Science Fiction Realm of the Possible

Definition: Literature of the human species encountering change, whether it arrives via scientific discoveries, technological innovations, natural events, or societal shifts.

It is also… Provides an approach to understanding the universe Literature of ideas and philosophy Provides an approach to understanding the universe “What if?” “If this goes on…” Exploring ideas of what would happen to us as a group rather than developing a plot or character or what might happen to the individual We can safely simulate experiments that we cannot or should not conduct in the real world. Brave New World- we are not going to purposely dumb down people in order to work menial jobs 1984- we are not going to take away emotion Cast with believable characters, and we can speculate what might happen if it were real

And again… Literature of the Other A community of thinkers and creatives Provides alternative points of view on familiar topics in order to give us a clearer perspective All come together to better understand and share our visions of how humans might be changed. Members must feel welcome, free, and safe to express true selves in our exploration of the human condition encountering change.

EARLY developments Before 1500’s- elements found in early fantasy works 1500’s-1700’s (ish)- scientific discoveries that characterized the Enlightenment Thomas More’s Utopia Johannes Kepler's Somnium (The Dream, 1634) Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels (1726)

OK…so. 1800’s 19th Century sees science propelled forward Mary Shelley Frankenstein (1818) – “mad scientist” genre which experiments with putting human bodies together  The Last Man (1826)- apocalyptic novel - future world that has been ravaged by a plague

The Grandaddies of Science Fiction - Verne and Wells Jules Verne H.G. Wells Mixed adventure with technology in the modern day or propelled into the future  Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)  From the Earth to the Moon(1865)  Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869)  Uses science fiction to critique his society Uses Darwinian evolution and Marxism The Time Machine (1895) The War of the Worlds (1898)