Science Fiction on Science Blogs?
This session is moderated by Stephanie Zvan and Peggy Kolm:
Science fiction has inspired curiosity and enthusiasm in generations of children. How can science bloggers draw on SF’s power to entertain and educate? What science can we find in fiction beyond the old multi-page calculations of rocket trajectories? What does the practice of science look like in SF? In the past, scientists like Asimov and Clarke were the ones writing SF. Who’s producing the good stuff these days, and what makes a good bad example? Many modern SF writers blog too. What opportunities exist for cross-promotion and educating the writers? And which bloggers are already doing it all right?
Discuss:
Hey, all. Help us make sure that we’re not leaving you and your interests out. Let us know if there are questions you’re dying to know the answer to that aren’t listed above. Tell us what disciplines you’re interested in seeing represented. Biology and physics are common in science fiction, but what else? What will make this panel the most helpful to you?
And just for fun, what’s your favorite bad example in SF?
—Stephanie
Bad examples? Oooh. I bet we could make Greg Egan wince by bringing up the bad quantum physics in Quarantine. More seriously, somebody should try to tackle mathematics in fiction: the works of Abbott, Borges, etc. in written literature, and movies like Pi, A Beautiful Mind, Proof and so forth.
Blake, you’ll be at the session, right? I can’t think of anyone who’ll be there more qualified to talk about the math aspect.
P.S. You’re a bad, bad man and what has Greg done to you?
—Stephanie
I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it to ScienceOnline09. I hope to at least be able to watch the session. I’m sure it will be an interesting discussion.
— Peggy
The Survey
The moderators posted sets of questions for science bloggers and science fiction writers on their blogs. The responses have been very impressive.
Responses from the SF Writer Point of View
—David Brin
—Peter Watts
—Sean Craven of Renaissance Oaf
—Simon Haynes of Spacejock News
—Arvind Mishra of Science Fiction in India
—JesterJoker of Sa Souvraya Niende Misain Ye
—Kelly McCullough of Wyrdsmiths
—Mike Brotherton
—Robert Evans of SciFiWriter
—David J. Williams of The Mirrored Heavens
—Nina Munteanu of The Alien Next Door
—Shaun Duke of The World in the Satin Bag
Responses from the Science Point of View
—Arvind Mishra of Science Fiction in India
—Mike Brotherton and a bit more
—Ken of Neth Space
—Kim of All My Faults are Stress Related
—Schadwen of Elemental Home
—Z of It’s The Thought that Counts
—kcsphil of DC Dispatches
—Miriam Goldstein of The Oyster’s Garter
—Ken of GeoSlice
—Lee Kottner of Cocktail Party Physics
—Eva Amsen of Expression Patterns
—Scicurious of Neurotopia (version 2.0)
—Dr. Isis of Becoming a Domestic and Laboratory Goddess
—Martin R. of Aardvarchaeology
—Blake Stacey of Science After Sunclipse
—Chad Orzel of Uncertain Principles
—John S. Wilkins of Evolving Thoughts
—Greg Laden
—Janet Stemwedel of Adventures in Ethics and Science
—Peter Watts of No Moods, Ads or Cutesy Fucking Icons (Reloaded)
—David Brin
—Nina Munteanu of The Alien Next Door
—Robert Grumbine of More Grumbine Science
There’s also discussion of the topic at io9.
We are in the process of summarizing the responses. We’ll add links as each post goes up.
Questions for Science Bloggers
—What is your relationship to science fiction? Do you read it? Watch it? What/who do you like and why?
—What do you see as science fiction’s role in promoting science, if any? Can it do more than make people excited about science? Can it harm the cause of science?
—Have you used science fiction as a starting point to talk about science? Is it easier to talk about people doing it right or getting it wrong?
—Are there any specific science or science fiction blogs you would recommend to interested readers or writers?
Questions for Science Fiction Writers
—Why are you writing science fiction in particular? What does the science add?
—What is your relationship to science? Have you studied or worked in it, or do you just find it cool? Do you have a favorite field?
—How important is it to you that the science be right? What kind of resources do you use for accuracy?
—Are there any specific science or science fiction blogs you would recommend to interested readers or writers?
