Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - The History of Science Fiction

Starting point is 00:00:00 One of the most popular genres of literature, film, and television is science fiction. Science fiction is relatively new, and by its very nature is always evolving and reinventing itself. Also, unlike other genres, science fiction isn't just about storytelling. It's about generating ideas that have an actual impact on the world we live in. Learn more about the history of science fiction and how it's impacted the world on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily. Fear is the virus is trending on 10. TikTok, vaccines are poison. Then your yoga teacher says that sex traffic children are being sacrificed by satanic liberals, but it's all okay. The Great Awakening is coming. What is happening?

Starting point is 00:00:57 Every week on Conspirality Podcast, we explore the fever dreams that suck friends, family, and wellness gurus down the right-wing cult spiral in a search for salvation. All of you know what science fiction is, and you can easily identify it if you see it. However, actually defining it can be a bit trickier. Science fiction is a storytelling genre concerned with imagined with imagined futures, alternative worlds, or transformed presence that arise from speculative changes in science, technology, or the systematic application of rational inquiry. That definition seems straightforward enough, but it's so vast that there are many

Starting point is 00:01:41 edge cases where people can argue over what is and what is not science fiction. Another popular genre, often considered distinct from science fiction, is fantasy. This would include works like The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones. Science fiction builds its imagined worlds on speculative extensions of science and natural laws, while fantasy tends to rely on supernatural forces or magic that operates outside of scientific explanation. Some people have actually claimed that Star Wars isn't science fiction and that it's actually fantasy. It takes place long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away, and none of the technology is ever really explained. And they have midichlorians. In a normal piece of fiction, the characters,

Starting point is 00:02:27 their relationships, and the circumstances they find themselves in are the focus of the story. Science fiction has those elements, but there's usually another level to the story. Some greater idea is usually being examined, or it's exploring how technology may affect the world. If we're looking at the origins of science fiction, the big question is, when did it begin? And what was the first science fiction story? Long before science fiction emerged as a recognized genre, writers were imagining voyages beyond the known world, artificial life, and technological marvels. Ancient and medieval literature contains numerous speculative narratives that resemble later

Starting point is 00:03:06 science fiction and structure, if not scientific rigor. These works often used imaginary technologies, or journeys as satirical devices or philosophical thought experiments rather than serious predictions. One frequently cited early example is True History by Lucian of Samasata, written in the second century. The work describes a fantastical voyage to the moon and encounters with extraterrestrial life. Lucian openly framed the story as a parody, mocking travelers' tales and philosophers who claimed access to hidden truths. Despite its satirical intent, true history includes elements that later became stable. staples of science fiction, including space travel, alien societies, and interplanetary warfare.

Starting point is 00:03:49 Johannes Kepler's Somnium, written in 1608 and published in 1634, holds a stronger claim as the first science fiction story for many scholars. This Latin work describes a journey to the moon and speculates about what astronomical observations might look like from the lunar surface. Unlike Lucian, Kepler was a renowned astronomer whose narrative, though framed as a dream vision, incorporated genuine scientific knowledge and astronomical theory. He attempted to work within the constraints of contemporary scientific understanding, even addressing the problem of how humans may survive the journey to the moon. The extensive footnotes, Kepler added, demonstrate his scientific intentions,

Starting point is 00:04:29 explaining the astronomical principles underlying his story. Somnium represents perhaps the first attempt to ground an imaginative tale in rigorous scientific thought, making it a watershed moment in the prehistory of science fiction. There are many other significant early works which are sometimes called science fiction. Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World was written in 1666. This novel describes a utopian society reached via the North Pole and incorporate scientific discourse and technological conjecture. Francis Bacon's New Atlantis from 1627 betrays a society distinguished by its scientific

Starting point is 00:05:05 progress. And Cyrano de Bergerac's work, such as Voyage to the Moon from 1657, features imaginative, pseudo-scientific methods for space travel. These early works often prompt debate over whether they qualify as science fiction or not. But the first work, which is almost universally agreed upon as being science fiction, is Frankenstein. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, published in 1818, is probably the most widely accepted candidate for the first true science fiction novel. Shelley's work emerged in the scientific and philosophical environment of the early 19th century, particularly debates about galvanism, the nature of life, and the ethical boundaries of scientific inquiry.

Starting point is 00:05:47 And if you remember, I discussed all of these things in my episode about Frankenstein. What sets this novel apart is that Victor Frankenstein's creation of life through scientific means, however vaguely described in the book, marks a departure from supernatural or divine explanations. The novel grapples with the consequences of scientific hubris, the creators of responsibility to the created, and the dangers of unchecked technological advancement. These themes would become central to science fiction as it developed throughout the following two centuries. And the thing that should always be noted about Frankenstein is that Mary Shelley was only 18 years old when she wrote it. The 19th century saw an explosion in science fiction stories, even though the term hadn't yet been coined. Following Shelley, Agarral and Poe made significant contributions to proto-science fiction with stories such

Starting point is 00:06:39 as the unparalleled adventure of one Hans Fall, published in 1835, which is about a balloon voyage to the moon, and a descent into the maelstrom published in 1841, which recounts a sailor's survival of a deadly Norwegian whirlpool by calmly observing its patterns and using reason to escape certain death. Powe's emphasis on logical extrapolation and detailed technical descriptions influence later science fiction writers, particularly his attempt to make the fantastic seem plausible through the accumulation of realistic details. Everything I've mentioned so far has been about authors who wrote one or a few stories which might be considered science fiction.

Starting point is 00:07:21 In the late 19th century, we saw the emergence of the science fiction author who specialized in the genre. And one of the first authors to develop a reputation as a science fiction writer was Jules Verne. Jules Verne emerged as one of the genre's founding fathers with his Voyages' Extreroid's Nair's series beginning with five weeks in a balloon in 1863. Jules Verne's influential novels such as Journey to the Center of the Earth in 1864, from the Earth to the Moon in 1865, and 20,000 leagues under the sea in 1870,

Starting point is 00:07:54 blended thrilling adventure stories with detailed, meticulous research into the contemporary science and technology of Azera. Vern typically extrapolated from existing technology rather than inventing entirely new scientific principles. For example, his submarine The Nautilus in 20,000 leagues under the sea, while definitely more advanced than contemporary vessels in the 19th century, operated on recognizable engineering principles. Vern's work established the paradigm of hard science fiction, where technical accuracy and scientific plausibility are paramount. The other great 19th century science fiction writer was H.G. Wells. Wells, writing in the final decade of the 19th century, took a different approach. While Vern generally confined himself to technological extrapolation, Wells was willing to postulate

Starting point is 00:08:43 radical scientific breakthroughs as premises for examining social, philosophical, and political questions. The time machine in 1895 introduced the concept of time travel as a mechanical possibility, but used it primarily to explore social Darwinism and class divisions through evolutionary divergence of humanity into Eloy and Morlocks. The island of Dr. Moreau in 1896 examined vivisection, biological engineering, and the nature of humanity. The War of the Worlds, published in 1898, presented the first major alien invasion narrative, using Martian technology to explore themes of conquest and social collapse. The Invisible Man in 1897 and the first men in the moon in 2001 further demonstrated Well's method of beginning with a single scientific impossibility

Starting point is 00:09:30 and then rigorously exploring its consequences. Science fiction crystallized as a distinct genre during the pulp magazine era from the 1920s to the 1940s, named for cheap wood pulp paper on which these publications are printed. The period saw the genre gain its modern name, developed a dedicated readership, and established many of its enduring conventions and themes. Hugo Guernsbach, a Luxembourg-born inventor and magazine publisher, played a pivotal role in this development. In 1926, he launched amazing stories. The first magazine devoted entirely to what he called scientific fiction. Gernsback believed science fiction should both educate readers about science and technology and entertain them, a philosophy reflected in his editorial choices. He published reprints of Verns, Wells, and Poe alongside

Starting point is 00:10:19 new stories by emerging writers. In 1929, Gernsback lost control of amazing stories, but immediately founded science wonder stories, where he popularized the term science fiction. The Hugo Awards, science fiction's most prestigious honors are named after him. The period from the late 1930s through the 1950s is often called the golden age of science fiction. During this time, writers emphasize scientific rigor, logical problem-solving, and clear prose. The genre matured intellectually and stylistically producing works that appealed to both popular and critical audiences. There were many writers during this period, but three authors came to dominate the genre and were known as the big three.

Starting point is 00:11:03 Isaac Asmov, Arthur C. Clark, and Robert A. Heinlein. Isaac Asmov was a prolific author and biochemist best known for his robot stories and for the Foundation series, which emphasized lessons from history, systematic thinking, and the social consequences of science. Arthur C. Clark was a writer and futurist whose best known books are 2001 a space odyssey, childhood's end, and rendezvous with Rama. Robert Heinlein was a highly influential author known for exploring political systems. His best known books are, Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers, and the Moon is a harsh mistress. The 1960s and 70s saw what became known as the New Wave movement in science fiction.

Starting point is 00:11:44 The New Wave movement, associated particularly with the British magazine New Worlds under editor Michael Moorcock, challenged science fiction's conventions and sought to import literary experimentation from mainstream fiction. New Wave writers emphasize psychological and sociological themes over pure science. This period saw the rise of many influential authors, including Frank Herbert, Ursula K. Le Guin, Kurt Vonnegut, Philip K. Dick, Harlan Ellison, and Stanislaw Lem. The 1980s saw the rise of cyberpunk, exemplified by William Gibson's 1984 novel, Neuromancer, which explored digital networks and artificial intelligence.

Starting point is 00:12:23 As the pace of technical change in society has accelerated, science fiction has changed along with it. In fact, science fiction has also been responsible for the development of technology. One of science fiction's most important real-world effects is its role in expanding the range of what people believe is possible. Ideas such as space travel, artificial intelligence, and global communications networks were all widely discussed in fiction decades before they became technically achievable. Equally important is science fiction's role in exploring consequences rather than just capabilities. Engineers and inventors tend to focus on whether something can be built, while science fiction often asks what happens after it's built and widely adopted. Stories about surveillance, automation, genetic engineering, or environmental collapse

Starting point is 00:13:12 make abstract risks concrete by embedding them in narratives that illustrate human experience. Science fiction has also had a measurable impact on individual lives by motivating careers and intellectual curiosity. Many scientists and technologists have credited early exposure to science fiction with sparking their interest in science or engineering. Works of science fiction have been used as prior art and patent disputes and patent examinations, although this usually happens more often during patent invalidation or examination procedures than in courtroom trials. The key legal point is that prior art need not be practical,

Starting point is 00:13:49 working, or intended as engineering guidance. It only needs to publicly disclose the idea in enough detail that a person skilled in the art could recognize it. Science fiction isn't just about interesting and compelling stories. It's a way to view our world through a different lens and to consider what it could or might be. And it also provides inspiration for those conducting research or developing new technologies, some of which might not be created for decades or centuries after the ideas were first conceived. The executive producer of Everything Everywhere Daily is Charles Daniel, the associate producers are Austin Otkin and Cameron Kiefer. My big thanks go to everyone who supports the show

Starting point is 00:14:32 over on Patreon. Your support helps make this podcast possible. And I also want to remind everyone about the community groups on Facebook and Discord. That's where everything happens that's outside the podcast. And links to those are available in the show notes. As always, if you leave a review on any major podcast app or in the above community groups, you too can have it read in the show.

Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography & More - The History of Science Fiction

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