattern in which human ignorance juts out from past environmental experiences.

In her introduction, she explains to the reader that “all science fiction is nothing but a metaphorical lie” and “The future, in fiction, is a metaphor.” (Le

Throughout history, humans have had a strong reliance on nature and their environment. As far back as historians can look, people have depended on elements of nature for their survival. In the past few decades, the increased advancement of technology has led to an unfortunate division between humans and nature, and this lack of respect is becoming a flaw in current day society. In Last Child in the Woods, Louv criticizes modern culture by arguing that humans increasing reliance on technology has led to their decreasing connection with nature through the use of relevant anecdotes, rhetorical questions and powerful imagery to appeal to ethos.

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.

Ray Bradbury, a distinguished science fiction author, once said, “.... A lot of intellectuals think science fiction is trivial. And it’s pivotal! People are walking around the streets with phones to their heads talking to someone ten feet away. We’ve killed two million people with automobiles.

Science fiction is the most important literature in the history of the world… Science fiction is central to everything we have ever done and people who make fun of science fiction writers don’t know what they are talking about. Ray Bradbury. Science fiction is a type of writing that could be about many things but the future and future technology are the two that are focused on the most. We studied the movie Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan, the book The Hot Zone by Richard Preston, and excerpts from the book World War Z by Max Brooks.

As an individual who has does not study the history of literature "Fiction, 1950-1963" by Rob Latham takes the reader through an interesting back story of the rise and fall of science fiction through the span of a little more than a decade. "Fiction, 1950-1963" by Rob Latham largely focuses on the history of science fiction in writing and the path science fiction took to become a mainstream form of literature. It is a path filled with ups and downs, successes and failures, and a multitude of writers that attempt to make their mark on the emerging genre. Throughout the essay Latham agrees with the process of making science fiction more accepted in mainstream culture. Latham takes the position that through science fiction becoming a legitimately viewed genre the field has more freedom to expand and experiment artistically.

Evaluate the role played by ‘science’ in each story. In what ways do they reflect three of the main recurring thematic ideas often found in science fiction texts?

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.

World-renowned science fiction author, Isaac Asimov, stated, “Today’s science fiction is tomorrow’s science fact.” The quote insinuates the power that the genre grants readers: the power to predict the future. Although, a seemingly inconceivable idea, these fictitious texts provide valuable insight into significant issues and matters both known and unknown of the future. Upon original release, the novels remain a mere glimpse into impossible feats, but the true artistry of the genre is, over time, revealed through the definite parallel between predictions made by authors and reality. In Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, this is exemplified through the implications of corporate greed, advanced technologies and bureaucratic

Throughout this semester our literary material dealt with themes of technology, modernization, the imponderable bloom, human nature, and truth to name a few of the most overarching. Each text has woven an impression of the possible near future for humanity if the patterns we are creating continue at an exponential rate. Patterns such as consumerism, neglecting unpleasurable emotions, using drugs, and controlling the environment for our short term benefits will write an unsavory and inevitable future. Science Fiction often reflects on society by exaggerating their negative characteristics and advancements to seem far-out, but often it is ironic how close many aspects of the fiction are a direct reflection of the present condition. Even now, the possibilities of utopias and dystopias forming are not so out of reach. The ability of our culture to control an entire population with a self-satisfied culture of vices outfitted with technology is less and less science fiction as the years pass.

In a genre whose name ostensibly welcomes innovation—science fiction—resistance towards technology may initially seem counterintuitive. This, however, is where it is essential to delve into the annals of history. Writers, after all, write what they know. In an 1948 essay, George Orwell wrote, “When you are on a sinking ship, your thoughts will be about sinking

Avatar is the one of many films that address the major environmental issues of today’s world, one which happens to be about sustainability. The film foreshadows the reality of the Earth by 2154. In particular, Avatar demonstrates the results of overusing natural resources and thus forcing humans to continue to destroy other areas of nature for sources of energy. Since there is no longer energy on Earth, the only option is to seek out energy from a natural habitat where indigenous Na’vis have been living for years. In addition, since there is no energy, Earth is not able to sustain organic life or rich produce. Furthermore, the place is called Pandora and contains an atmosphere that is toxic to humans forcing them to wear masks. There are no megacities or urban environments here, only raw, organic nature that is preserved and cared for after the Na’vi. Here, sustainability is successful because the people recognize the aesthetic justification. Above all, the Na’vi also refuse to partake in deathly acts which reserves the limited amount of energy that they have. Avatar also touch bases with the moral justification aspect where the Na’ vi humans discern that their mission is to aid the environment to persist contributing to the success of sustainability on Pandora for future generations. The respect and gratitude that the Na’vi have for nature contrasts greatly with the way humans have respect towards nature. As time passes, the development of energy is limited and is valuable

White’s thesis in The Historical Roots of our Ecological Crisis states that in order to confront the expanding environmental crises, humans must begin to analyze and alter their treatment and attitudes towards nature. The slow destruction of the environment derives from the Western scientific and technological advancements made since the Medieval time period. “What people do about their ecology depends on what they think about themselves in relation to things around them” (RON p.7). Technology and science alone will not be able to save humans until we adjust the way of thinking and suppress the old ideas of humans power above nature. Instead, we need to learn how to think of ourselves as being

Moreover, the positive messages embedded in science fiction works can have powerful influence on the audience and the society, both locally and globally. In particular, most of the messages embedded are prompted by the past events of world history or by the contemporary social phenomena, and