Science Fiction Newsletter - Apr 2011

For a full list of previous issues, go to: "Science Fiction Newsletter - Archives" 

April 1, 2011

Editor: EarlyHours-A Vigilante Ranger




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

Superheroes and Science Fiction

Most science fiction fans appreciate the superheroes. For decades, these heroes have entertained us and saved humanity, often by using science and technology. But all too often it's the super villains who use science to try to thwart our heroes, while the costumed crusaders rely on magic-like super powers that can't be explained. Herein lies the controversy: Science Fiction or Fantasy? This Newsletter looks at the question, but generally treats the superhero genre as science fiction. Or at least Batman; he has no super powers at all, but a lot of cool bat-stuff.

"I think you just have to appreciate who you are and hopefully they can see what a superhero is about." Lucy Liu

Science Fiction or Fantasy?

I love superheroes. Comic book tales of costumed crime fighters protecting the public always fascinated me. But how can we classify these stories? Most would agree that the term, "Speculative Fiction" applies, but what about Science Fiction? As discussed in previous Newsletters, science fiction must include a scientific element or idea that is crucial to the story. Without the scientific element, the story falls apart. Comic book characters have long been involved in science. Many villains, in particular, started out as scientists, then became "mad" scientists, and then acquired some superhuman power that enabled them to wreak havoc on the world. Out-of-control science has always been one of mankind's greatest fears.

Science has been an integral part of the superhero genre since its inception. Many of the original writers and editors in the superhero comic book field had strong ties with the science fiction pulps. The heroes and their stories have become more scientifically accurate over the years. At the height of the Cold War, and after the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957, there was anxiety over the quality of science education. So comics included more accurate science concepts, and tried to show parents that their publications had a net positive benefit for children.

Maybe the genre distinction depends on the superhero. For example, Superman has superhuman powers, like the ability to fly, great strength, X-ray vision, and more. Does this sound more like Fantasy? What about Batman? He has no superhuman abilities, but Where does he get those wonderful toys?* Many superheroes have interacted with aliens, evil scientists, and sometimes physics itself, turning these tales into science fiction. After all, Superman once flew around the Earth so fast that he reversed the spin and caused time to go backwards. If we suspend our disbelief, as readers are asked to do in almost every story, perhaps we can count that as science fiction. Regardless, it was the only way to save Lois Lane. Superman's archenemy, Luther, was a scientist that turned evil after exposure to radiation. In one episode he built a teleportation machine, which is a staple of science fiction. And even if our superhero's powers seem magical, if they can be explained by some sort of genetic manipulation, implants, or other technology, the powers become "science" and the genre is science fiction.

Whether our hero's abilities are based on physics or magic, once the character is set, science must apply to his or her actions. At first, Superman couldn't fly. He would leap from place to place, so trajectory, acceleration, velocity and gravity must have applied. Then he learned to fly, which was much more convenient, but it bent a few laws of physics. The Flash moves so fast that friction, drag and heat must play a role. Some sources say that his costume was made of a special heatproof material. Other sources say that he has an energy aura that confers appropriate protection. And as far as Aquaman is concerned, withstanding the pressures at the ocean's floor naturally gives him super strength when he comes up to sea level. And Spiderman's angular velocity while swinging between buildings imparts a force on his web strands that is several times greater than his body weight. His web material would have to be stronger than steel cable or it would snap, and Spiderman would become a human projectile. And then we'll see who appreciates physics.

Perhaps we have to accept the notion that Superheroes are both Science Fiction and Fantasy. Most have elements of both genres. But things that sound like magic or fantasy now can prove to be science fact later.

*Quote from The Joker, Batman, 1989

"With great power comes great responsibilities." Spiderman

"If you had asked me back in grade school what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would have said my first choice was an actor, but if I couldn't be that, I'd want to be a superhero." Vin Diesel

Supersize Me!

We can create our own superhero characters. But as true science fiction fans, we would naturally include scientific explanations for any of our heroes' powers. Billions of years of evolution have produced a wide variety of abilities in different animals that are beyond the gift of any normal human. Coldwater fish have natural anti-freeze-like molecules in their blood, to allow them to swim in icy water that would kill a human. Some insects can see a much wider spectrum of light compared to humans, including ultraviolet wavelengths. Dogs have more olfactory receptors than do humans, so they smell really good. I always thought they smelled bad.

With the right genetic tweaking, we can give our superhero characters any ability we see in animals. Their DNA structure is theoretically compatible with our own. In enough ways, at least, to make a plausible argument for our characters' superhuman abilities. Give your character the same super-efficient hemoglobin that crocodiles have. The increased oxygen-carrying capacity of their blood will let them stay under water like Aquaman! Or splice in a few fluorescent protein genes from a jellyfish, and make your hero glow in the dark! Stop you thief! Or I'll shine at you!

The glowing gene has actually already been used to create "glow-in-the-dark" rabbits, fish, cats, and mice. If you want to do this in your own story, you're not limited to transferring genes between animals —you can mix and match between animals, plants and bacteria. This technology is called transgenics; it was first used in the early 1970's and was promptly banned. Eventually, the moratorium on transgenics was lifted, under very strict guidelines. One of the rules is don't ever perform these experiments on yourself, because you could become an evil super villain.

But what about giving your superhero powers beyond those found in nature, like telekinesis, or the ability to shoot a death-ray from their fingers? This goes beyond the reach of pure genetic engineering. Perhaps using nanotechnology or cybernetic implants is the way to go. Regardless of the mechanisms by which our heroes acquire and use their powers, science and technology should form the foundation of their abilities. Once we introduce magical powers, it's Fantasy!

Guest Editors Wanted!

For upcoming issues of the Unofficial Science Fiction newsletter, I would like to invite subscribers to contribute. Please consider writing a "Special Feature," based on any scientific of sci-fi interest you may have. Don't hesitate to contact me anytime if this appeals to you! -ed.

"I'm not normally a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me, Superman!" Homer Simpson

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a bitem! The Super-writers of WDC have posted a variety of heroic tales! Here are some samples. Enjoy!

ID: 1759828   (Rated: E) Dancedude  A bit of fun, humor and superhero parodies. by Wanderer

ID: 1473588   (Rated: 13+) Shovel Man  Where evil lurks, the Shovel Man is sure to be. by Taniuska

ID: 1131181   (Rated: 13+) Holding Out for a Hero  A Gotham detective gets a little help from a couple of local heroes. by StephB

ID: 1685662   (Rated: ASR) Save Me  It's not easy being a superhero's wife. by aimee waits

ID: 1135939   (Rated: 13+) The Rumbler  The real life account of my rise and fall as a 9 year old superhero by Chinese Democracy

ID: 1088540   (Rated: 13+) I'm Tired  Even superheroes need rest. by Marcos Aurelio

ID: 1220592 Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. by Not Available.

ID: 1763412   (Rated: 13+) Swayed: Chapter 1  Excerpt from my current WIP superhero novel, Swayed. by cherry

ID: 1037053   (Rated: E) Earwax, the Superhero  Eddie doesn’t come downtown from uptown unless something lowdown is about to go down.” by Rasputin

Super-poetry and more:

ID: 1761197   (Rated: E) Captain Banana Peel  A superhero with a peel! by Magoo

ID: 871506   (Rated: E) OuR AlieN SuPer HeRo  Our superhero was taken away... by Shaara

ID: 1699653   (Rated: ASR) Invisibility  Free verse/spoken word poem about super powers...sort of. by imjustme

ID: 1670697   (Rated: E) The Superhero's Final Struggle  Ultimate Evil VS Truth and Justice! Sort of... by Nagrom (Belgerum)

WDC's own cyber-super-hero:

ID: 1618385   (Rated: E) Vigilante Angel Ranger Team  Rewarding, fulfilling wishes, providing upgrades, and other miscellaneous mayhem by The Vigilante Angel

Last month's Newsletter topic was Characterization in Science Fiction

:
LJPC - the tortoise : "I was delighted to read your newsletter this month. The relationship between character and plot is a great topic for discussion. Although I've been told the 'character is king', I think they're equally important. Without a solid story, a great character cannot pull the piece above a character study. On the other hand, no matter how innovative the plot is, if it's filed with "Mary Sue" characters, it becomes boring. Personally, I come up with the plot first and then come up with a flawed character whose character arc matches the plot outcome. Thanks for a great SF Newsletter!"

Satuawany : "It's a great argument, I think. Most of the "old guys" are all about the idea. And I love that. Generally, I'm big fan of characterization, but I always go back to the older science fiction. The thing about mostly flat characters is that it gives me to opportunity to "fill them out" with my own imagination as I go along. And I can really get into that, but it directly depends on how much I'm loving the idea the author was trying to highlight. A great science fiction idea often makes me forgive "flat" characters, but it's not something I can forgive in any other genre. I always welcome great characterization, though. It's just that, for this particular reader, science fiction does need to have a great idea, first."

Bella Bunny : "...I really enjoyed your article about the need for both a good topic as well as good characterization within a piece of science fiction writing. Too much of one and not enough of the other often leads to disastrous results..."

The February Newsletter topic was Robots, Androids and Cyborgs

31245bob sent in an interesting comment: "The idea of equal rights for androids with ai [artificial intelligence] in human society does not wash unless some well meaning android lover programs in a desire for equality and freedom into the android's subroutine. Ai does not mean a mechanoid has a soul but merely a highly complex machine still subject to its programming. Having a soul means self awareness."

Thank you so much everyone! I really appreciate the feedback from readers. Keep it coming! - ed.

Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Unofficial Newsletter!

Reader feedback and comments is important to the Unofficial Science Fiction Newsletter (USFNL). Much of the Newsletter's content is based on reader feedback and discussion. Feedback can always be sent directly to EarlyHours-A Vigilante Ranger , but to make discussion even easier, a USFNL Forum has been set up. Feel free to post and interact at the Forum; some of the discussion may end up here! And don't forget to add the Forum (below) to your list of Favorites, and post often!

ID: 1703191   (Rated: 13+) Science Fiction Newsletter Forum  Discussion of NL Topics, Reader Feedback, Ask & Answer by EarlyHours-A Vigilante Ranger

Please check out our "sponsor":

ID: 1617315   (Rated: 18+) The Sci-fi Writers Guild  Collaborations, discussions and reviews - Welcome to the Sci-fi Writers Guild by EvilDawg - A Vigilante Ranger!

Thanks for reading, and see you next month