@fmf saidThe best sci-fi clarifies our perception of our state of being in the present.
Thoughts?
It takes the world as we know it, and tweaks some constants such as how we organize ourselves or the state of the planet, or what technology we have.
If it's good, it then allows us to explore or question what we consider normal in terms of morality, spirituality, religion, ideology, philosophy, politics, ethics, human nature and the human spirit.
A lot of ordinary and passable sci-fi doesn't attempt do this.
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@fmf saidA classic example of these principles is the television show The Twilight Zone.
The best sci-fi clarifies our perception of our state of being in the present.
It takes the world as we know it, and tweaks some constants such as how we organize ourselves or the state of the planet, or what technology we have.
If it's good, it then allows us to explore or question what we consider normal in terms of morality, spirituality, religion, ideology, philosoph ...[text shortened]... uman nature and the human spirit.
A lot of ordinary and passable sci-fi doesn't attempt do this.
"There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Twilight Zone."
— Rod Serling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Zone_(1959_TV_series)
@fmf saidHave you read Watership Down? For me, it is right up there with Lord of the Rings, but a completely different genre. Everyone in my family has read it and loved it; I'd advise you NOT to watch the cartoon first before you read it. It is an old book you should be able to find at any used book store, and it is a good book for younger kids.
The best science fiction is not about predicting the future; it's about contemplating the human condition now.
Thoughts?
@kellyjay saidBoth... but a long, long time ago! Do you see them appearing on some part of a Venn diagram that has sci-fi on it? i.e. Created worlds that have their own thing going on and the reader witnesses a moral system in fantasy circumstances, what issues arise and how characters interact?
Have you read Watership Down? For me, it is right up there with Lord of the Rings...
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@fmf saidEvery world created in any story has basic morals played out; they are good sounding boards for thought-provoking themes. Much like a parable, it gives us something to ponder. Not all themes are healthy, and some go to the bottom of the barrel, where people are treated more like objects than people.
Both... but a long, long time ago! Do you see them appearing on some part of a Venn diagram that has sci-fi on it? i.e. Created worlds that have their own thing going on and the reader witnesses a moral system in fantasy circumstances, what issues arise and how characters interact?
@suzianne saidSterling was an occultist.
A classic example of these principles is the television show The Twilight Zone.
"There is a fifth dimension, beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowle ...[text shortened]... ilight Zone."
— Rod Serling
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twilight_Zone_(1959_TV_series)