literature assignments

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE II

MODULE ONE: LECTURE TWO

SCIENCE FICTION

Science fiction is often grouped with fantasy even though it expresses scientific concepts in our world

versus magical concepts in an imaginary world. Science fiction explores scientific concepts that are real

today or pseudo-scientific concepts that could be real at some indeterminate point in the future based on

the technology we have in the world today. It then attempts to illustrate for readers the potential good

or evil of that technology and the different ways it may be used. Many science- fiction authors have

dreamed up inventions decades before they could become a reality. For example, when Jules Verne wrote

20,000 Leagues under the Sea, submarines did not exist. And Isaac Asimov came up with a story about

children learning at home through online courses on their computers decades before computers had been

invented for mass use. Science fiction has been called “the literature of ideas” and often explores the

potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations. It is often used to criticize

present day society.

A Very Brief History

Science fiction can be traced back to ancient times, when authors first began blurring the lines between

myth and reality. Some science fiction theorists say that the very first work of science fiction literature

that we have is “A True Story” by the writer, Lucian of Samosata (125-180 AD). Lucian’s works were full

of comedy and satire and were very popular in ancient antiquity. “A True Story” was written as a satire

against authors who told “tall tales” (Lucian was very suspicious of mythology or religion of any kind.) He

also wrote the earliest known version of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.” “A True Story” contains many

themes and characteristics of modern science fiction such as travel to other worlds, extraterrestrial life

forms, interplanetary warfare and artificial life.

The Scientific Revolution & The Age of Enlightenment

The scientific revolution is thought to cover the period between the Copernican Revolution in 1543 and

Isaac Newton’s Principia in 1687. One notable science fiction story of this time, considered by notables

such as Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan to be the first serious work of science fiction, was “Sominium,” written

by Johannes Kepler in Latin in 1608. “Sominium” (The Dream) is a story about an Icelandic boy and his

witch mother who learn about an island named Levania (our moon) from a daemon and decide to travel

there.

The Age of Enlightenment also known as the Age of Reason was an intellectual and philosophical

movement in Europe, typically dated between the 17th and 19th centuries. It came directly after the

Renaissance. The Enlightenment emphasized the importance of reason and of the senses as the primary

sources of knowledge. There was a strong emphasis on the scientific method and an increased

questioning and rejection of religious orthodoxy. A few notable works that were written within these two

eras would be: Francis Bacon’s “The New Atlantis” (1626); Lady Margaret Cavendish’s “The Blazing World”

(1666); and Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels” (1726).

Modern Science Fiction Literature

Modern Science Fiction Literature

Our modern era has ushered in some very difficult times. In the last couple of hundred years the world

has been exposed to the ravages of war on a greater scale than ever before because of evolving

technologies. Oppressive regimes have arisen in many countries, bringing with them persecution of

countless innocents. Human beings have become increasingly isolated and alienated, and mental illnesses

abound. Works of science fiction deal with many of these problems and the explosion of the novel as a

popular literary form in the 19th century provided many opportunities for talented science fiction writers

to share their stories with the world. Notable works of this period include Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

(1821); Julio Verne’s “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea” (1869-1870); Aldous Huxley’s “Brave

New World” (1932); George Orwell’s “1984” (1949); Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” (1953); and Ursula

Le Guin’s “The Left Hand of Darkness” (1969).

One of the giants of science fiction: during this time was H.G. Wells. Some of his famous works include

”The Time Machine” (1895); “The Island of Dr. Moreau” (1896); “The Invisible Man” (1897); and “The War

of the Worlds” (1898). In his works he includes happenings such as alien invasion, biological engineering,

invisibility, and time travel. Interestingly, his predictions about the future included airplanes, military

tanks, nuclear weapons, satellite TV, space travel, and the world wide web. He was clearly ahead of his

time.

Popular contemporary themes in science fiction literature include environmental issues, the expanding

information universe, biotechnology, nanotechnology and post-apocalyptic societies. Exciting new novels

and movies based on science fiction themes are being created all the time. These are clearly reader and

audience favorites.

Popular Children’s Science Fiction Novels from the Last 150 Years

• The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1943)

• A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (1962)

• A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle (1973)

• The White Mountains by John Christopher (1967)

• Mrs. Frisby & the Rats of NIMH by Robert O’Brien (1971)

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985)

• The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)

Dystopian Worlds

A utopia is an imaginary perfect society, and a dystopia is exactly the opposite. A dystopia is an imagined

society with great suffering and injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic. Ironically

many dystopias in literature and film come about with the intention of setting up a utopia. Dystopias

occur because human beings do not want to be compelled to be “free” or “virtuous” or “happy” on anyone

else’s terms but their own.

Dystopias tend to be “cautionary tales.” They are stories about worlds that are experiencing

dehumanization, alienation, social inequality, war, dictatorships and control through technology and

violence. These are worlds in which ‘Big Brother” is always watching, always ready to crack down on

anyone who goes against the norms that have been set up by those in power. Dystopias show a

pessimistic view of the ruling class, and typically portray a government that is brutal and uncaring. Many

of these places are ruled by a fascist regime or dictator and often there are protagonists or groups on the

outskirts who lead a “resistance” against the regime in order to enact changes within their society.

There is a great deal of injustice in these dystopias. Typically, there is a great difference between the

privileges of the ruling class and the dreary existence of the working class. There is also typically

inequitable political or personal power of one gender over others. Often religion is ether eradicated and

forbidden, or the world is ruled by an oppressive religion which has control over all aspects of people’s

lives. The idea of family is also erased. Often children are reproduced artificially so that they may more

completely belong to the state. Dystopian worlds are filled with violence. The violence may take the form

of an oppressive government or military or police force. Sometimes there are also roving bands of violent

youths, out of control urban crime, or blood sports. All of these are facilitated by the omnipresence of

technology which serves to control and enslave, to alienate and dehumanize others so that the bonds of

kinship and brotherhood are completely dissolved and everyone lives in fear.