& Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut Science Fiction & Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

A definition Typically involves A futuristic setting Other/alien worlds Alien beings Space travel Substantial technological advancements Includes social commentary, utopian or dystopian elements that reveal flaws in the real world. For example in 1968, “Plato’s Stepchildren” (Star Trek), featured the first interracial kiss—between Kirk and Uhura—on a U.S. television show.

from “Plato’s Stepchildren” The first interracial kiss on a television show in the U.S. After one year on Star Trek, Uhura actress Nichelle Nichols turned in her resignation. Soon after, she was personally praised by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for portraying a black woman on television (Huff).

Background/History While older or ancient texts, such as the Book of Ezekiel, may be retroactively labeled science fiction, the term itself is most identifiable in modern works, like those by H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. The first sci-fi writers in America published in pulp magazines, such as Amazing Stories. The beginning of the twentieth century, primarily the 1920s, is called the Pulp Era. (*Pulp refers to the cheap paper these magazines were printed on.) The Golden Age of science fiction occurred roughly in the 1930s and 1940s and includes writers like Asimov and Heinlein. This period is called the Golden Age because science fiction writers began to gain more respect and to write in a more sophisticated manner, including more literary elements in their narratives. The writers are still mainly confined to magazine publication.

Background, cont. A very famous magazine that’s published science fiction since 1926. Vonnegut’s first publication (ever) was in Collier’s in 1952.

Background/History, cont. After World War II, science fiction writers had seen what advancements in science could do (atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945). There was a turn to soft science fiction. During the 1960s and 1970s, science fiction was also influenced by rights movements and social activism. During the 1960s and 1970s, there was also a conscious effort on the part of science fiction writers to make the genre respectable, “literary.” In the 1980s, cyberpunk became popular.

Sub-genres Speculative- Speculative science fiction involves narratives that are set in a near-Earth future and that include plots that are possible based upon current scientific advancement. These narratives also focus on society as well as ethics and morals as opposed to “hard tech.” Robert Heinlein coined the term in 1947 in his article titled “On Writing Speculative Fiction.” *The term speculative is also often used as a catchall for any writing that utilizes an unreal world, but in the context of sci-fi (see the definition above). Also, some writers use the term speculative to distinguish more literary/serious science fiction from that, as they see it, intended for mass entertainment.

Sub-genres, cont. Cyberpunk- Cyberpunk is a sub-genre of science in which an Earth-like dystopian setting is used, in which computers dominate the world and its reality, in which a loner is the protagonist, and in which Noir elements are dominant. This genre is considered to have been first established in the 1980’s. Blade Runner— directed by Ridley Scott and based on a novel by Philip K. Dick—is a good example. William Gibson’s Neuromancer and other novels he’s written are famous for popularizing the genre. *Steampunk is a spin-off on this term wherein steam-powered technology rather than computer-driven tech dominates the fictional world.

Other terminology Hard science fiction- Hard sci-fi utilizes tangible scientific advancements, and these are the focus of or impetus for the plot. Soft science fiction- Soft sci-fi focuses more on society’s response to scientific advancements. The term comes from its attention to soft sciences, such as anthropology (The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin). In soft sci-fi, there is more focus on characters, morals, and ethics. *Morals are individual beliefs about what is right and what is wrong. Ethics refers to beliefs about morals that come from an outside source.

Vonnegut Biography & Info. He was born in 1922 in Indianapolis, IN. He was of German descent. He went to WWII but he enlisted. He was at school at Cornell when he enlisted. He was a POW and did live through/survive the firebombing (by the Allies) of Dresden in 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart. After WWII, Vonnegut attended the U. of Chicago as an anthropology major. His first novel published was Player Piano (1952). He published stories in magazines ranging from Playboy to Cosmopolitan. He was a humanist. He died in 2007.

Bio., cont.

Humanism Humanism is the primary belief is in the power of individuals/humankind—not really in a divine or supernatural power. (*Different from atheism.) Humanists do not believe that humans are essentially good or bad…action is required (existentialism!). However, there is a strong belief in the ability of humankind to be good. Humanism seeks practical and rational approaches to solving humankind’s problems

The Novel Slaughterhouse-Five: The Children’s Crusade: A Duty-Dance with Death Published in 1969 Vonnegut’s sixth novel A mix of hard and soft science fiction Due mainly to its sexual content (Billy and Montana), the book has frequently been banned.

The Novel, cont. Postmodern meta-fictional semi-autobiographical nonlinear plot eclectic usage of outside sources (mainly books) Genre play (war story and science fiction) Satirical Engages in social commentary (points out the flaws in society) Utilizes humor (*may be dark, wry, etc.) Masks the real-world people and situations it is commenting upon

Works Cited Cuddon, J.A., ed. “Science Fiction.” Literary Terms and Literary Theory. New York: Penguin, 1998. 791-800. Print. Huff, Richard. “Star Trek actress Nichelle Nichols: Martin Luther King Jr. impacted decision to stay on Enterprise.” NY Daily News. NY Daily News, 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 1 Feb. 2015. Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five. New York: Batnam, 1969. Print.