Helena Ramirez-Watsonand

Sonia Robles

Chapter 8

Science Fiction

The Evolution of Science Fiction

• First work of science fiction: Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein (1811)

• Used medical science as the point of departure from reality

• Jules Verne: Inspired by rapidly advancing technology• Some stories anticipated later inventions

• Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869) the submarine • From the Earth to the Moon (1865) rocket travel

•First book about an invasion from outer space: War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells •Halloween 1938: Orson Welles's broadcast of War of the Worlds•Genre was so new to listeners that many believed the earth was under attack from aliens

•Term "science fiction": Hugo Gernback, creater of the magazine Amazing Stories (1926)

•Later published Science Wonder Stories•Many early science fiction writers got their start in the magazines

•Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein

•John W. Campbell: editor of Amazing stories later started Astounding Sceince Fiction

•Credited with launching the careers of many science fiction writers

•Robert Heinlein: credited with transforming the way science fiction stories are told

•He researched scientific discoveries and used them in his novels•Rocket Ship Galileo (1947) and twelve junior novels are considered to be the first children's science fiction published in the US

•Isaac Asimov: coined the term robotics

•Formally outlined the Three Laws of Robotics that have guided the way robots have been portrayed since

•Women have had to overcome gender bias as writers of science fiction

•Andre Norton: pseudonym of Alice Mary Norton•Used a pseudonym due to the belief that masculine names would give her work credibility with male readers•Started her career in 1930's•Convinced publishers, who believed that girls would not read science fiction and boys would not read about female protagonists, to publish her work•First published at the age of 20 •Was awarded the Nebula Grand Master Award for lifetime achievement in science fiction

• The launch of Sputnik in 1957 spurred a competition among children’s book authors to provide imaginative stories set in outer space.

• Monica Hughes author of Invitation to the Game• The futuristic society in which educated and talented young people fight for

survival• She asks the readers to question if today’s society wastes the talents of young

people• Nancy Farmer author of The Ear, The Eye, and the Arm

• Creates a society living under the garbage heaps of a city• The reader can visualize a landfill creating characters like the vlei people

• Lois Lowery author of The Giver• A regimented society where only one person holds the memories• The reader questions what is important in order to remain human

Categories of Science Fiction

Utopian and Dystopian Societies

• Societies different from the one we live in have been explored in adult literature for thousands of years

• Plato’s Republic• Dante’s Inferno

• John Christopher’s Tripod trilogy

• The Earth has been conquered by alien Tripods who control and enslave humans. Three children; Henry, Beanpole, and Will; embark on a journey to free humanity and rescue the planet from destruction.

• Rodman Philbrick’s The Last Book in the Universe

• Has both utopian and dystopian societies• Gangs run a futuristic society after Earth has

been ruined by “The Big Shake” • People inject themselves with probes that

allow them to imagine a better world while in a secret place, Eden, humans who have been genetically chosen are allowed to live happily

• The main character, Spaz, ventures into the dangerous territory and is joined by an old man, Ryter, who has the last book in the universe

Surviving Environmental Catastrophes

• Surviving in the future after environmental catastrophe– Holocaust– Pollution– Overcrowding– Earth’s environmental destruction

Book Level 3.7

Bo

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l 4.0

Science Fantasies AKA Space Fantasy

• Based on imagination and includes extrapolations (opinions) of scientific understandings

• Space travel• Interplanetary exploration• Alien visitorsBook Level 5.6

Bo

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Bo

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Bo

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Book Level 2.8

Book Level 2.6

Book Level

4.9

How Science Fiction Works– Remote planet (setting)– Author creates suspense before making genre clear (4th

dimension, fantasy, science fiction)– Create believeable characters– Premise plausible– Clues are planted for reader to predict – Have some points of reality– Projects real experiences to other worldly ones

Book Level 5.5

Book Level 4.7

Evaluating Science Fiction

• Follows literary standards (ch 2) • It is made clear how the characters feels about

world/dilemmas.• In the inventive world, are plots threaded.• Guideposts that serve as a jumping-off from

reality to imagination are present. • The author has created a sense of delight that

engages the reader to continue reading.

AWARDS

• Newbery Medal• Hugo Award (Hugo Gersback- termed Sci-Fi)• Science-Fiction Achievement Award

(Adult/Children)• Nebula Award (given to several categories

including juvenile fiction)

Major Writers

Peter Dickinson

Madeline L’Engle

Newberry Medal 1963

Newberry Honor Book 1981

“You can’t write science fiction out of your own experiences,

so you have to search for something deeper”

She states that her books are about the clash of good and

evil on a cosmic level.

U.S. nominee for the 1964 Hans Christian Anderson Award

Received the 1984 Catholic Library Association’s Regina Award

William Sleator

Science Fiction Series

Captain UnderpantsDav Pilkey

Book Level:2.5-5.5

Franny K. Stein Jim Benton

Book Level:4.5-5.3

First Graders from Mars

Shana Corey

Book Level:3.1-3.8

Comander Toad

Jane Yolen

Book Level:2.2-2.6

Science Fiction

The Little PrinceAntoince de Saint-Exupery

Book Level:5.0

Space GuysMartha Weston

Book Level:0.7

The Rudest Alien on EarthJane L. Conley

Book Level:4.3

Babar Visits Another PlanetLaurent De Brunho

Book Level:4.1

If You Decide to Go to the MoonFaith McNulty

Book Level:4.1

Cam Jansen: The Mystery of the UFODavid Adler

Book Level:3.4

The Iron GiantTed Hughes

Book Level:4.7

My Teacher is an AlienBruce Coville

Book Level:5.3

Attack of the Fluffly BunniesAndrea Beaty

Book Level: 5.1

Hush, Little AlienDaniel Kirk

Book Level 3.5

Book Level 3.5