Top-5 Tuesday- Subgenres that Died During the Golden Age

There was a definite turning point in science fiction history in the 1930s through the 1950s. Sci-fi became self-aware, fully realizing its potential as a unique genre. However, not all of the subgenres made the transition into this new age of science fiction so well. Now, ‘died’ may seem a bit dramatic, but I do love to be dramatic… In any case,  here are five subgenres of early science fiction that fell out of favor after the first hundred-or-so years.

5. Mad-Scientist-

While many stories today still include mad-scientists, there are fewer stories centered around the life and decisions of one particular scientist designing his destructive magnum opus. Tales like Frankenstein, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark”, seem to be a product of Romanticism, as they deal with themes of tampering with nature. During the space age, scientists were represented more often as heroes in popular entertainment.

4. Edisonade-

The early form of the scientist-as-hero story, these pulpy tales of boy-geniuses were retroactively named after superstar inventor Thomas Edison. They usually starred a young protagonist, and saw him save the day with an eccentric invention. However, as a whole, the subgenre lacked believability and thematic depth. While fun, Edisonade stories never really held up as literature.

3. Hollow Earth-

Hollow Earth was an offshoot of the Lost World genre popularized by authors such as Edgar Rice Burroughs. The subterranean worlds encountered often featured primitive civilizations, and extinct creatures. However, due to a lack of plausibility, these stories have faded from the mainstream.

2. Lost World-

Named after one of the last of their kind, The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle, this subgenre also featured ‘prehistoric’ flora, fauna, and society. It also had its roots in a Romanticist worldview. However, as the world grew increasingly interconnected, the mystery of far-off lands, as well as the Lost World subgenre, lost its luster.

1.Utopia-

It is rare these days to find a truly utopian tale. The recent Disney film, Tomorrowland, comes close, but it is tainted by many dystopian elements. The Star Trek franchise, while set in a utopian civilization, falls more into the space exploration genre. Most stories about a future society today are strictly dystopian. The two world wars probably had much to do with this transition, as they brought to public attention the depravity of mankind.

Keep on glowing in the dark ,

Elora

Top-5 Tuesday- Most Influential Early Utopias

The concept of Utopia has been around since long before Thomas More coined the word. From as early as the construction of the Tower of Babel, mankind has been looking to regain the world of perfect harmony it lost at the fall. Since sci-fi offers speculative commentary on the human condition, it makes sense that the subgenres of utopia and dystopia are prominent within the genre. Utopian fiction was, in fact one of the best represented subgenres of sci-fi in the first century of science fiction.

So, here are some of the most thought-provoking and influential perfect-world stories, which shaped fiction and society in the years following their release.

5. A Crystal Age by W.H. Hudson (1887)-

A strange and fantastic tale of a simple, peaceful, post-apocalyptic world, and the modern man who struggles to adapt. A Crystal Age is notable for defining the pastoral utopia- a perfect world free from technology and industrialization- and for predicting the ecological spiritualism which is prevalent in our century.

4. The Crater by James Fenimore Cooper (1847)-

Written by all-American Romanticist James Fenimore Cooper, this lost-island utopian story comments on the struggle between colonialism and native peoples.

3. Erewhon by Samuel Butler (1872)-

Erewhon, an anagram of ‘nowhere’, is not a utopia in the traditional sense of the word. The world of Erewhon is not perfect, though it is also not bad enough to be classified as a dystopia. Samuel Butler used his story to poke fun at Victorian society.

2. Utopia by Thomas More (1516)-

Long before science fiction was an established genre, Thomas More gave later writers something to think about when he coined a new word for an old idea. Utopia, meaning both ‘good place’, and ‘no place’, was the title of his fictional depiction of his idea of the perfect society.

1. Looking Backward: 2000-1887 by Edward Bellamy (1888)-

Bellamy’s novel depicted a future American utopia governed by the principles of socialism. Not only was it one of the best-sellers of its time, but it also inspired a movement to implement the ideas contained within. Readers were attracted to the harmony and order found in the book, and some even started experimental communities in an attempt to build utopia from the ground up.

The study of utopian fiction is a fascinating, though sad one. People have striven for millennia to find peace with themselves and their fellow men. Utopian literature gives us a well-preserved peek at some of the tried-and-failed ideas of past visionaries. We see questions without answers- questions that cannot be answered apart from reconciliation between humanity and its creator.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Visions of the Future: The 1870s-The Quest for Order

It was as if the world were trying to cover up the wounds created by the wars of the last decade without treating them. Politicians and scientists saw the future as bright and inviting, even as war, turmoil, and discontent continued just outside their comfortable, padded world.

History:

The British Empire continued to expand its borders during the 1870s, setting up comfortable, western colonies in the far corners of the earth where they weren’t always welcome. The United States, meanwhile, was recovering from their bloody Civil War. The rather unbalanced and ineffectual period of Reconstruction lasted in the States until 1877.

Elsewhere in Europe, the Franco-Prussian War raged from 1870-1871. This struggle led to the collapse of the Second French Empire,the formation of the French Third Republic, and the unification of Germany into the German Empire, or the Second Reich.

Science:

  [The Paris Exhibition of 1878]

Many inventions that are indispensable in the modern day were first devised in the 1870s, such as the lightbulb and the phonograph, invented by Thomas Edison. 1876 saw a prototype telephone created by Alexander Graham Bell. At the same time, an Austrian physicist named Ludwig Boltzmann was developing important theories and equations concerning entropy, and its relation to thermodynamics.

The popularity of scientific exhibitions continued to rise. In 1873, The Weltausstellung, (World Exhibition), was held in Vienna. The Centennial Exposition took place in Philadelphia in 1876, and the Exposition Universelle was held in Paris in 1878.

Stories:

French writer Jules Verne continued to dominate the genre in the 1870s. The year 1870 saw the release of perhaps his most famous work, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. On an expedition to destroy a giant sea monster, a French marine biologist, his servant, and a Canadian whaler discover that their supposed monster is, in fact, a marvelous submarine, the Nautilus, piloted by vengeful scientist-prince, Captain Nemo. The title, which has caused some confusion, refers to the distance travelled around the earth, not the depth below the sea.

In 1971, Colonel George Chesney wrote an important precursor to invasion literature, The Battle of Dorking, which told the story of a terrifying future war.

That same year, Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote a book called The Coming Race, which described an underground civilization of supermen, who controlled an energy form known as vril, an all-permeating substance, which to me sounds very similar to the force of Star Wars. This book, and the substance it described, sparked the interest of some occultist groups, who believed it to be real.

In 1872, Samuel Butler produced another classic of the growing utopian genre, Erewhon. It describes a utopia that satirized Victorian culture. The name of the place is Erewhon, which is a nearly-backwards spelling of the word “nowhere”.

The same year, French astronomer Camille Flammarion published Lumen, a highly philosophical story that explored and introduced ideas about the speed of light, and alien lifeforms.

Another interesting, but rather obscure contribution to science fiction was Edward Page Mitchell’s story, “The Tachypomp”, published in 1874. It details one mathematically-challenged man, and his quest for love, and the secret of infinite speed.

Worldview:

The mindset of the 1870s was rather scientific. People of the western world generally believed that nature was simple, orderly, and theirs to command.

In a decade full of political and social problems, a new social and scientific era was beginning, and the genre of science fiction started coming into its own, with ideas and themes that would keep readers thinking and enjoying for years to come.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top-5 Tuesday: Stories That Paved the Way for Science Fiction

Hey everyone! I wrote this post yesterday, and was all ready to put it up. Unfortunately, I was not prepared for the event of catastrophic systems failure. Fortunately, I am still able to present to you Top-5 Tuesday!!! On Wednesday…

I think it is pretty reasonable to assume that nothing originates in a vacuum. That goes for science fiction as well as anything else. Since we’re about to delve into the exciting history of the genre, I thought it best to do a little preliminary research into its prehistory. Where did science fiction get its inspiration. Where did the themes and styles originate. What stories did the earliest pioneers of sci-fi draw from when they wrote.

Obviously, there are far too many items to fit on this one list. These are just five interesting stories in history that laid a foundation for the stories we enjoy today. Rather than putting this in order of importance, (because I really couldn’t say), I’m putting it in chronological order.

So, charge up your flux capacitors, set your chronometers, and strap in. We’re about to take a trip through time!

The Epic of Gilgamesh (c. 2100 B.C.)-

The Epic of Gilgamesh is one of the earliest known works of literature. It sets a precedent for all stories that came after it by exploring themes of life, death, immortality, and humanity’s relationship with higher beings.

A True Story or True History by Lucian of Samosata (2nd century A.D.)-

This epic parodies the Iliad, the Odyssey, and other classical stories that claimed to be historical in nature, but were steeped in myth and legend. Lucian, a Greek-speaking Assyrian, spun a tale of fantastic voyages to the heavens, and cosmic battles between the celestial bodies. Basically, space travel.

The Divine Comedy by Dante (c. 1308-1321)-

This masterful poem had an impact on almost all literature that came after it, including science fiction. It details a journey into the physical realms of Hell, Heaven, and Purgatory, which is at the same time a metaphorical journey into the depths of human nature.

Utopia by Sir Thomas More (1516)-

More set the precedent for an entire genre of fiction by describing an island similar to England which instituted what he considered to be the perfect society. Today, the kind of speculation More made is commonly used in science fiction in depicting future civilizations and alien societies. This novel also became the basis for the offshoot genre of Utopian fiction, Dystopian fiction.

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift (1726)-

This satire describes a fantastic voyage which the author explains in a manner more rational than magical. Swift pokes fun at the political affairs of his day through strange creatures and unusual settings. He also explores ideas of the importance of humanity and its affairs.

These stories are only a few that introduced themes and concepts vital to the relatively new genre of science fiction. Have any more masterpieces I should have added? Further details on how one or more of these inspired sci-fi? I’d love to hear from you in the comments! I hope you join me next week, as I begin my series on the history of sci-fi with the novel that is generally considered to be the first of its kind, Frankenstein.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Utopia Reaches for Us (Part 2 of 2)

  

 So, the last Wednesday post left us in a pretty bleak place. Humanity is always looking for a perfect society that deep inside we know we were built for. In and of ourselves, however, we just can’t find it. There’s the recap of the bad news.

    Here’s the good news.  God, who authored the ultimate and only utopia, desired to restore us to that utopia. His own Son died for this rescue, and then came supernaturally back to life to complete it.

    You see, when we were striving vainly for a perfect world, and trying to be our own gods, the true God was reaching down to us to fulfill our need for utopia.

    When we allow Him to take hold of our lives, (however that happens to work. I don’t know. Please don’t debate Calvinism with me right now. Maybe later.), We are transferred from the broken tyranny of sin that we sold ourselves into at the fall.

“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,  in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14, NKJV).

    Christ brings us into His restored utopia. Someday, all of us who receive Him will dwell in the  sheer and unbounded perfection of that Kingdom for all eternity. Let me tell you a bit about it:

It will be perfect-

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’” (Revelation 21:3-4).

    That’s right, perfect. All the problems and pain we’ve accumulated since we left Eden will be done away with .

It will fulfill us completely-

“ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:3-4).

    It will satisfy all the desires we were originally created to have, and our true life will be revealed!

It  will be all of us-

“And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it” (Revelation 21:24).

    Members of every culture will be a part of this heavenly community-male and female. Our favorite humanist sci-fi authors so often long for this. What they don’t realize is that only in God can the best in every culture, and both genders, be brought together. He is the one who created them, after all.

It goes into eternity, and we are part of it right now-

“ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

    We really don’t belong to this messed up world anymore. We were rescued in a time-transcending rescue plan, remember, remember? So, now, we are aliens on earth- members of a truly perfect world trying to spread the truth to other humans. That is cool. In fact, I don’t think there’s anything that can make a geeky heart, (or any heart), happier.

    This all sounds like the ultimate utopia to me. God does it way better than we do. And by His grace, utopia reaches down to us.

Be encouraged! I'd love to hear any questions or comments (other than Calvinism debates), down in the comment section!
Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

We Reach for Utopia (Part 1 of 2)

 

My window looks out over a sprawling city. It seems like every ten minutes, some sort of emergency vehicle speeds past, the wail of its siren growing louder, until it echoes eerily off the walls of my room, then fades into the distance.

There is something desperately wrong with society. We as humans know this to be true on a fundamental level. We want to fix it. We want to build a perfect civilization.

Thousands of years ago, the people of the world convened together, and decided to build a tower in celebration of the ideal society they’d thought they’d formed, marked by a single ambition, and united by a single language. This tower would be the crowning achievement of their humanist utopia. They thought that by their own power, by their own greatness, they could make their world perfect. They were wrong. (If you aren't catching my drift, read Genesis 11).

Ever since the failure at Babel, the diverse peoples of earth have continued to strive for such a world, one they could take hold of and make perfect. We seem to think there’s something inherent in our race that makes us great, that makes us conquerors, that makes us world-builders, and that if we can only tap into that something, everything will go right for us.

Don’t believe me? Look at our history. Dictators have gone to extremes to bring out the parts of the human race that they think will lead to a golden future. Look at our philosophy. Great thinkers have theorized on the flaws of society, and what people can do to cure them. Look at our stories. Authors dream up utopian cities, and worlds, and federations, quite similar to the dreams of Babel, where human intuition and goodness has solved all our problems. (Sci-fi fans. You know what I mean.)

But like Babel, all our ambitions lie there unfinished. Why? Why would we long so deeply for a perfect world if we can never achieve it?

You see, humanity lived in a perfect world once. The original man and woman were completely united with one another, and fulfilled to the core of their being. And it all centered around their Creator and Sustainer, God.

God was was the author of this original utopia. As His creations enjoyed, walked with, and came to know Him, they achieved the purpose of their existence. They lived in the only truly perfect society.

Then, as we are now too painfully aware of, they fell for the ruse we have been falling for ever since. They believed the lie that they could have perfection based on their own power, knowledge, and nature, apart from God. They were wrong. (This account is in Genesis 1-3).

So, now, here our race is. Delving further into the myth that we are the key to flawless existence. That if we only try hard enough, we can do anything. All the while, we are only one step away from the true answer to all humanity’s problems: our Creator and our Lord.

We reach for utopia in every direction but up.

Yeah, I know it's more depressing than my usual fare, but this is only the first part to the story. Tune in for my next Wednesday post, two Wednesdays from today, and I'll continue with the same theme, but with a more hopeful ending. In the meantime, there will be a top 5 Tuesday article that will probably just consist of geeky fluff. I hope you enjoyed. I hope I made you think. I'd love to hear from you!

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora