Growing up, (and now) I have been an avid reader of, and enjoyer of science fiction. My time spent with the likes of Asimov, Heinlein, Clarke, Ellison, and Herbert has opened my mind to new worlds, and new thoughts.
Would you say that there is a positive correlation between appreciation of science fiction and non-belief in traditional religion? Do evangelical fundamentalists and bible literalists enjoy science fiction?
Here's a list from Newsarama of the Five mos scientifically plausible movies-
1. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
It's no accident that the classic sci-fi film 2001 was rooted in good science, having sprung from the mind of the late, great Arthur C. Clarke. Clarke's background in science informed and inspired the setting in 2001, describing geosynchronous satellites, artificial intelligence, and commercial space travel. Clarke lived long enough to see the satellites he envisioned actually put into orbit, and in the deserts of New Mexico, a "spaceport" is planned that will allow paying passengers to see our pale blue dot from near space.
2. The Truman Show (1998)
It's hard for many young people to remember, but there was a time before the 24-hour news feed and the reality TV craze. The Truman Show, starring Jim Carrey as the unwitting star of a voyeuristic television show watched by billions around the planet, foretold the coming of America's weekly entertainment. Not only was close, continuous surveillance plausible, it already exists in current hits like Big Brother and Survivor.
3. Gattaca (1997)
In the not-too-distant future world of Gattaca, children's genes are pre-selected by their upper-class parents for the best traits; those babies whose genes are imperfect are treated as second-class citizens. Today DNA analysis is common, and several companies offer genetic testing for as little as a few hundred dollars. Genetic profiling? Health insurance companies potentially denying claims based on genetic predisposition to a disease? For many, this fear is not science fiction but science fact.
4. Iron Man (2008)
Marvel Comics hero Tony Stark is a genius inventor whose suit of armor—basically a souped-up mechanical exoskeleton run by computers—is probably more scientifically plausible than most superheroes. Though Iron Man's nifty gadgets, including his handy laser repulsors and jet boots, remain science fiction, in many cases the underlying scientific principles are sound. Practical problems, such as the suit's cost and weight, would make a real Iron Man unlikely.
5. Jurassic Park (1993)
Part of what made Michael Crichton an enormously popular writer was his ability to extrapolate current science technology. Science fiction has always been about "What if?", and few modern authors blended science fact with science fiction so successfully. Though scientists are a long way off from cloning dinosaurs—they haven't gone much past Dolly the cloned sheep—the scientific fundamentals are there. By the end of the century, real cloned dinos might just be chasing down tourists!
Any others you think should be on the list?
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BF,
ReplyDelete"Would you say that there is a positive correlation between appreciation of science fiction and non-belief in traditional religion?"
This certainly would not be true in my case.
Books Like Peter the Great, Hawaii, Roots, Sea to Shining Sea, Killer Angels and stuff like that which are well researched and based on good history are some of my favorites.
I know that a lot of scientists are very keen on science fistion, and I think I can see that happening since I suppose it is stimulating to that type of brain/ personality.
My two daughters are fanatical about science fiction books/movies and also the horror movies, which I never enjoyed.
I knew that I couldn't swallow the stories in the bible by the time I was 11 years old.
I first started to like Star Trek when I found out what a great comedy their medicine/biology section really is. I wish, I would understand more of Star Trek physics.
ReplyDeleteSoemtimes, I think we're not so far from 1984...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one here who has read (and shuddered over) a Robert Heinlein story called "If This Goes On/Revolt in 2100"?
ReplyDeleteThe title varies, I think depending on where it was published. It's about a 22nd-century America ruled by a Xian cult which combines the worst elements of Jerry Falwellism and the Taliban. Charming fellows.
Wee-
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I've read it, but it's been too long, and too many brain cells have been lost, so - at your suggestion I will track it down and re-read it.
BF,
ReplyDeleteI do have to appreciate that some science fiction has been based on real science and then the authors have projected into the future. I know some of those authors were well trained in science. At that point then, science fiction might rather be thought of as philosophy?
I do admit that I was a huge fan of Dick Tracy back in the day.
My Mom and I would read the morning paper together when I was in school and I always liked getting to the "funnies." Dick Tracy was a serial "comic" back then.
One day my Mom said, I wish I could have that device D.T. has strapped to his wrist so I could let you know when I need you to come home (I was not one to languish around the house.) Now almost every kid has one.
Wee-
ReplyDeleteGot it!
It's in a collection of Heinlein's short stories entitled "The Past Through Tomorrow".
I will reread it tonight!
"It was cold on the rampart. I slapped my numbed hands together, then stopped hastily for fear of disturbing the Prophet. My post that night was just outside his personal apartments-..."
Can't wait!
Thanks
BF
BF, you win the internets! I'm definitely a sci-fi nerd and I totally saw this list not too long ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you guys think about Soylent Green?? Could that one be on the list?? Or how about "A Clockwork Orange"?
Apparently there is a positive correlation between scientists and atheism or being non-religious. Like Froggie said, I think there is also a correlation between science people and a love for sci-fi (which makes sense). So if that is true, I guess that means there probably is a positive correlation between sci-fi appreciation and non-religiousness.
ITS PEOPLE!
ReplyDeleteBF,
ReplyDeleteIt's OK. I'm Ninja.
Logan's Run anyone?
ReplyDeleteTrivia note-
ReplyDeleteLogan's Run was the first film to ever use Dolby Stereo.
Jurassic Park remains one of my favorite movies ever. I was recently flicking through an old copy of the novel though, and it made me wish that they'd put the book on the big screen, and not diluted all of the science (fiction?).
ReplyDeleteHas anyone read Crichton's novel Next? The plot's not so strong, but it has some interesting ideas.
I've got that Heinlein book.
ReplyDeleteI'll see what the title is on my copy.
If I remember the society was massively infiltrated by the resistance.
Just found it
"Revolt in 2010"
New English Library
written in 1964 reprinted 72 74 and 77
"It is easy to be free when you have been brought up in freedom; it is not easy otherwise; A zoo tiger, escaped, will often slink back into the peace and security of its bars. If he can't get back, they tell me, he will pace back and forth within the limits of bars that are no longer there. I suppose I was still pacing in my conditioned pattern.
The human mind is a tremendously complex thing; it has compartments in it that its owner himself doesnot suspect. I had thought I had give my mind a thorough housecleaning already and had rid it of all the dirty supersticions I had been brought up to believe. I was learning that the 'Housecleaning' had been no more than a matter of sweeping the dirt under the rugs - it would be years before the cleansing was complete, before the clean air of reason blew through every room"
page 90
Logan's Run anyone?
ReplyDeletemmm.... Jenny Agutter
Now look what you've got me googling.
ReplyDeleteThis is from Logan's Run
Tilia,
ReplyDeleteYou might be interested in this book...
The PHysics of Star Trek
With regards to Jurassic park,
ReplyDeleteRIP Michael Crichton
Stew,
Where did that last pic come from?? I actually have never seen "Logan's run", was there really partial nudity?? O.O
When they swim in the lake there was full nudity. If I remember correctly.
ReplyDeleteIt was rated PG in 1976.
In the future it seems men wear lots of clothes but women run around in floaty togas.
Sounds pretty cool, I gotta watch Logan's Run now hehe :)
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that was PG, I thought nudity got you at least PG-13.
No, I wouldn't say so (re. positive correlation). I know people able to seperate their fantasies from their need to understand the nature of reality.
ReplyDeleteI'm one of them.
Craving visions of an alternate reality is different from wanting to know why I exist. Of course, others definitely like to conflate the two.
There are so many good sci-fi / fantasy series I could recommend, but I think I'll stick to the "most plausible" idea. I would highly recommend David Brin (a physicist) and the series that starts with Sundiver. Another which I'd always hoped would be turned into a movie is Julian May's Saga of Pliestocene Exile (first book = The Many Colored Land).
---
All that aside, I don't have the stomach for sci fi much any more, and it's depressing. I avoid fiction these days, mostly because I have a hard time escaping by reading stuff.
It's a serious bummer
I can think of a couple:
ReplyDeleteMinority Report. Not for the silly pre-cogs thing but for the intelligent advertising (the scene after Tom Cruise has his eye-job) that recognizes customers as they enter the store and suggest things they might like.
Serenity. The only languages that survive into the future are English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese - I know not which) - all the English-speakers swear in Chinese.
Sunshine. Not really plausible or anything, I just wanted to mention that it's fucking brilliant and that Danny Boyle is a genius.
I'm pretty big into Sci-Fi and equally big into not believing in gods. I have no idea if the two are related!
If we're going to talk about movies, I sure hope someone here has seen Primer
ReplyDelete(Technically, it's labeled as a drama and not sci-fi. But it involves time travel, so...)
I think I saw "minority report" on another "most plausible" sci-fi list, good one ExPatMatt.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately I don't remember that movie and I loathe Tom Cruise and his arrogance so I don't know if I'll ever see it again.
Jurassic Park remains one of my favorite movies ever. I was recently flicking through an old copy of the novel though, and it made me wish that they'd put the book on the big screen, and not diluted all of the science (fiction?).
ReplyDeleteHas anyone read Crichton's novel Next? The plot's not so strong, but it has some interesting ideas.
I have not read Next yet. I do like Crichton's work though. I was so disappointed by the Jurassic Park Movie after reading the book. Sorry the T-Rex was not the savior of the humans from the raptors, it was Dr. Grant's quick thinking. I agree they also diluted the science way too much. It sadden me, they didn't go into the computer set up like in the book, me being a Computer Science major.
Serenity and it's TV counterpart Firefly are must sees. I have both on DVD.
ReplyDeleteNow can I mention Blade Runner?
I have not read Next yet. I do like Crichton's work though. I was so disappointed by the Jurassic Park Movie after reading the book. Sorry the T-Rex was not the savior of the humans from the raptors, it was Dr. Grant's quick thinking. I agree they also diluted the science way too much. It sadden me, they didn't go into the computer set up like in the book, me being a Computer Science major.
ReplyDeleteYeah, there was a whole mathematical angle Crichton covered in the book too. For example, they use some standard deviation curves to discover the dinosaurs were breeding. Also the plot was much better. There's a boat ride, some pterodactyls, and a whole lot more being chased by raptors. Also, The Lost World novel had every hallmark of the rushed sequel, but the film is a serious contender for biggest disappointment of the decade.
While we're suggesting things, has anyone seen the film Equilibrium?
I think they tried to make "Jurassic Park" into a family/kids movie and that's where the problem started. I guess that made it easier for Disney world to make a ride out of the movie.
ReplyDeleteFrodo,
ReplyDeleteAgainst my better judgment, I actually like Equilibrium. I know it's a blatant rip-off of so many other sci-fi books and films (which makes for a kick-ass drinking game) but the gun kata is pure genius and anything with Sean Bean in it can't be that bad.
Beams,
You can talk about Blade Runner for as long as you like....which version though?
ExPatMatt,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I have heard that it "borrowed" a few things from other sources. What I did like was when Christian Bale's character seems to come to his senses of his own volition. He's not brought there by an external agent, like Neo is in the Matrix. Just seems to have a more inspiring message.
Also, the gun fights were sweet.
"You can talk about Blade Runner for as long as you like....which version though?"
ReplyDeleteThe real version that was finally released on DVD recently. I picked it up asap.
The dirty over crowded nature of that world seemed more real to me.