Ask A Genius 652: Science Fiction Ruts
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen and Rick Rosner
Publication (Outlet/Website): Ask A Genius
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2021/12/10
[Recording Start]
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What are some common ruts in science fiction?
Rick Rosner: Discussing the usual pitfalls in science fiction, one can find a plethora of tropes online, notably on TV Tropes, which serves as a kind of encyclopedia for clichés in TV shows, movies, and books. It’s an excellent starting point for exploring overused themes. For instance, the zombie theme has been excessively used. As for the typical mistakes about the future in science fiction, there are a few to note. For example, faster-than-light travel, although a convenient plot device, isn’t realistically feasible. Presently, humanity would struggle to reach a star like Alpha Centauri, only four light-years away, in under 35 years, even if we devoted all our resources. This distance is often trivialized in science fiction, like in the Dune series or Star Wars, where warp drives make interstellar travel seem effortless.
In series like Alien, however, characters spend years in cryonics suspension to traverse the stars, which might be closer to reality. Time travel, another common theme, seems to be an impossibility. A significant oversight in science fiction is portraying humans as the future’s masters, appearing human. The original Star Trek series exemplifies this, though it later diversified its characters. Another error is the assumption of rapid technological progress; in reality, most science fiction predictions take much longer to materialize. The expectation of an apocalyptic event that regresses civilization to the 1800s or earlier, like a zombie apocalypse, often indicates a lack of creativity in envisioning the future.
Regarding my recent trip to Florence, Italy, it influenced my thoughts about the future. While life there seems timeless and appealing, it’s important to remember it’s a tourist’s view. Crafting a complete picture of the future is challenging, and it’s easy to fall into mistakes due to ignorance, laziness, or lack of imagination.
[Recording End]
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