Science Fiction and Empire on Environmentalism
One of the main aspects of science fiction that sets it apart of almost all other genres is its ability to influence the direction of humankind. By stimulating a reader’s thoughts of the possibility of different futures, not only does science fiction serve as a popular source of entertainment, but it also encourages one to analyze the possible prospective effects of the generation’s powerholders’ and their decisions. As a science fiction writer himself, Isaac Asimov once said, “Intelligent science fiction writers attempt to look at world trends in science and technology for plot inspiration and, in doing so, they sometimes get a glimpse of things that later turn out to be near the truth” (Asimov, page 79). Through the use of empires as the powerhouses of society, SF books like War of the Worlds and Foundation dig deep into the question of what would happen if societies continued to allow the progression of destructive and commercial technologies. Frank Herbert’s, Dune, also questions the future of the universe while shining a spotlight on the clash between humanity and the environment. By providing a glimpse of the future as a product of current technological change, science fiction helps an audience examine which way they want to shape the progression of human kind, and therefore provides a unique service to the world.
Since the beginning of time, the purpose of technology has been to enable one to do something that otherwise would be impossible. Technology is an incredibly powerful tool, but with great power comes great responsibility. Serving as a symbol of power, positive technological development will generally distinguish a good empire from an evil one, in both the real world and the world of science fiction. In the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, a Martian invasion leaves a previously invincible British Empire in ruins. The aliens violently expressive a total disregard for human life and the environment of earth. Weapons, called
Since the beginning of time, the purpose of technology has been to enable one to do something that otherwise would be impossible. Technology is an incredibly powerful tool, but with great power comes great responsibility. Serving as a symbol of power, positive technological development will generally distinguish a good empire from an evil one, in both the real world and the world of science fiction. In the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, a Martian invasion leaves a previously invincible British Empire in ruins. The aliens violently expressive a total disregard for human life and the environment of earth. Weapons, called
Cited: 1. Howes, Michael. Politics and the Environment: Risk and the Role of Government and Industry. London: Earthscan, 2005. 168-176. Print. 2. Nielsen, Ron. Preface. The Little Green Handbook: Seven Trends Shaping the Future of Our Planet. New York: Picador, 2006. 207-237. Print. 3. Asimov, Isaac. Asimov on Science Fiction. Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1981. Print 4. Louis J. Halle. Foreign Affairs. Vol. 58, No. 5 (Summer, 1980), pp. 1129-1136