Actual science in science fiction

[james_davis_nicoll]

Not applied sciences, I mean, or feats of engineering but the actual process of science. Is this a suitable topic for SF, by which I mean "can it be the seed for a story?" Or maybe better yet, "how does one use it as the seed for a story?"

One example would be the Steerswoman books. I think part of what makes that possible is that the protagonist is discovering scientific models that we are already familiar with, so the author is not saddled with the problem of coming up with a new scientific model.

I am not fussy about "Yes, this was cutting edge science 200 years ago and it still is today" stories, where whatever bit of pop-science that made the cover of DISCOVER is still new and exciting centuries from now.

Comments

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

What are the odds of that?

[shimgray.livejournal.com]

Probably slightly higher than an unprompted spasm war, massive earthquake, and roving Russian paratroopers.

Although, you know, he's gotta be right some day...

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

Although, you know, [RAH's] gotta be right some day...

There is that bit in his futurology essay where he says that something currently in existance will revolutionize society, even though it is not presently obvious what this something is. He then speculates that it might be the computer chip.

[shimgray.livejournal.com]

Given that ISTR his contemporaries were hedging with "nuclear power!!1!", as a rule, I guess we can call that one a hit.

Hey, don't knock the atom!

[james-nicoll.livejournal.com]

It provides 80% of _France's_ power.

Wait a few decades and I am willing to bet the hiatus in atomic power development will end, and the lifestyles of the billions of poverty stricken peasants around the world will be quite different.

Actually, we're currently undergoing one of the greatest transformations in human history, as people swarm into cities. It's really quite amazing at how unnewsworthy this seems to be.

Re: Hey, don't knock the atom!

[ritaxis.livejournal.com]

people have been swarming into cities for milennia, James.

The hiatus in atomic power development might end if somebody can figure out something to do with the waste besides pile it up and pour concrete on it and hope for the best.