What is it about this particular genre that engenders such strong emotions from nearly everyone who has encountered it? People seem to develop either an everlasting bond within the sci-fi community, united by a love of all things nerd-related, or else an overwhelming hatred of anything that might even purport to include the word ‘Star’ in its title.
Science Fiction is a very particular form of escapism that, admittedly, attracts complete nutters (and I mean that in the nicest sense of the word, ref. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) but also invites those who would, in any other situation, come across as complete normal. They’re not though; they have a secret.
Actually, this fascination with the future, the unknown, is within all of us and probably always has been. It is integral to human nature that we strive to better ourselves, to explore and to develop as a species and so it is only natural that our imagination compels us to delve into that part of our subconscious, to wonder and to project such a diverse variety of possible futures.
In the world of Science Fiction, anything is possible; that is why it is such a dream to write. Every human condition exists in science fiction, every emotion can be explored, every threat realised. It is a world of extended allegory, a metaphor for real life, but with its roots in the here and now. Science Fiction generally has the outward appearance of real life, more grounded in actuality than mere fantasy because there is always the possibility that ‘it could happen’.
Okay, so the chances of anything in real life springing from Science Fiction is remote, but plenty of technological advances have already born enough resemblance to those depicted in popular sci-fi films and TV shows to offer sufficient hope that all things may be possible. The evidence available does not back this up in any way that might be regarded as conclusive but then, of course, in the realms of fiction, evidence and scientific reality are irrelevant. Yes we got the flip top phone and the i-pad from Star Trek and flat screen televisions and 3D movies from Back To The Future, but what happened to the internet? Did worldwide communication really slip through the net whilst self-tying laces were considered to be what moved us forward as a species?
What Science Fiction does offer is the opportunity to explore themes and ideas within a neutral space. Only this week, a clear parallel could be drawn between the latest episode of Doctor Who and the refugee crisis in Europe. Love, war, relationships can all be dissected and examined in the minutest detail without being weighed down by the trappings of historical accuracy or the emotional stress of real life.
Science Fiction is fun – the clue is in the name – fiction. Few claim that the genre has anything to do with actual science. From Frankenstein to Star Wars, millions have enjoyed the pure escapism alongside the more serious issues and concepts all enveloped inside a single art form, so why it has become both one of the most popular fiction genres as well as the most ridiculed, actually stands testimony to its enduring popularism. Everyone loves to cringe at Sheldon Cooper, central character of The Big Bang Theory, one of the most watched comedy shows in recent years. It is his public whipping boy status that enables the rest of us to laugh at his obsessions whilst understanding them completely.
Yes, we all want to embrace the nerd. Thank you Sheldon, Spock and Marty – and thank you Carl, Isaac and Douglas. We may stash you away in the closet when guests arrive, but it is because of you we keep flying.
Science Fiction is a very particular form of escapism that, admittedly, attracts complete nutters (and I mean that in the nicest sense of the word, ref. Simon Pegg and Nick Frost) but also invites those who would, in any other situation, come across as complete normal. They’re not though; they have a secret.
Actually, this fascination with the future, the unknown, is within all of us and probably always has been. It is integral to human nature that we strive to better ourselves, to explore and to develop as a species and so it is only natural that our imagination compels us to delve into that part of our subconscious, to wonder and to project such a diverse variety of possible futures.
In the world of Science Fiction, anything is possible; that is why it is such a dream to write. Every human condition exists in science fiction, every emotion can be explored, every threat realised. It is a world of extended allegory, a metaphor for real life, but with its roots in the here and now. Science Fiction generally has the outward appearance of real life, more grounded in actuality than mere fantasy because there is always the possibility that ‘it could happen’.
Okay, so the chances of anything in real life springing from Science Fiction is remote, but plenty of technological advances have already born enough resemblance to those depicted in popular sci-fi films and TV shows to offer sufficient hope that all things may be possible. The evidence available does not back this up in any way that might be regarded as conclusive but then, of course, in the realms of fiction, evidence and scientific reality are irrelevant. Yes we got the flip top phone and the i-pad from Star Trek and flat screen televisions and 3D movies from Back To The Future, but what happened to the internet? Did worldwide communication really slip through the net whilst self-tying laces were considered to be what moved us forward as a species?
What Science Fiction does offer is the opportunity to explore themes and ideas within a neutral space. Only this week, a clear parallel could be drawn between the latest episode of Doctor Who and the refugee crisis in Europe. Love, war, relationships can all be dissected and examined in the minutest detail without being weighed down by the trappings of historical accuracy or the emotional stress of real life.
Science Fiction is fun – the clue is in the name – fiction. Few claim that the genre has anything to do with actual science. From Frankenstein to Star Wars, millions have enjoyed the pure escapism alongside the more serious issues and concepts all enveloped inside a single art form, so why it has become both one of the most popular fiction genres as well as the most ridiculed, actually stands testimony to its enduring popularism. Everyone loves to cringe at Sheldon Cooper, central character of The Big Bang Theory, one of the most watched comedy shows in recent years. It is his public whipping boy status that enables the rest of us to laugh at his obsessions whilst understanding them completely.
Yes, we all want to embrace the nerd. Thank you Sheldon, Spock and Marty – and thank you Carl, Isaac and Douglas. We may stash you away in the closet when guests arrive, but it is because of you we keep flying.
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