True Science Fiction
I want to explore a prevalent and thoroughly discussed concept typically found by typing science fiction in your favored internet search engine. One of the first items you may see are images referencing Star Trek along with concept art of classical science fiction works. Should you click on one of these images, Google strews tags at the top of your search results for fantasy, space, future, futuristic, robot, technology, etc. The genre’s history has experienced various epochs’ where it has morphed from its ancient roots in order to remain relevant in modern times.
In the Resources section of this post, I list the Wikipedia article for science fiction, which does a wonderful job explaining the entire concept. I would suggest reading the whole thing or bits and pieces based on your tastes. If you have been reading my posts for any length of time, you know I hate reinventing the wheel; this entry is no different. My intent is two-fold; explain what the genre means to me and what I mean when I say, true science fiction.
I have mentioned in numerous posts of how Star Wars served as the impetus for me to create my own universe filled with diverse cultures, religions, non-religion, politics, sexual orientations, and everything else in-between. Before taking such a bold step, I exposed myself at an early age to those who had laid the groundwork for others such as myself to build upon. The works of Jules Verne, Ray Bradbury, H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, and Frank Herbert tickled my imagination and inspired me to discover the elements of proper story telling.
Philip K. Dick’s innovative view of a world comprised of androids indistinguishable from humans who seek to live among us beyond their expiration date in his book, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, later retitled Blade Runner, inspired me to create an outline for a serial killer style story with a protagonist android as the primary focus. Frank Herbert’s sensational Dune series helped tremendously when I sat down to frame the political and prophetical elements of the Sy’Arrian Legacy series. I paid homage to Mr. Herbert when I titled one of my chapters in The Cradle of Destiny as Plans Within Plans, which any Dune fan is sure to recognize.
Aside from science fiction, the bodies of work comprising James A. Michener, Rudyard Kipling, and Jack London conveyed elements of ruggedness and survival against impossible odds with a sprinkling of historical relevance. The setting and characterization portrayed in their stories went beyond mere words on paper. It served to transport the reader to another place and time, while indirectly asking us; what would we do if placed in a similar situation as the main characters? In my opinion, all good stories should force us to look at the familiar in an unfamiliar way.
If done properly, science fiction excels at pushing us to be cognizant of not repeating history no matter how fantastical a story’s setting may be. If a story is digested visually in a motion picture format or through the written word, it is less about flashy special effects or complex naming conventions than it is about what need does it serve; what is its purpose and inherent message the content creator is attempting to convey? From my own personal experiences, I have encountered numerous instances where I thought my mind to be on point with The Sy’Arrian Legacy’s purpose only to realize I needed to step back and rethink its direction. The responsibility of any writer is to balance the need to rethink, revise and produce content. Nothing worse than a content creator who cannot make up their mind and establish a clear vision of what their story is truly about.
I remember reading how J.R.R. Tolkien made continual revisions to The Lord of the Rings even after it was published. Refining the details of your world and fleshing out appropriate nuance are key to creating a relatable story. Too much detail can lose people, while not enough has them clamoring for more and possibly labeling you as an amateur. It is my own respect for the craft, the genre and those who came before me as to why I go to great lengths in creating a balanced approach to both development and production. Having the right people in your life to help keep you on track is critical, especially those persistent wordsmiths and pesky life partners who find a mistake in the first line of what you just wrote!
One of my initial struggles before and after publication has been determining where The Sy’Arrian Legacy series fits in the convoluted categorical system we have created for published works. A common piece of advice I have seen from well published authors and perceived experts in the publishing business is to walk through a bookstore and envision where I see my story residing, i.e. what section? Science Fiction? Fantasy? Yes, physical bookstores still exist, and I can spend hours roaming from shelf to shelf, taking in the scent of aging pages.
In an effort to practice advice given to me, which I think, is incumbent upon anyone seeking guidance, lead me to another quandary; what I did not see on those bookshelves. Namely, fiction works where science and technology were the primary focal points. What I did see in abundance were tales involving ghosts, werewolves, vampires, ghouls, and witches. In addition to the supernatural realm, I saw horror and select erotica thrown in to the mix further mystifying my perplexed psyche. After mulling it around in the scattered recesses of my mind, what I came to realize is my unconscious bias had put me in the proverbial corner.
Those who know me best can attest how I can work very well in the gray area one moment, and then become unflinchingly literal in the next. None of the published tales I saw on those bookshelves spoke to where my own story should reside. In essence, when I pictured my completed novel sitting on a store shelf, I saw it disassociated with everything around it. You could argue my experience was merely a case of poor inventory management, which is a strong possibility. Yet, when standing in a very large Barnes & Noble, I tend to lean towards how fundamentally lacking people are in the knowledge department, regarding what truly constitutes the genre of science fiction.
What I learned in an effort to understand where my mind was residing on this issue is how my own knowledge gaps were holding me back. Science Fiction has morphed over many decades to include those categories I previously mentioned while remaining true to its origins. My initial exposure to science fiction elements were reruns of The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and Star Trek. When I viewed Star Wars in the theaters for the first time in 1977 at the ripe old age of 10, I knew precisely where I wanted to spend the majority of my time and began to immerse myself in content, which would guide me towards creating my own universe.
Those older television programs and trailblazing authors made what is now an overly saturated market possible. I am thankful to have the ability to grow older and experience wonderfully crafted stories; the multiple Stargate series, Babylon 5, Star Trek franchise, and Star Wars. One of the latest creations from Home Box Office (HBO), Raised by Wolves is an example of what I call true science fiction.
When it comes to science fiction in general, I lean more in the direction of how Robert A. Heinlein articulated it; A handy short definition of almost all science fiction might read: realistic speculation about possible future events, based solidly on adequate knowledge of the real world, past and present, and on a thorough understanding of the nature and significance of the scientific method.
True science fiction in my view is more about look and feel. When I sit down to read or watch a story unfold and I automatically feel at home in its setting to such an extent where all I want to do is watch it all day long, I know it has hit all the right marks of a good story. Carefully crafted dialogue, relatable characters and colorful environments are essential pieces for any story.
As both a content creator and consumer, I believe it is paramount we do not settle for slick ass, non-substantive stories due to the constant pursuit of the almighty profit margin. There is nothing wrong with setting high expectations for the subjects we love; we just need to make sure they are realistic.
Feel free to post your questions or comments. I will respond, if need be, when I able.
Resources:
Science Fiction Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_fiction
Raised by Wolves: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raised_by_Wolves_(American_TV_series)
