Top-5 Tuesday- Four Eras of Sci-fi History We've Been Through and One We're about to Enter

There are very many opinions- scholarly, and not-so-scholarly- on how to divide the history of science fiction. Since we are about to enter a period of science fiction history considered by many to be the “Golden Age”, I thought it was about time to add my not-so-scholarly opinion to the pile.

So, here is a list of what I consider to be the four eras of science fiction we’ve explored so far, and the one era we are about to explore.  It is, of course, in chronological order.

1. Romantic Dread

For the first fifty or so years of science fiction, the genre was dominated by romanticist authors such as Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe. The romanticists watched as man tried to conquer nature, and envisioned the future this could lead to. Stories such as Frankenstien, and “Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar”, as well as satirical,political stories, such as A Voyage to the Moon by George Tucker defined this era.

2. The Gilded Future

When Jules Verne burst onto the scene in the 1860s, he placed a more positive spin on the industrialist future. His machines allowed for adventure and exploration. The speculation of H.G. Wells normalized many of the quintessential elements of science fiction, including time travel and alien invasions. This era lasted approximately until the Great War.

3. Escapist Artists

The bulk of the science fiction produced from the 1910s to the early 1920s was pulp-style action adventure, such as the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, and the serialized Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.  It appealed to a war-torn populous looking for bright, hopeful futures, and pristine heroes.

4. Popular Mechanics

The first science fiction magazines began to be published in the mid-1920s, bringing science fiction as a genre into the mainstream. Short stories like “124C41+”, and movies such as Metropolis, were the contributions of this era to the body of work that is science fiction.

5. The Golden Age

Who am I to argue with the experts? Many place the golden age of science fiction between 1937 and 1950- and with good reason. This era boasts some of the biggest names in science fiction literature, such as Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and even C.S. Lewis.

I can’t wait to dive into the history and ideas of science fiction in the golden age with you all. I’ll be back tomorrow, as we begin in the 1930s.

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top-5 Tuesday- Most Influential Sci-Fi Novels of the 19th Century

[This is my sci-fi shelf. And yes, it is in chronological order]

I’ve talked about them all before, but these are the game-changers, the classics, the turning points- the top five science fiction novels from the 19th century you definitely need to read.

5. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895)-

Do you love Doctor Who? Geek out over Back to the Future? Enjoy a good time travel episode of Star Trek or Stargate? Then you should read The Time Machine. While it’s not the first piece of time travel fiction, it defines the sub-genre in a way nothing else before it had. Have you ever referred to time as the fourth dimension? Just another contribution from H.G. Wells to society.

4. From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne (1865)-

There is no doubt that Jules Verne was a master of imaginative science fiction. His space adventure, De la terre à la lune, was not only uncannily close to actual moon landing events 100 years later, but it also inspired generations of writers, scientists, and visionaries to shoot for the moon. You’ll even find reference to this novel in the newly released Disney movie, Tomorrowland.

3. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818)-

The one that started it all. This hybrid horror story was allegedly born on a dark and stormy night in the mind of an eighteen-year-old girl. It united mythology with science, and philosophy with electricity in a new and revolutionary way that has forever impacted literature and culture.

2. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886)-

If any science fiction story can be called modern mythology, this one can. It has inspired countless copies, spinoffs, spoofs, and remakes, as well as retaining its distinction as an individual work of classic literature. Whether or not you enjoyed reading it in your literature class, you have probably enjoyed something that was inspired by it, such as the Star Trek episode, “The Enemy Within”.

1. The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898)-

Yes, he’s back again. The War of the Worlds has fascinated and frightened audiences from the beginning. Not only was it popular as a serial story, then as a complete novel, but it also made radio history when presented in Orson Welles’ legendary broadcast, and spawned several silver screen adaptations. If I say it is the quintessential alien invasion story one more time, will you guys be mad?

What are your favorite 19th century sci-fi stories? Which ones are you planning to pick up this summer? How have you enjoyed our trek through sci-fi history so far? I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Don’t forget to come back next Wednesday as we dive into a new century of science fiction!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora

Top-5 (Never mind that anymore...)Day- Inventions, Advancements, and Ideas That Inspired Early Science Fiction

[Insert lame time travel joke here]

I think my laptop forgot to tell me that every other Tuesday is its day off. Well, a list is good any day of the week, right? Even if the name doesn’t sound as snappy?

Today we’re going to talk about the inventions, ideas, and advancements that sparked thought and speculation among early sci-fi writers. Just like the last list, this is in chronological order.

Let’s get started!

5. Aviation-

Throughout history, mankind has wondered what it would be like if he could fly. Writers speculate about the implications as scientists experiment with the possibilities. In its infancy, science fiction had such creations as Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine designs, the hot air balloon, and early forms of airplanes and rocket propulsion to tinker with.

4. Galileo’s telescope (1609)-

From the beginning, science fiction has flirted with the idea of space travel? What is up there in the dark expanse? What might we find out there where no man has gone before? (Out of timeline, I know. But I couldn’t help it.) Astronomer Galileo Galilei used his telescope to discover many hidden secrets of the heavens, and later scientists improved on his original design to learn even more about the final frontier. (Why not. I already started it).

3. Electricity-

The study of the mysterious force of electricity began long before Benjamin Franklin’s famed kite experiment. Egyptian texts from 2750 BC discuss the powers of electric fish found in the Nile. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, however, saw a surge in experimentation with electricity,(pun very much intended). Scientists like Franklin discovered new characteristics and uses of the phenomenon, and the world was revolutionized. It was even discovered in 1791 that the human body utilized electrical signals. That very obviously inspired the plot of Frankenstein, and many other stories.

2. The Internal Combustion Engine (mid 1850s)-

The advent of the internal combustion engine was a new epoch in the history of technology. The power that had been placed into the hands of man seemed to make him invincible. He was better, stronger, and faster. (This is quickly disintegrating into dorky references and puns). Ordinary people could go farther and produce more than ever before. The engine obviously had an impact on what people thought, and wrote about.

1. Darwin’s Origin of the Species (1859)-

Charles Darwin’s theory on naturalistic evolution impacted not only science, but on society as a whole. Once there was a proposition that the natural world could, possibly exist without supernatural intervention, peoples’ relationships with God, nature, and other people were forever changed. For many years, The Origin of the Species served as a sort of holy book for the worldview of naturalism. Much science fiction has adopted this worldview. One of the most notable naturalist sci-fi writers is H.G. Wells.

These are just a few examples of real life ideas and occurrences that prompted sci-fi writers to speculate farther and dig deeper. What else would you add? Was this list interesting to you? Did you think it was redundant? Let me know in the comments!

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora