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Posted By: Horatio of the Calvale Jul 15, 2004 - 08:25 am

The most recent issue of Popular Science raised the question in my mind. Where is science fiction going? With technology moving so quickly it is difficult, nearly impossible to predict future events with any degree of convincing plausibility. Some writers are working with Vernor Vinge's concept of the Singularity but it seems more and more that SciFi writers are turning to either alternate history or a fantasy realm, exploring what the past could have been rather than what the future could be, the same is true on this page. I am curious, what do you all think?

Posted By: Aslan Jul 15, 2004 - 01:43 pm

Agreed that fantasy is increasingly prevalent among writers than science fiction. One reason might be that as science becomes increasingly specialized, fewer people understand it. I think the research involved is daunting for people without a healthy science background. Especially lazy writers like me. In the early days of science fiction, science was much simpler and more in the public eye. Like space travel, for example.

As for where science fiction is going... tough call. Topics will probably where the most interest and advancement goes: biotech, pharmaceuticals, entertainment/communication tech, abstract physics, cloning, stem cell research, and the discovery of Santa Claus' base on the north pole. Beats me. I'm looking forward to finding out, though.

Posted By: Queen Ehlana Jul 15, 2004 - 02:13 pm

Isn't there an entire forum for this? I think it's called: Sci-Fi Yesterday, Today, and TOMORROW.

Posted By: Bmat Jul 15, 2004 - 02:29 pm

[Moving this thread to the SF Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Forum.]

Posted By: Magus Aug 15, 2004 - 02:38 pm

I say it's leaning more toward biological topics such as cloning, creation, mutation, evolution, genetic engeneering, biological weapons and viruses. I think that there will be far more "soft" scifi and more character driven ones (but aren't those two really just the same thing?). I also think that aspects typically attributed to medieval fantasy/horror will make their way more into sci-fi. For example, I'm working on a futuristic sci-fi tale revolving around a group of vampires.

Posted By: Neurolanis Aug 15, 2004 - 04:18 pm

Change and adaption seem to be the main themes.

Posted By: Magus Aug 15, 2004 - 06:27 pm

I also believe that certain authors will go back to well worn themes that have stood out as workable. Time travel, post apocolyptic futures, war, being controlled and the evils of the future's government will always be written. I have noticed one or two of those "alternate future" books. I'm not sure if these would apeal to me. Are they any good? If so, what ones would be worth reading?

Philip K. Dick wrote both Paycheck and The Minority Report. There could not have been two more different themes on the aspect of foreseeing the future. The Minority Report said that you could change the future if you saw it. Paycheck advocated Self-Manifesting Destiny, if you see it then a series of evets has been set in order that will ensure it. I would like to see more authors take the same basic idea and go two completely opposite directions with it, but I doubt that we'll see much of this. Still, I can dream... and hope.

Posted By: Hyperion Aug 16, 2004 - 03:04 pm

Allot of the scifi work these days is edging ever faster towards including nanotech in it's writing.

BIG BUSINESS has cottoned onto the advantages of getting into nanotech early, as far as patents go anyways. Plus the scifi writers that are, "buy' able" these days, all have it in their work, as a leading core of their technology within the Universes they create.

That's just one example I can think of, regarding modern scifi literary content.

There are plenty, plenty more we could pickup on if we gave it some serious thought, I am sure of that.

Science Fiction is far from dead, on the contrary it's very prolific at the moment, and the scene has new sub genres a-plenty, and a whole horde of new writers who are prolific in their releases.

I am very content with the literature side of the genre at present.

However I am not so content with the visual film and TV side of the genre. If you would ask me, I would simply say that it lacks new talent and original ideas.

But at least the literary scene is running all guns blazing

Hyperion The Despised

Posted By: Magus Aug 16, 2004 - 06:58 pm

I would have to agree with you Hyperion. Books=good. Other media=bad. There are obvious exceptions, but this is a good rule of thumb. And I find that most good sci-fi movies happen to be based on sci-fi books and stories.

Posted By: woody000 Dec 28, 2004 - 11:23 am

I think that people are moving more to fantasy, as thing become harder to predict. People also have the sense that they dont wanna set their film too close to the present so that it can become dated.

My novel is very much sci-fi... take the technology away and it falls apart. However, it is set in an entirely different universe, or part of the universe/galaxy anyway. There are no humans. So its also fantasy. I've seen a lot of this kind of thing lately, non-human sci-fi.

Personally I'd love to see some more traditional sci-fi though. Once I'm done with my attempt at fantasy (either published or not), I'll most likely have a go at time travel.

Posted By: Magus Dec 28, 2004 - 04:14 pm

That's an interesting point about scifi. But there are exceptions, like Michael Crichton's works. I don't think that Jurassic Park will ever become too dated.