EAC234

SF and Literary Terms - A Glossariki!

LY, light year

The distance traveled by light in one Earth year. Light travels at 300,000 km/sec, so a light year is [1 light year = 9.4605284 × 1015 meters]. One light second - 300,000 km or the distance light travels in one second

FTL

faster than light.

FTL drive

the drive that enables ships to cross interstellar distances fast than light would (so in a relatively short time)

Robot

A robot is an electro-mechanical device or group of devices that can perform autonomous or preprogrammed tasks unaided by human intervention. C-3PO and R2-D2 are examples of robots.

Android

An android is a robot made to resemble a human, usually both in appearance and behavior. Data from Star Trek is an example of an android.

Cyborg

Stands for a CYBernetic ORGanism. In essence a creature that is part organic and part mechanical, computerized, etcetera. The Terminator is an example of a cyborg, for it is a mechanical body covered with organic skin and flesh.

Elements of an SF Story

Common elements in SF books/movies/tv shows/etc:

• involves science/extrapolations on science
• technology gone wrong
• aliens
• other worlds/parallel worlds
• magic/things that couldn't happen
• space travel
• robots
• artificial intelligence
• monsters
• utopia
• dystopia
• the future
• Social Commentary
• anti-heroes
• unrealistic turn of events
• exploring the unknown
• military
• large corporations
• mythology
• apocalyptic
• time travel
• vast worlds

Assignment 1 - Topic Sign Up Page

No more than three people may sign up for one question. Sign up is on a first-come first-served basis. Please put your name in box at the end of the question if you'd like to do that question - unless, of course, three people have already signed up for it!

In “Nightfall” and “The Cold Equations” does the author believe man is superior to nature? Or nature to man?	Your name here!
What do “Flowers for Algernon” and “Nightfall” say about the role of science in society?	Hello
Several of the assigned readings we looked at were considered to be “ground-breaking”. Pick two stories and explain how they broke new ground in SF.
How has SF grown and matured as a literary genre? Use two of the assigned readings to illustrate the growth – you may also refer to works that preceded the ones you are talking about to illustrate the growth.
Is science a necessary element of a science fiction story? Defend your argument using at least two of the assigned readings.
What is the author saying about men's expectation of women in “Helen O'Loy” and “The Perfect Woman”?
Why did the author choose the narrator he did in “Helen O'Loy” and “Flowers for Algernon”?
Ideas often take precedence over characterization in SF stories. Illustrate this using two of the assigned readings. ( )
SF stories often turn things around so that we see them in a new way. Describe how this technique is used in two of the assigned readings.
Since SF stories can be set in any place or time, most begin by establishing the setting. Illustrate how this is done in four of the assigned readings.
By setting stories on other planets or using other races, the author is often holding a mirror up to our society or to human psychology. What is Asimov saying about us in “Nightfall”?
Science fiction stories often have to deliver a lot of information to the reader, but don't want to deliver it in a tedious way (i.e. as a dry lecture). Describe and illustrate the techniques used to do this in four of the assigned readings.
Is "Helen O'Loy" a sexist story? Be sure to explain any terms you might use, especially the term "sexist".
Wiki madness! In lieu of a formal essay, I will allow some people to put together wiki pages on some of the assigned readings. See me for more details. Stories eligible for this include "Helen O'Loy", "It's a Good Life", "The Cold Equations" "I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream" or "Aye, and Gomorrah".

Term Test

Note: these are the questions from 2007 and will be modified before our test this semester. Please check back to make sure you have the correct questions!

The term test will cover all the material we've discussed in class up to the week before reading week and will be closed book. It will consist of the following questions:

• 5 content questions worth 5 marks (similar to the quizzes). The answers can be single words or in point form, as is appropriate. Grammar will not count, although spelling will!

• 5 short answer questions (no more than 1 page) worth 5 marks each. Your answer should be a complete paragraph with grammatically correct sentences and have appropriate formatting - page citations are not required.

• 1 longer essay question (3-4 pages), worth 20 marks. This should be a complete essay, with an introduction, thesis statement, conclusion, and two to three body paragraphs, each of which addresses a sub-topic and provides concrete examples from the assigned readings to support your thesis. Your answer should also be in grammatically correct sentences and have appropriate formatting - page citations are not required.

For the test I will select questions from the lists below. There will not be a choice of questions (you have to answer all the questions I give you!), so you might want to sketch out answers to all these questions beforehand to prepare for the test. I'm also happy to answer any questions you might have or to have a quick look at a point form answer you draw up to any of these questions - as long as you send it to me at least 24 hours prior to the test.

Shorter Questions

• Why was "Helen O'Loy" considered to be a "ground-breaking" story? That is, how did it differ significantly from SF stories that came before it?

• In "Nightfall", Anton the director of Saro University, Theremon the reporter, Sheerin the psychologist and Latimer the cultist represent different ideas. Describe the ideas associated with each.

• Is "It's a Good Life" an SF story? Support your argument by referring to concrete examples from the story.

• Names and the use of names are important in "The Cold Equations". What is the author trying to say?

• "Flowers for Algernon" is told through Charlie's journal-entries. Why did the author choose this form of narrative?

• Explain the difference between "soft/social" SF and "hard" SF. Cite examples of each from the assigned readings.

• Explain what is meant by the term "Sense of Wonder" as it applies to SF, and give examples from at least two of the assigned readings.

• Why is it critical for an author to establish setting early in an SF story? Give two examples of how this is done using the assigned readings.

• SF works often pose "What if..." questions. Explain what a "What if..." question is, and give three examples from the assigned readings.

• The misuse of science and the scientific method are often the focus of SF works. Give two examples from the assigned readings where this is the case, and explain what criticisms they make of science or the scientific method.

Longer Questions

• Ideas often take precedence over characterization in SF stories. Illustrate this using at least three of the assigned readings.

• Describe the development of SF as a genre by referring to at least four of the assigned readings.

• Give a definition of SF, and defend it by citing examples from the assigned readings.