History of the Future 4: The Future in Britain

Frankenstein Written by Mary Shelly ( ) Written by Mary Shelly ( ) Frankenstein creates life Frankenstein creates life Uses electricity, body parts Uses electricity, body parts Monster sympathetic but destructive Monster sympathetic but destructive Little scientific content, but is about science Little scientific content, but is about science Has been claimed as first SF novel Has been claimed as first SF novel Themes & meanings are complex Themes & meanings are complex “There are some things man is not meant to know” “There are some things man is not meant to know”

Jules Verne ( ) French writer, hugely popular French writer, hugely popular Stories of adventure Stories of adventure Often with technological component Often with technological component Similar to today’s technothrillers Similar to today’s technothrillers Among the best known Among the best known 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870) 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870) Around the World in 80 Days (1874) Around the World in 80 Days (1874) Journey to the Center of the Earth (1863) Journey to the Center of the Earth (1863)

From the Earth to the Moon (1869) Theme of futuristic travel fitted with others Theme of futuristic travel fitted with others Fired out of a huge cannon Fired out of a huge cannon But insisted scientifically plausible But insisted scientifically plausible Quite funny- parody national identities Quite funny- parody national identities Optimistic, believer in progress Optimistic, believer in progress

H G Wells ( ) Prolific, versatile, popular author Prolific, versatile, popular author Trained as biologist, interested in evolution Trained as biologist, interested in evolution Studied under T H Huxley Studied under T H Huxley Earl work as science journalist Earl work as science journalist Worked in many genres Worked in many genres Scientific romances Scientific romances Comedies, dramas Comedies, dramas Futurism, social reform Futurism, social reform Tension between utopia dreams, Darwinism Tension between utopia dreams, Darwinism

The Scientific Romance Term originated in 1880s Term originated in 1880s Associated with work of Wells Associated with work of Wells Key characteristics Key characteristics Long evolutionary perspective Long evolutionary perspective Not much sense of frontier Not much sense of frontier Lack of strong masterful hero Lack of strong masterful hero Often somewhat pessimistic Often somewhat pessimistic

Evolution Darwin – Origin of Species, 1859 Darwin – Origin of Species, 1859 Preceded by Lamarck, Philosophi Zoologique (1809) Preceded by Lamarck, Philosophi Zoologique (1809) Mechanisms of heredity, mutation remain unclear Mechanisms of heredity, mutation remain unclear Darwin does not even have idea of gene Darwin does not even have idea of gene Rapidly accepted in Britain Rapidly accepted in Britain Herbert Spencer – Social Darwinism Herbert Spencer – Social Darwinism Remains more controversial in the USA Remains more controversial in the USA Raises possibility of further human development Raises possibility of further human development

Directing Human Evolution Eugenics – improvement of human gene pool Sterilization, selective breeding Sterilization, selective breeding Eliminate mental & physical disease Eliminate mental & physical disease Long practiced with animals Long practiced with animals Popular in USA through 1940 Popular in USA through 1940 Given a bad name by the Nazis Given a bad name by the Nazis

War of the Worlds (1898) Invasion of Martians Invasion of Martians Percival Lowell – Canals of Mars Percival Lowell – Canals of Mars Dying race, starved of water Dying race, starved of water Civilization crumbles pretty quickly Civilization crumbles pretty quickly They have the superior technology They have the superior technology Plan to colonize earth Plan to colonize earth Local microbes save the day Local microbes save the day A 1955 magazine version

Progress & Ambivalence The Time Machine The Time Machine Victorian travels forward in time Victorian travels forward in time Discovers humanity divided into two races Discovers humanity divided into two races Evolution may not equal Progress Evolution may not equal Progress

The First World War Ends the “long nineteenth century” Ends the “long nineteenth century” Reverses trend of globalization Reverses trend of globalization Shakes faith in progress, science Shakes faith in progress, science Tanks, guns, gas used on Europeans Tanks, guns, gas used on Europeans British feeling of stagnation, decline British feeling of stagnation, decline Wells takes it badly Wells takes it badly Initial hope for utopian rebuilding dashed Initial hope for utopian rebuilding dashed Grows increasingly bitter Grows increasingly bitter

Between the Wars Substantial leftist sentiment in Britain Substantial leftist sentiment in Britain Peace through international unity Peace through international unity Socialism & communism appeal to many Socialism & communism appeal to many World State to grow from League of Nations World State to grow from League of Nations Religious skepticism Religious skepticism Struggle between Fascism & Communism Struggle between Fascism & Communism Spanish Civil War Spanish Civil War

Framing Stapledon Takes many ideas from Wells Takes many ideas from Wells Collapse of civilization in war Collapse of civilization in war Rise of World State Rise of World State Martian invasion Martian invasion Evolution of giant-brained men Evolution of giant-brained men Space flight Space flight Turns them into something grander Turns them into something grander ultimately quasi-religious ultimately quasi-religious Huge influence on Arthur C. Clarke Huge influence on Arthur C. Clarke