A dialogue regarding "The material co-construction of hard science fiction and physics"

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 941-949 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Geelan ◽  
Vaughan Prain ◽  
Cathrine Hasse
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Hard Science ◽  
Hard Science Fiction

Hard Science Fiction

2007 ◽  
pp. 185-201
Author(s):  
Gary Westfahl
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Hard Science ◽  
Hard Science Fiction

scholarly journals TRANSFORMATION OF A FAIRY TALE IN «HYBRID» SCIENCE FICTION (BASED ON AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN PROSE OF THE XXth CENTURY)

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 99-109
Author(s):  
V. S. Malykh
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Fairy Tales ◽  
Fairy Tale ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Hard Science ◽  
Points Of View ◽  
Horror Fiction ◽  
American Authors ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Hard Science Fiction

The article introduces and substantiates the concept of «hybrid» science fiction, which combines the elements of science fiction and horror fiction. In «hybrid» fiction, science fiction surroundings cannot rationalize the text, but, on the contrary, they are replaced by motives of supernatural horror. «Hybrid» science fiction, in contrast to «hard» science fiction , develops the idea of ​​ unknowability of the Universe. It is worth mentioning here, that «hard» science fiction has been described well enough, but there is a shortage of research work in relation to its «hybrid» version, so this research can be considered as pioneering. We use E. M. Neyolov’s typology that describes the connection between a fairy tale and «hard» science fiction. Basing on this typology, we analyse «hybrid» fiction, in which science fiction scenery was replaced by the anti-rational principle. The research methodology involves a combination of structural, typological and comparative methods. As a material for the study, we use the works of such Russian and American authors as D. Glukhovsky, S. Lukyanenko, G. R. R. Martin, S. King, C. McCarthy, H. P. Lovecraft and others. The purpose of the article is to identify and describe the transformation of fairytale discourse in the works of these authors that leads to the genre transition from science fiction to horror fiction. The texts are being analysed from three points of view: system of characters, the structure of space and the direction of time. It is concluded that in «hybrid» science fiction the typological model of the fairy tale was distorted, reconsidered or destroyed, and it is the aberration of the fairytale motif that opens the gate for the genre transformation from «hard» science fiction to horror fiction. For example, the struggle of the superhero with the supervillain is traditional both for fairy tales and for science fiction, but it is replaced by psychologization of the hero and the extreme complication of the metaphysics of the Good and the Evil in «hybrid» science fiction . Besides that, the well-organized space of fairytale and science fiction as well as a close-cut separation of «ours» and «aliens», and also the mythologem of «threshold» are mixed in «hybrid» fiction and lose their symbolical unambiguity. Finally, science fiction and fairytale time in «hybrid» fiction ceases to exist and gives way to the tragic timelessness of chaos and nightmare. Thus, «hybrid» fiction destroys both the canons of «hard» science fiction and the constructs of the fairy tale genre.

Greg Egan

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Burnham
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Scientific Theory ◽  
Human Condition ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Thought Processes ◽  
Hard Science ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
Hard Science Fiction ◽  
The Human Condition

Greg Egan (1961– ) publishes works that challenge readers with rigorous, deeply informed scientific speculation. He unapologetically delves into mathematics, physics, and other disciplines in his prose, putting him in the vanguard of the hard science fiction renaissance of the 1990s. The book provides an in-depth study of Egan's science-heavy oeuvre. Its survey of Egan's career covers novels like Permutation City and Schild's Ladder, and the Hugo Award-winning novella Oceanic, analyzing how Egan used cutting-edge scientific theory to explore ethical questions and the nature of humanity. As the book shows, Egan's collected works constitute a bold artistic statement: that narratives of science are equal to those of poetry and drama, and that science holds a place in the human condition as exalted as religion or art. The book includes a rare interview with the famously press-shy Egan covering his works, themes, intellectual interests, and thought processes.

Gregory Benford

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Slusser
Keyword(s):  
Short Stories ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Benford’S Law ◽  
Scientific Rigor ◽  
Literary Traditions ◽  
Hard Science ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Working Out ◽  
Hard Science Fiction

Gregory Benford is perhaps best known as the author of Benford's law of controversy: “Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available.” That maxim is a quotation from Timescape, Benford's Nebula and Campbell Award-winning 1980 novel, which established his work as an exemplar of “hard science fiction,” dedicated to working out the consequences of modern science rather than substituting pseudoscience for fantasy. An astrophysicist by training and profession, Benford has published more than twenty novels, over 100 short stories, some fifty essays, and myriad articles that display both his scientific rigor as well as a recognition of literary traditions. This book explores the extraordinary, seemingly inexhaustible display of creative energy in Gregory Benford's life and work. By identifying direct sources and making parallels with other works and writers, the book reveals the vast scope of Benford's knowledge, both of literature and of the major scientific and philosophical issues of our time. The book also discusses Benford's numerous scientific articles and nonfiction books and includes a new interview with him.

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