Science Fiction as Literature and Art

The encounters between human and alien has been a common subject in science fiction since the beginning. The author can explore human belief and political systems and can contrast them to the alien mind. It's an interesting parallel to the encounters between Western man and other cultures. 

Computers, artificial intelligence, and the mind-computer interface have become more popular in recent years. These stories often contemplate what it is to be intelligent, conscious, or human – questions that have been asked since ancient times.

Quantum and string theory have made their appearance also. Faster than light (FTL) travel, parallel universes, time travel – all make us question and marvel at the nature of the universe.

If this was presented as just abstract thought, it would make for a pretty dull read or movie.  The genius of the master science fiction writers and movie makers is to work these concepts into an interesting story with well-developed characters and strong world-building.  Deep-space exploration, planetary colonization, political and military conflict, the search for and finding of intelligent life are among the most common plots.

Science fiction writer Neal Stephenson delivered a presentation to  students at Gresham College in England that explores speculative fiction, argues that science fiction is not "just" genre literature, discusses geeks and nerds, and compares mundane vs. speculative culture.    Here's the link to his talk.

If good fiction helps us see through other eyes and in different ways, then science fiction deserves a prominent place on our bookshelves.  Best lists abound.  Here is Esquire's take on the 50 best sci-fi books of all-time and links to reviews of three of my favorites that didn't make the Esquire list.

-RJC 2/23/2018