Introduction
Science fiction was first pioneered by author and dualist Cyrano de Bergerac in the 15 th century when he came up with the famous novel that mainly addressed the science behind space exploration with the use of rockets. his debut into the fictional world was after the Copernican revolution. The commencement of Cyrano was subsequently followed by Voltaire in 1700 who laid the overall image of the earth with reference to an extensively advanced world of aliens. As if that is not enough, the year 1800 experienced Mary Shelley underlines on the dangers that science could impose on human beings, while Jules Verne portrayed scientists as conquerors and heroes of the world. on the other hand, H, G wells incorporated the same science fiction in ridiculing and mocking the society and ultimately projecting what the future holds (Guffey, 1976).
The world set free a fictional compilation by Wells is probably the best example of the prototypes of the world of fiction science. In his book, Wells gives a clear outline of a nuclear propagated bomb that would be discovered in 1933 and launched for the first time in 1956. The idea that he was trying to convey was assimilated and ingested by Leo Szilard. In other words, Leo was inclined to actions more than ideas hence he put into action the concepts of Wells. as that goes by, he drafted the Manhattan project whose outcome was the creation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombs in 1945
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The end of the world wars and the culmination of the Russian revolution tabled ideas to renowned scientists including; Yevgeny, George Orwell and Aldous Huxley who the pioneered the first dystopian fiction. This took place in the first face of the 20 th century. After the absorption of the ideas, Arthur C. Clarke, Greg Egan and William Gibson analyzed the nature of realism and actuality of the human mind, via the creation of the synthetic life and artificial realities.
What is science fiction
Basically, there is no suitable definition for science fiction, however, it is undeniable and perfectly clear that it is all about a world that is hugely distinct and that differs with the world in which we live. the difference comes as a result of advanced technologies and diverse social systems. Because of the diversity that is sandwiched in science, the term “science fiction” could be used to provide answers to the questions of politics, sociology, the philosophy of the mind, as well as future connected questions (Higgins, 2012).
In some cases, the ability to differentiate between fantasy and science fiction proves problematic. The reason behind this is perhaps because of the drastic change that has been with the primary definition of the term Science. According to Arthur Clarke, “any satisfactorily radical technology is indistinguishable from magic”
History of Science and Fiction
From the fact that the actual definition of science has not been put into the limelight, there isn’t a single technique that can be put forth to define the constituent of the first science fiction narrative. Quite a considerable number of theological texts and poems clasp components that are perfectly exhibited in fictional scientific narratives particularly those that provide explanations on the creation and obliteration of the earth, and many gods are characterized with the supremacies and powers that are embedded on science fiction (Patrick Parrinder, 2012). Furthermore, fiction science contains philosophical parts which are expressed through the use of imagery; a good example is Plato’s the republic , in his piece, Plato discusses the pragmatisms that cannot be experienced by the senses of a human being.
It is perfectly clear from the history of human beings that the all-inclusive society did not change fast enough for people to be able to envisage a future that was different from their own. At the same time, many parts of the Earth remained unmapped, and this may be the reason why many older science fiction novels were set in the present. Science fiction from this period is also more inclined to social rather than systematic problems; first of all, because there was less science to utilize and more of it, because science fiction offered an idyllic channel to voice social comments that could not be printed as actualities.
Importance of Science Fiction
There are three basic and significant reasons why science is important. To start with, by putting worlds that are rationally possible into consideration, science fiction can be utilized in the exploration of the place that that we as human beings stand and reflect on essential theoretical queries concerning the nature of reality and the mind. A compilation of Books which investigate these issues include flatland by Edwin Abbott, Ubik by Philip K. Dick, and 2001 a space odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke. Clarke once labelled science fiction as “the only candid consciousness-elevating drug”.
Secondly, quite a good number of people are inspired by science fiction to live and adopt a scientific life. In other words, they are aroused and motivated to become scientists by fictitious materials. A good example can be observed in the case of Edwin Hubble, who provided a rigid and solid theoretical proof that surrounds the famous Big Bang theory, his love for science was triggered by Jules Verne a fictional novelist. On the other hand, Astronomer and science fiction author Carl Sagan was influenced by Robert A. Heinlein, while theoretical physicist Michio Kaku was motivated by his best childhood television show flash Gordon. In his words, Kaku articulates: “ ...years later, I started to realize that the dual hungers of my life that is physics and comprehending about the future are one and the same thing. That if you are able to comprehend the core of physics, then you are in a position of understanding what is possible and you realize that you could just be past the skyline”.
Ultimately and perhaps the most important is that, science fiction is the only genre that depicts how the society could function in a different way. This is the first step towards progress as it allows one to envision the future they want and consider ways to work towards it. It also makes people aware of futures they wish to avoid and helps them in formulating ways of preventing them ("Imagining the Future to Enhance Prevention Today", 2015).
Books That Have Contributed to Science Fiction
There are hundreds of books that have been compiled under the subject, “science fiction”. Listing all of them here would be next to impossible; however, some of the most famous include;
Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift-1726
The author Gulliver in his compilation explores theoretical and dogmatic questions that surround politics, ethics, and the limits of human knowledge. In an adventure, he bumps into flying islands, and meets animals that could talk and an ethnic group that constituted dwarfs and giants ("Science Fiction Books", 2018).
Frankenstein and The Last Man, Mary Shelly, 1818-1826
In this book, the Author, Mary Shelly pin-points the negative sides of systematic and scientific endeavors. Simply, the book Frankenstein highlights the consequences of creating life while the last man is compiled after a catastrophic plague that causes the death of quite a considerable number of people in the culminations of 2000s
from the Earth to the Moon and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne - 1865 & 1870
Jules compiled quite a number of adventurous stories that were closely linked to technology. The earth to the moon is one of his many compilations which gives a description on the endeavors of three men who created a rocket and launched it to the moon. On the other hand, His other works in the book Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea he provides a description of a biologist who decides to adventure the hydrosphere in a submarine. His other books include Around the World in Eighty days and Journey to the Center of the Earth.
The time Machine, H.G Wells – 1895
Wells was one science fictional writer whose work ridiculed and mocked the society. In his book The Time Machine, the main protagonist embarks on an adventure where he comes across a group of people who have already developed and evolved into two species the childlike Eloi and the vehement Morlocks. He observes and deduces that the Eloi group could have advanced from the affluent and wealthy class while the Morlocks could have evolved from the typical working class. Other books that that highlights his compilations include The Invisible Man, The Island of Doctor Moreau and The War of the Worlds.
A Space Odyssey, Arthur C. Clarke 1968-2001
This compilation was simultaneously created as a film and a novel. A space Odyssey reconnoiters the physical evolution of humans, the development, and advancement of space exploration and the development of (AI) Artificial Intelligence.
Conclusion
NASA is a corporation that is well known for its indulgence and creation of high and advanced technologies. However, it received many criticisms from Nichelle Nicholas after only going for male astronauts. This made the corporation to enquire the help of Nichelle in convincing former contenders to apply again. After the second application, NASA selected Guion Bluford and Sally Ride, first African-American male and white female astronauts correspondingly. The first African-American female Jemision Mae unswervingly citied Star Trek to reflect un-biasness and later performed in Star Trek.
In a quite a number of ways, the society has experienced dramatic changes since the first airing of Star Trek in 1966. Many things that were once science fiction have already assumed realism: human beings have explored the moon, clones synthetic life have been created and now people are capable of gaining access to almost all human knowledge via a small device that can fit in their pockets. Technology is progressing so fast that it is changing the society in each and every minute resulting to unmatched moral dilemmas. In other words, science fiction is more important now than ever ("Spectral Lines: Imagining the Future of Technology", 2006).
Putting into consideration the effects of the current and developing technologies, science fiction can help in addressing long-term problems such as global warming. Moreover, the concept behind it can help with the development of space exploration and hence, prepare human beings to counter problems that they might not anticipate (Pine, 2013). No one knows, one day; time travel, or even the genetic engineering of human beings might succeed, we might form communication channels with aliens, invent replicated realities, or come up with intelligent robots, and this will make people be better prepared to cope up with these, and other potential dilemmas.
Scientist and science fiction author Isaac Asimov pickled the significance of science fiction by articulating: “ It is change, continuing change, inevitable change, that is the overriding aspect in the present society. No practical decision can be made any longer without taking into account not only the world as it is, but also the world as it will be...Science fiction writers predict the unescapable, and though problems and catastrophes may be inevitable, solutions will always be available.”
Individual science fiction narration may appear and seem as inconsequential as ever to the sightless detractors and dreamers of the current and contemporary world – However, the center of science fiction, in its essence...has become vital to the redemption of human beings if they are to be redeemed at all (Sheldon, 2014).
References
Guffey, G. (1976). : H. G. Wells: Early Writings in Science and Science Fiction. . Robert M. Philmus, David Y. Hughes. ; Alternate Worlds: The Illustrated History of Science Fiction. . James Gunn. ; The Science Fiction Book: An Illustrated History. . Franz Rottensteiner. Nineteenth-Century Fiction , 31 (2), 236-242. doi: 10.1525/ncl.1976.31.2.99p0435f
Higgins, D. (2012). Introduction: Science Fiction and Globalization. Science Fiction Studies , 39 (3), 369. doi: 10.5621/sciefictstud.39.3.0369
Imagining the Future to Enhance Prevention Today. (2015). American Journal Of Preventive Medicine , 48 (3), A5-A9. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2014.12.012
Patrick Parrinder. (2012). The Science in Science Fiction. Science Fiction Studies , 39 (3), 537. doi: 10.5621/sciefictstud.39.3.0537
Pine, F. (2013). Probing the past and imagining the future: Afterword. Focaal , 2013 (66). doi: 10.3167/fcl.2013.660107
Science Fiction Books. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/genres/science-fiction
Sheldon, R. (2014). New Approaches to Science Fiction Criticism: A Panel Report. Science Fiction Studies , 41 (3), 689. doi: 10.5621/sciefictstud.41.3.0689
Spectral Lines: Imagining the Future of Technology. (2006). IEEE Spectrum , 43 (9), 10-10. doi: 10.1109/mspec.2006.1688246
