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

Visions of the Future: Introduction- A Trek Through Time

 
For a while now, I’ve wanted to do a series of posts on the history of science fiction in each decade starting with the publication of Frankenstein in the 1820s. It’s a new year. I’m going to do it. We’ll be taking a look at how inventions and events have played into sci-fi, and how sci-fi has impacted popular thought and science, one decade at a time. Hopefully, we will begin to see the bigger picture of how science fiction, culture, and actual science interact, as well as getting a grasp on the various worldviews and philosophies that have transformed the past two centuries.

Here’s the basic outline of how I’ll be exploring each decade.

Summary:

First, I will write a summary of what science fiction was generally about in the particular decade.

History:

The job of a sci-fi writer is to present ideas relevant to his or her day in a way subtle-yet-clear enough to make audiences think. An understanding of the historical events and social issues of a time period will help us make sense of why an author is saying what he or she is saying.

Science:

Next, I’ll list some of the main scientific theories and inventions that kept sci-fi writers thinking and imagining, as well as the theories and inventions inspired by fiction.

Stories:

This is the fun part. I get to list and briefly discuss the most influential, interesting, and important sci-fi books, movies, TV shows, and games of the decade I am discussing.

Worldview:

Here, I will discuss some of the dominant philosophies and ideas that informed the decade and its science fiction, as well as how we should address these ideas as Christians.

Conclusion:

Finally, I will write about the impact of this decade’s sci-fi on the genre, and on society as a whole!

Well, I’m really excited to start on this trek through time. I certainly hope that you will join me, and that we will all learn a thing or two along the way! The series will begin two weeks from today with my first post, “Visions of the Future: The 1820s- The Modern Prometheus”

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top-5 Thursday- Interesting Sci-Fi Movies Coming Out in 2015

 

Hello again everyone! I hope you had a merry Christmas, and that 2015 is going well for you so far. Sorry this post is so late. I was busy practicing my sweet hoverboard moves and getting my license to pilot a flying car. If you run into time between your awesome 2015 adventures, and decide you want to see a movie, I have compiled a list of sci-fi movies coming out this year that I think look interesting.

Here it is!

5. Tomorrowland-

Now, I don’t think I’m going to see this movie in the theaters, but I do want to see it at some point. I’m not expecting it to be a blockbuster hit, or a great movie, (you never know; it may surprise me), but I am drawn to the space age aesthetic of the film. And, Tomorrowland has always been my favorite part of Disneyland.

4. Jurassic World-

As bad of an idea as actually opening Jurassic Park is, this movie may still have potential. A little genetic engineering, a lot of great soundtrack. I’m up for it. At least there will be cool dinosaurs.

3. Chappie-

This looks to be one of the more intellectual sci-fi movies of the year. We’ve explored the idea of creating life and consciousness before, but it is always a fascinating study. I’m not prepared to agree with the messages, morals,and meanings presented in this movie, but they could lead to good thought and discussion.

2. Avengers: Age of Ultron-

I, for one, enjoy rogue AI stories. And Avengers movies. I am very excited for this.

1. Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens-

If you’ve been following the blog on Facebook at all, you know how excited I am for this movie. When I first heard that Disney bought Star Wars and was going to make more movies, I thought it was a practical joke for two weeks. Then, I was mad. Then, I went back and forth between thinking Abrams could make a great Star Wars movie, and worrying he would mess it up, (like Star Trek. Wait, did I just say that out loud? Oops…). Now, I’m mostly just excited. Whatever skepticism we Star Wars fans may have over this movie, I know we are all going to squeal like fangirls when that music starts and the opening scroll appears onscreen.

So, what do you think? What are you planning to see this year? What are you planning to avoid? And, what did you think were the best movies of 2014? Let me know in the comments!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top 5 Tuesday- Non-Christmas Movies with Christmas Elements

Something looks a little like Christmas… You may not think of these as Christmas movies, or notice the Christmas elements at first glance, but you might just get away with showing them at your next holiday party… maybe. I can’t guarantee anything.

5. Iron Man 3-

This 2013 superhero flick begins at a New Years Eve party in 1999, and  moves to the Christmas season following the battle of New York in The Avengers,(I’m pretty sure that battle is confirmed as being in 2012). Christmas is never a major plot point, but, like the sci-fi in Star Wars, is an important piece of the setting.

4. Star Trek: Generations-

Though it is a minority view, I am personally a fan of the Next Generation/Original Series crossover film. The reason it can be considered a Christmas movie is the heartwarming Christmas celebration Captain Picard has with his idealistic family inside the dream-like Nexus.

3. Toy Story-

Seeing as Toy Story is a film about the secret life of toys, and toys are often a major part of the gift-giving in the Christmas season, it would make sense that the ending scene of the movie takes place around the Christmas tree. This scene secures Toy Story as a closet Christmas classic.

2. The Princess Bride-

How in the world does a movie about witty, swashbuckling heroes fighting for true love and revenge in a make-believe kingdom have anything to do with Christmas? Well, the Christmas elements actually appear in the story surrounding the story- the scenes with the boy and his grandfather. Some of the decorations in the kid’s room imply that it is either the Christmas season, or fairly soon after Christmas. Try showing it at a Christmas party. Any party is a good excuse to watch The Princess Bride.

1. The Fellowship of the Ring-

As is well known among fans of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga, December 25th was the date that Frodo and his band of adventurers left Rivendell on their grand quest to dispose of the ring. This not only makes Tolkein’s Fellowship of the Ring a Christmas book; it also makes Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring a Christmas movie.

So, which Non-Christmas movie are you going to watch at your next Christmas? (By the way, I take no personal responsibility for people’s reactions…) Are there any other movies you would include? Let me know in the comments!

This list was inspired by a series of posts by the guys at Strangers and Aliens Podcast. Check out their list of strange Christmas movies here!

Merry Christmas!

Elora

When I Look to the Heavens

    If you’re seeing this post a little bit late, it’s probably because of my proximity to a gravitational anomaly, which has slowed time for me, while time runs faster for you.

    I saw Interstellar the weekend before Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful cinematic excursion into the cosmos, set in a fascinating near future. It was hard sci-fi, which to the best of its ability, wove current ideas of physics into an intriguing plot carried by vibrant, realistic characters. (In other words, I recommend it.)

   Going into the movie, however, I could already guess the theme: we as humans are masters of our own destiny. Humanity will continue to better itself through evolution, and is the ultimate source of meaning in the universe. I was right. It was a story driven by humanism.

    How did I see that coming? Well, it was a hard sci-fi space epic. In today’s world, scientific progress, space exploration, and stories about them, are equated with a humanistic worldview.

    The modern era has seen reality split in two. There is the sacred reality- religion, morality, and the like- and the secular reality- things like science, and discovery. The church was kicked into the sacred reality box, and has frankly been quite content to stay there.

    Humanistic scientists, however, have not held up their end of the deal. They are looking out into the universe for answers to the big questions of life. They are not staying in their secular box. That’s because reality doesn’t come in two separate pieces. Truth is truth.

    Take, for example, the Rosetta project, which recently landed a small probe called Philae on the surface of a moving comet called Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The multinational group of  scientists who sent out Rosetta are hoping to find data concerning their hypothesis that all life on earth was seeded by a comet.

    People aren’t researching, experimenting, and exploring just to crunch numbers, or use tax dollars. They want answers about the meaning of life.

    Why should we as Christians care? We already know the ultimate answer. And that is exactly why we should care. I have a twofold reason for this answer.

    First, we know from Romans 1 that there are things that can be learned about God from His creation. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

    When we look into the sky, or into an atom, we can learn more about our smallness, and God’s greatness. We can get a glimpse into the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for us by seeing His handiwork in a subatomic particle, or a supernova.

    

Secondly, we should care about the exploration of the world around us, because people who don’t know God are looking there for meaning and purpose. When we get involved, we can show the world that the answers they are looking for are found in the creator of everything!

    

So, let’s unabashedly pursue the knowledge of God through every avenue in which He reveals Himself. Let’s look forward to the findings of the Orion Mars missions, because our God is great, and He made Mars! Let’s speculate about the what-ifs in story and art, because our God is vast, and glorious, and mysterious. Let’s turn the tables so that society stops assuming that every space movie is a hot mess of humanism, and every comet lander is looking for our amino acid ancestors.

    Most of all, let us look to the heavens, and fall down and worship our king. Let us humble ourselves as King David did, when he wrote: “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,what is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” (Psalm 8:3-4)

Keep on glowing in the dark,
Elora

Top 5 Tuesday(?)- Time Machines!

Wait! Saturday?! How did I get here? Looks like my time machine systems need a reboot  (unlike some things). Sorry, I was supposed to travel to Thursday for this post, but looks like I overshot that by a few days! Since I’m here, I might as well give you friends in the future this list of the top 5 time machines.

Here goes!

5. The Imagination Station (Adventures in Odyssey) -

If you haven’t listened to Focus on the Family’s ongoing audio drama about the small town, Odyssey, you should definitely give it a try! It is not really a sci-fi show, but there are lots of good sci-fi elements in it. The Imagination Station is technically a virtual reality machine invented by the local ice cream shop owner and all-around great guy John Avery Whittaker. However, the kids of Odyssey usually use it to explore Biblical and historical scenarios. It is one of the most fascinating features of Mr. Whittaker’s shop, Whit’s End, and of the entire show.

4. The Guardian of Forever (Star Trek) -

“City on the Edge of Forever” is generally held to be the best episode of Star Trek: The Original Series. This living time portal is the driving force of the story. Though this is the only episode of TOS it appeared in, it has been revisited in several Star Trek novels, and the imaginations of fans everywhere.

3. The Delorean (Back to the Future) -

One of the most iconic time machines in recent history, the Delorean combines all the best elements of time travel and breaking the speed limit in a really cool car.

2. The Time Machine (The Time Machine) -

H.G. Wells’ groundbreaking novel was one of literatures first forays into the fourth dimension. Even with the modern influx of time travel stories, his vehicle is still one of the first that comes to people’s minds at hearing the words ‘time machine’. After all, it is The time machine.

1. The TARDIS (Doctor Who) -

Of course I don’t want to get in trouble with all my fellow Whovians, but even aside from that, I do think the TARDIS is the best time machine around. We just keep learning cool things about her! She’s bigger on the inside, she’s actually alive, she’s dimensionally transcendental ( I just love saying that). Plus, the TARDIS is an example is a prime example of sci-fi changing the cultural perception of an everyday item. Fifty years ago, a police box was just a police box. Now, it is probably a time machine.

So, how did I do? What time machines would you add to my list? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

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This week, Top 5 Tuesday will take place on Thursday." How can it simultaneously be Tuesday and Thursday?" you may ask... TIME TRAVEL.