Science Fiction Newsletter- Dec 2010

December 1, 2010

Editor: EarlyHours-A Vigilante Ranger
Guest Editor: Elisa, Stik 15K





1. About this Newsletter
2. Letter from the Editor
3. Special Feature
4. Editor's Picks
5. Ask & Answer

Speculative Fiction – Whatever That Is

Speculative Fiction is the first Newsletter topic suggested by readers on the "Science Fiction Newsletter Forum" . It is another wide-ranging topic fraught with multiple definitions, and a history of controversy. Any genre label that must be followed with - whatever that is, is obviously hard to define. But that's what we said about Science Fiction in general, and we were able to tame it. Whatever your thoughts on the subject, don't hesitate to join in on the discussion at the "Science Fiction Newsletter Forum" .

I would also like to welcome our first Guest Editor, Elisa, Stik 15K , who has contributed this month's Special Feature, Dystopia. Stories involving utopian or dystopian societies have been a mainstay of the science fiction genre, even perhaps qualifying for their own subgenre. But there is no doubt that writing a story where current society is extrapolated into the future, resulting in a setting that imposes conflict on our characters, puts it squarely within the definition of "Speculative Fiction." Whatever that is.

"This is a work of fiction. All the characters in it, human and otherwise, are imaginary, excepting only certain of the fairy folk, whom it might be unwise to offend by casting doubts on their existence. Or lack thereof." Neil Gaiman, The Books of Magic III

Spec-fi and You

Speculative Fiction is usually defined by stating the names of all the other genres it contains. It is the solid neutronium planet eater (Star Trek, episode 35, The Doomsday Machine) of super-genres, going around eating up all the other genres like planets. In its most narrow definition, it includes science fiction, fantasy, and horror. But a speculative fiction "federation" that charges $30.00 to join, defines it as fantastic literature, hard science fiction, epic fantasy, ghost stories, horror, folk, fairy tales, slipstream, magical realism, myth-making and more. I guess in their case it pays to make the definition as all encompassing as possible.

As writers, a practical use for "speculative fiction" could be as a catchall term for stories that attempt to answer the question, "What if?" The word "speculative" itself suggests a sense of "inquisitiveness," and it would naturally include the need to hypothesize. The Latin root of the word is speculatus, meaning contemplated, examined or envisioned. So perhaps as writers, we can interpret this as imagined situations that don't have direct correspondence to ordinary experience. It is the author's imagination and vision that distinguishes our "speculative" writing from fiction that adheres to constraints of the natural world, and limitations imposed by accepted facts.

Recently, a reader posted the question in the "Sci-fi Writers Guild Forum" : "Do you feel Sci-Fi is a sub-genre of Speculative Fiction or is it the other way around?" A brief answer is that science fiction is a sub-genre of speculative fiction, because all sci-fi is spec-fi, but not all spec-fi is sci-fi. There are certainly many stories that fit into the spec-fi category that don't fit neatly into any other. An example is Alternate History. What if the South had won the Civil War? What if Germany had won World War II? What if there were only two stooges?

And what about Tarzan? For all his brachiating prowess, and simian romance (monkey love), he is not science fiction, not horror, and not steampunk. But the Tarzan stories definitely ask "what if?" How about Doctor Doolittle? Superman? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Some stories' primary focus is on fantastic hypothetical situations, and as such, fall into the category of speculative fiction. Even children's tales could be considered speculative fiction, at least any that contain magic, fairies, talking animals or monsters. "What if" the Grinch stole Christmas? I shudder to speculate.

It's not surprising that fans of science fiction also appreciate speculative fiction, given the amount of crossover. As we'll see in this month's Editor's Picks, WDC members' contributions in this category are as multifaceted, and hopefully as enduring, as an everlasting-gobstopper.

"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen." John Steinbeck

"Speculative fiction is a world that writers create, where anything can happen. It is a place beyond reality, a place that could have been, or might have been, if only the rules of the universe were altered just a bit." David Bowlin

Dystopia

Contributed by

Elisa, Stik 15K , Guest Editor

Dystopia stories have emerged as a popular and enduring facet of speculative fiction over the last several decades. It is a great way to depict the intangible (e.g. fears of society's chaotic changes) in a tangible manner. The development of a dystopian setting can be connected to technology but doesn't necessarily require it. In fact, by today's standards, science and technology used in dystopian works can come across as lo-fi. Even so, the key to dystopia's continued popularity is its emotional appeal to our higher reasoning functions, which in turn elicits an emotional response.

But what is dystopia, anyway? We can start with the dictionary definition of dystopia.

Noun \ dis-tō-pē-ə
: an imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives (from Merriam-Webster.com)

The dictionary definition above gives us two points to consider, and it also boils down the essence of other definitions found in various sources. Regardless of the time or place in which a dystopian piece was written, the ideas of fear and losing the intangible assets of what makes us human are the common denominators. From there, other factors help to develop a dystopian environment that is unique to the story. Authors of dystopian pieces will draw much of their inspiration from social concerns and physical/technological advances outside their personal experiences. This is not to say that personal experience is omitted from the process. In fact, the author's opinions and understanding of an area's history will guide his or her interpretation of society and the impact of various technologies on it. All of these factors receive similar amounts of thought and attention in order to develop the fear and explore what happens when human elements are eliminated over time.

The next question to ponder is what makes it so popular and how it has achieved its lauded status. Though some in the literary community may argue that dystopian fiction dates back to the late Victorian era, the dystopian classics most widely recognized today began to emerge in the 1930s. By this time, there had been significant changes in transportation, architecture, artistic aesthetics and chemical engineering. Many of these changes showed an unexpected (at the time) ugly side in World War I, an event that bore the most immediate impact in the West but also catalyzed the first wave of socio-political upheaval in the East. The Great War saw technology used for some of its worst purposes yet, and the rate of development left many educated people wondering how far it would go. These ponderations helped develop the sense of fear in dystopian fiction, a fear rooted primarily in uncertainty but also in suspicion of anything declared to be progress. This suspicion was validated by other events, especially the Great Depression and the rise of totalitarian regimes across Europe. Over the next thirty years, even more accelerated technological developments clashed with wars waged in the name of social distress. Such an intersection further fueled fears about the possibilities of science as well as what these developments did to the human soul.

Now that the groundwork for dystopia has been laid, let's take a look at a couple examples. The funny thing about fear is it can be personal and universal at the same time. This enables the social unrest aspect of dystopia to resonate with a variety of readers (or viewers, if it's a more visual form of media) regardless of the audience's background. Even so, how the fear of social changes is expressed will vary. For example, Brave New World depicts a hierarchical society that emphasizes strict social positions and conforming to those standards. On the other hand, Akira shows a people constantly railing against the government and having little regard for anything resembling social order. (Interestingly enough, the most recent dystopian stories are combining the two elements. Children of Men combines the Eastern fear of social disorder with Western cultural practices.) Both of these works show society at the extremes, which results in overall emotional paralysis for the vast majority of the people living in those groups. The main characters, meanwhile, are gradually awakened from the stasis and are bombarded with a variety of emotional responses when their view of the world shifts. This shock resonates with readers even though Brave New World expresses fears of the consequences of totalitarian regimes while Akira frets over a dramatic loss of social order. On top of that, the stories do not center on technological developments but use technology in more subtle ways than one may see in a traditional science fiction piece. Whenever science steps in, it fulfills one role of many in the greater development of a society that could eventually be our own. It never tromps on the fear that forms the heart of a dystopia piece.

"Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope and that enables you to laugh at life's realities. Dr. Seuss

The wide-ranging and inclusive definition of Speculative Fiction is well illustrated by this month's Picks. Some of the Picks would be considered science fiction, while others are fantasy, horror, dystopia, or maybe just plain speculative fiction, whatever that is. Enjoy!

ID: 1667203   (Rated: 13+) In a Mechanistic World  Arrogance can blind you to wisdom given willingly. by Bodee

ID: 1650077   (Rated: E) My fair beauty  How one refuses to become old. Written for Writers Cramp. by Jamie

ID: 1685748   (Rated: 18+) Savior  A SciFi story set during a second civil war in the US by Max Griffin

ID: 783918   (Rated: ASR) From Lances to Light Sabers  An essay discussing the lure of reading and writing fantasy and science fiction. by Davy Kraken

ID: 1716984   (Rated: 13+) This Little Piggy  A dark tale of adventure and accomplishment by EarlyHours-A Vigilante Ranger

ID: 1612187   (Rated: 18+) The Cube  What happens when a discovery goes wrong?(Published) by EvilDawg - A Vigilante Ranger!

ID: 1679865   (Rated: ASR) Top of the World  A man finally achieves status -- at a price. Featured in "Separate Worlds" (Feb. 2012). by Futrboy

ID: 1706925   (Rated: 13+) If Thine Eye Offends Thee  "If thine eye offends thee, pluck it out."--Mathtew 18:9 by Glenn Card

Short Stories with Dystopian Settings:

ID: 1320337   (Rated: E) Wanting to Learn  A girl's family risks all to send her on the first steps towards freedom and learning by JudasFm

ID: 1649357   (Rated: 13+) The Believer  A moment of dark reflection sending the reader into an almost dystopian view on our world. by R.W.R

ID: 1709028   (Rated: 13+) Next Step-- Genocide  Set in dystopia, cultures are targeting one group of people for defying Deity. by Lauren Lamourine

ID: 1602193   (Rated: E) The Storyteller  An old man finds his purpose after the end of the world. by Backwoods80

ID: 1619996   (Rated: 13+) My Friends Call Me Cam  How business gets done in Panglobal Union corporate dystopia by Kyle Curcio

Here is some special speculation on spectacular speculative poetry:

ID: 1589225   (Rated: E) Burial Mound  Post-nuclear holocaust poem by Catherine Hall

ID: 1693130   (Rated: E) Nobody Notices the Moon  Looking out my window at night, feeling lonely... by melzgr8

ID: 1727721 Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. by Not Available.

This is a contest that would be of interest to any writer or fan of speculative fiction:

ID: 1670276   (Rated: 13+) Separate Worlds Monthly Contest  Win Gift Points and the chance to be published in a bi-monthly ezine by Colin Back on the Ghost Roads

Last month's Newsletter topic was Technology in Science Fiction

:

In the November Newsletter, I couldn't remember the source of Dr. McCoy's quote, "My god, man! Drilling holes in his head's not the answer! The artery must be repaired! Now put away your butcher knives and let me save this patient before it's too late!" C. Carlos Camacho correctly identified it as Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.

~j : "Great and timely newsletter... I'm playing with a lot of technology real and imagined for this year's National Novel Writing Month. I will be referring back to this one for inspiration!"

Sherri the Writer : "Yes, Star Trek - The Next Generation did the cybernetic people. They were called the Borg and were big players in another series, Star Trek - Voyager. They even "de-assimilated" one and made her a member of the crew. And the Borg, by the way, are awesome! Thanks for another great newsletter!"

bobneH .. aka.. HoD DuraH : "Be cautious when writing about Future Tech. Don't try to describe 'how' it works..(after all it hasn't been invented... yet) 'That' it works, and 'what' it does is enough. (would you describe 'how' a light bulb works, or just say, She turned the lights on?) NOTE... I use 'implanted communication devices'...Teli-Plants... with computer access, in my future universe stories."

LJPC - the tortoise : "....I knew about the Star Trek communicator/cell phone resemblance, but the rest of it was new to me. Thanks for the cool link to transparent aluminum. The picture of Scotty speaking to the 'mouse' was hilarious. I really loved the timeline and all the quotes, too, particularly the one written in 1899 from the Patent Office. You'd think a guy from the Patent Office would be a bit more imaginative..."

D. R. Prescott : "...The chronology of science fiction predicting future technology leads to the idea that if we can imagine it we can almost certainly do it, sooner or later. You 1928 item made me immediately think of Dick Tracy's wrist radio as another example of forecasting miniaturization, e.g. the old 6AU6 vacuum tubes come to mind, one of a number in most radios back then that would have made wrist radios unwieldy at best."

tadpole1 : "I just read your sci fi newsletter. It caught my attention because I am writing a novel (95,000 words so far) concerning nanotechnology and curing cancer. I've done a lot of research for it, including visiting two labs. Oh course, when people play God, things go wrong..."

There has been an ongoing discussion regarding the question posed in the September Newsletter, What do you think visiting Aliens would think of us?.