Captainkalaa1 
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Posts: 50
(3/7/06 8:23 am)
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Captain k'alaa's Corner for March, 2006
Science fiction fans are basically optimists. You know, your standard "glass is half-full" people . Every science fiction fan I have met seems to enjoy (even more than the story) the positive aspects of his or her favorite show or book. And then suddenly, at that point, most fans diverge in opinion. Where one person will base their life on, for example, a certain friendship in Star Wars, another person will dismiss it as derivative and call only stories found in books "true science fiction". While all opinions have their valid points, I must point out that the very nature of science fiction itself invites, even demands divergence of opinion. Why do I say this?
Number one: the example of H.G. Wells springs to mind. His idea of the future was one of wonder, excitement and surprise. Several generations of science fiction writers were strongly influenced by his work.
Number two: From the 1930's to the 1970's, there was a group of science fiction writers who came up with most of the basic principles (the ABC's) of science fiction as we know it today. They are the pioneers who defined modern science fiction and fantasy. Each writer had his or her own take on spinning tales...but the main philosophy of exploring the unknown remained the same. Gene Roddenberry, Sidney Wilson and Verity Lambert, Douglas Adams, and George Lucas are the direct inheritors of this legacy. These people have themselves said they were inspired by the science fiction of their youth.
Number three: Science Fiction and Fantasy has basically opened our minds to events and circumstances impossible to find in everyday life. I would go so far to say as this is the main appeal of science fiction...exploring the unknown in the safety of a book or movie without the chance of nasty sand fleas jumping on your skin . Want to ride a rocket? Discover the cure to a disease? Create a world? The possibilites go as far as the creator's and the reader's imaginations will allow.
But...what does all this have to do with inviting divergence of opinion? My answer is that every story is a human story. Every word put to a page, whether it be to describe a different world, to examine a relationship formed among the characters, or to expound on a plot device is put there to form a human idea. Human stories and ideas by their very nature are divergent. Science fiction at its best explores those divergent viewpoints. How many human ideas does it take to make a believable world? How many human stories does it take to make a believable universe? Ideas, by their very nature often conflict with one another. Other times, they often see a problem, an event or a person from an angle not readily apparent to the casual viewer.
To build a world in a few pages takes skill and imagination. Hard work, ingenuity and stamina! Let's remember as fans all the hard-working, intelligent writers, actors, directors and producers that make science fiction possible.
We would love to read your opinions on science fiction, past, present, and future. Have any ideas for new stories of your own, or new ideas for ongoing science fiction websites, movies, television shows, games or books? We'd love to hear from you! Just email us at kinda@msn.com, with your comments, and where you read this article. Your comments could be in the next AMAFSR Newsletter.
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