Science Fiction
You know the worst kind of story? Science Fiction. I hate it. In my opinion, science fiction is the laziest kind of story telling. You literally just make things up. All sorts of stupid details. Does your story have a plot hole because the laws of physics don’t allow for something to happen? Make it up. Call it science fiction – good to go.
But don’t get me wrong. I love reading, especially regular fiction. I enjoy reading it. But I enjoy it because I can relate to the subjects and I can get lost in the prose and style. But then science fiction comes along, and well, that’s a whole ‘nother ballgame.
Seriously. You can literally (a word never used to describe the genre) do anything – you can invent aliens and monsters and planets and space ships. It’s not smart or innovative. In fact, I had the opportunity to write a science fiction story when I was in 4th grade for a local contest. I didn’t. Instead, I went out to a creek and caught frogs (13, the record still stands).
So, if you ever find yourself in a literary discussion and some turd who comes running up to you freaking out because he lost his trilogy of some stupid sci-fi franchise, here are some things you can say:
- Seriously?
- Think about the names that these creatures get. The author actually had to think the name up and then say, “yeah, that’s perfect!” The writer sat around for hours and said, you know, Floog is an incredible name for a race of aliens. And you know, I’m going to make it so that they can shoot fire and shape shift. YES!
- Get out of here kid.
- Here’s a science fiction story I’d like to read: There’s this scientist in a lab who works on a formula constantly. Every once in a while he has to apply for another government grant to keep his study going. He teaches a few classes at the local university and is known for having a difficult midterm. He raises a family and retires without ever fully understanding his formulas. The End. Now that’s a story!
- Yeah, I read a science fiction book once. They made a movie out of it. It was called Congo and it starred Tim Curry and Delroy Lindo. It was awful.
- Aliens? We’re doing that again?
- These stories, the ones actually about science, always feature some kind of cowboy-scientist – a rogue, tough-as-nails-when-backed-into-a-corner-scientist who can fight and annihilate people. Have you ever seen a scientist? I’m not gonna get into stereotypes, but I don’t remember the last time a bar fight was cut short because the scientist at the end of the bar was too intimidating.
- Is it medieval science fiction? It is? Well if it’s not Lord of the Rings, then don’t worry about it. It won’t amount to anything. Trust me on this one. The battle for Middle Earth can wait til the next wannabe Tolkien comes along.
I know a great place where you can get your thetan tested.
I’m guilty of reading science fiction here and there, and typically enjoying it. No, I’m not incredibly proud of it-however, I would like to stand up for the genre. When I read fiction, I want to be entertained. I’m not reading a textbook, a biography, a war account or any other type of nonfiction book. I’m reading something that is made up. Completely. Yes, I prefer science fiction books with human characters, and with plots that generally obey the laws of physics, but hey, every now and then I’ll throw in a well-written fantasy novel. If you’ve ever enjoyed watching Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, then you’ve enjoyed a made up story about species with names that were, yes, invented by the author. If you haven’t enjoyed those movies, what are you doing with your life? If you’re going to tell me that it’s okay to enjoy the movie but not the novel, then you are not intelligent. The book is ALWAYS better than the movie. Ender’s Game is probably my favorite book, because it entertains while forcing you to consider a new philosophy (the purpose of fiction in the first place). It is science fiction, but is set about 20 years in the future. Anyway, those are my thoughts.
Ok.
First of all, to say that you enjoy reading, but then to go into a tirade on Sci-Fi for the reasons you listed is ludicrous.
First, the characters. How many lawyers do you know that for all they do in the novel could double as spies? None.
How many researchers can manage to foil governments, religious groups, psychos and law enforcement all while keeping their cool and getting the girl? None.
Stories are made up of characters that are often larger than life with more luck if not skill than the average person could ever possess.
Now, on to your belief of making anything and everything up, you obviously don’t actually read any Sci-Fi or pay attention to said movies to say this. The very best of all sci-fi is judged not only by its story, but also by it’s possibility. Sure, you create a race of aliens. How much thought do you put into their physiology? A lot. Create a new planet? How much time and effort do you put into making aspects that are new but still work within the bounds of realism.
Loot at the acknowledgments of most fiction novels. You find them thanking physicists, cartographers, anthropologists, etc. who bring a level of realism to all their books. Sure, there are hacks out there that don’t put any effort into it, but 99% of them don’t sell many books. The rest of them take what’s possible and stretch it, or make something singular up (see The Force) and imagine if that one things is true, how would that change the laws of the universe and what would that universe be like centuries from now?
Most of the sci-fi writers in history and now are some of the most brilliant minds in the world. If you have doubt about the validity of this statement, go back and read some Jules Verne, whom nearly every bit of modern Sci-Fi is based on and tell me how far from reality some of these things are.
Rick,
It takes a big man to admit when he gets completely owned – but you sir, you completely owned me. Does this mean I’m giving up? Certainly not. But for the time being, I want everyone else to read the thorough and complete thrashing you gave me. Kudos.
Your heart wasn’t in it Surly Bird.
My problem with the Genre isn’t the writing or the stories, characters or worlds created through the authors imagination. I feel like SciFi is a benchmark among literature, and other genres are noticeably borrowing from it. And as Rick says, many of the writers are some of the most “brilliant minds” of today.
I take issue with the ridiculous people that I have to be associated with if I come out in support of SciFi. Trekies, George Lucus-Lovers and Ex-Pats of Middle Earth unite to demean the genre, quality literature and quite frankly the human race. I acknowledge that I reference mainly movie SciFi crazies, but I feel like there is a stereotype that goes with all forms the genre, that can’t be shaken. And indeed the disease appears to be immune deficient, once you’ve caught a love for one science fiction work, you’re more susceptible to further infections. For example, fanatics of L.O.T.R seem to also speak some Klingon(?) and debate whether or not Samantha Mulder was indeed abducted by aliens.
I want no part of that.
But listen to me, It sounds like I have already been sucked in.
This post took me on an emotional roller coaster, the kind where i was getting to second base with a girl while on said roller coaster. It happened that i was listening to por ti volare while reading the “science fiction story i’d like to read”, a story that has oscar and pulitzer written all over it. in my head, Robin williams played the scientist, score by hans zimmer, (insert various Good Will Hunting-esque projections), i literally was almost in tears. Then i read the post denouncing Congo and the work of Michael Crichton (may he rest in peace) and my tears turned to those of rage. Crichton’s books are fictional and scientific, but they dont deserve to be discredited with the alien/fantansy sect of the genre. They are based in real science and obey the laws of physics. And most of them take place in the past. Timeline? maybe an exception. But i will defend congo and jurassic park {YES!! JURASSIC F#$#ing PARK} to the bloody death!!.
Sincerely, a 180 pound, science degree (and thus scientist) carrying hurricane of teeth, fingernails and sharp bony joints willing to bar fight(in the purely verbal sense) anyone who says other wise