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“Science Fiction” Novels of the 1950s  (2)

Writers are constantly pushing for refinement

(Romanian)

Let’s continue the presentation of the “Golden Books” launched and awarded in the ’50s! Novels through which the world of “Science Fiction” clearly perceives a constant behavior oriented towards refinement, towards the projection of a future as imaginable as possible by the reader.

First… Oh… Note: For a “some” number of episodes of this work, I will proceed as in the case of a “tutorial”, inserting some details about everything that will follow. So…

And with the “occasion” of this episode, you will be able to notice a kind of development algorithm that will be stable throughout this immense work (immense in terms of information, enough for you, as the reader, to be the decision-makers), starting first from the novels “synchronous” chronologically with the described stage, to which will be added (at the appropriate chronological moment) the cinematographic and television series-type achievements, then the achievements in the world of video games, etc. (let me leave a kind of “lodge” for surprise).

Fahrenheit 451 (also known as The Fireman) by Ray Bradbury (1953) is a classic dystopia that explores deep themes of censorship, conformity, and the importance of knowledge, falling into several subgenres of science fiction:

• A Dystopia, the novel presents a future society in which freedom of thought and expression is suppressed, and the individual is subject to strict state control, with themes related to censorship, conformism, and the devaluation of knowledge being characteristic of dystopias.
• Social Science Fiction, in which Bradbury explores the impact of technology on society and human behavior, presents a world in which mass media and superficial entertainment replace critical thinking and interpersonal relationships, addressing themes related to the role of the individual in society and the consequences of conformity.
• Speculative science fiction, as the author speculates on the possible consequences of censorship and information control on society, explores ideas related to the role of books and knowledge in human development.
• A Cautionary science fiction, the novel aims to warn readers about the dangers of censorship, information control, and conformity.

In detail, Bradbury creates a dystopian future society (using a poetic style, rich in metaphors, to convey the oppressive atmosphere of his dystopian world), in which books are banned and burned, and people are subject to strict control of information, in this world, firefighters do not put out fires, but cause them, burning books and the homes of those who hide them (the title “Fahrenheit 451” referring to the temperature at which paper catches fire and burns).

The protagonist, Guy Montag, is a firefighter who begins to question the values ​​of his society, facing a deep inner conflict, especially after he meets a young nonconformist, Clarisse McClellan, the protagonist eventually freeing himself from the control of the system, choosing to keep and learn books, becoming a symbol of intellectual resistance.

The novel emphasizes the importance of knowledge and freedom of thought, showing the devastating consequences of censorship and conformism (the society in the novel eliminates any source of critical thinking, banning books and promoting superficial entertainment, humanity being hypnotized by giant screens and substanceless entertainment, reflecting Bradbury’s concerns about the influence of television on the human intellect, the world of the novel glorifying ignorance, while characters who seek the truth are persecuted), fire being an ambivalent symbol in the novel, representing both the destruction of knowledge and purification and rebirth.

The novel warned of the dangers of censorship, with Bradbury writing the novel during the “Red Scare” in the United States (during the Cold War), a period of censorship and political persecution (influenced by communist purges and US censorship during the McCarthyism era), addressing themes that are still relevant today, such as the impact of technology on society and the importance of critical thinking.

The novel has influenced popular culture, being adapted into numerous films (adapted into a film by François Truffaut, 1966, and in an HBO version, 2018), plays, and other forms of art, becoming a symbol of resistance against censorship, being one of the most studied and influential dystopian science fiction novels, along with 1984 (George Orwell) and Brave New World (Aldous Huxley).

Then, regarding cinematic achievements, there are thematic similarities and influences that can be observed between the novel “Fahrenheit 451” and the film “Equilibrium” (even if only partially), both presenting dystopian societies in which information control and the suppression of emotions are tools of totalitarian regimes.

The “differences” would be represented by:

• In “Fahrenheit 451”, books are banned and burned, symbolizing the suppression of free thought and knowledge, while in “Equilibrium”, all forms of art, including books, music, and any form of emotion, are banned because they are considered a threat to social stability.
• In “Fahrenheit 451”, the government uses the media to manipulate the population and discourages any independent thinking, and in Equilibrium, the regime led by “Father” imposes strict order by suppressing emotions, and those who deviate are hunted by Grammaton clerics.
• Both works explore the consequences of a society in which emotions are repressed, in “Equilibrium”, citizens are forced to take a drug (Prozium) that suppresses emotions, while in “Fahrenheit 451”, conformity and superficial entertainment serve a similar purpose.
• Both Guy Montag in “Fahrenheit 451” and John Preston (an elite government agent, and Grammaton cleric) in “Equilibrium” transform, beginning to question the values ​​of their society and rebel against the system, in both cases, the main characters come to realize the importance of emotions, knowledge and individual freedom.

But although “Equilibrium” is not a direct adaptation of Bradbury’s novel, it is clear that the film was influenced by the themes and ideas presented in “Fahrenheit 451”, the film expanding and modernizing these themes, adding elements of action and distinct visual style (spectacular fight scenes, Gun Kata).

Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke (1953) explores profound themes related to the evolution of humanity, contact with extraterrestrial civilizations (an atypical one, extremely advanced aliens called Overlords, who impose a pax galactica on Earth, without violently invading the planet, but intervening to eradicate wars, famine and human suffering, subtly guiding humanity towards a new evolutionary stage) and the nature of the transcendence of the human species, the novel, one of Clarke’s most influential and philosophical texts, offering a cosmic perspective on evolution, suggesting that humanity is just one stage in a much larger process.

From a “technical” point of view, the novel falls into several subgenres of science fiction, represented (mainly) by:

• Speculative science fiction, Clarke explores ideas related to human evolution, contact with advanced extraterrestrial civilizations, and the possibility of transcendence, speculating on the future of humanity and its place in the universe.
• First Contact, the central theme of the novel is humanity’s contact with an advanced alien race, the Overlords, exploring the impact of this contact on human society and its evolution.
• Philosophical science fiction, addresses deep philosophical themes such as the nature of consciousness, evolution, and the meaning of existence, with Clarke asking questions about humanity’s role in the universe and the possibility of transcending human limits.
• Apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic science fiction (with a twist), although not a classic apocalyptic scenario, the novel describes a radical transformation of humanity, which can be interpreted as a kind of end of the world as we know it, the transformation of children into a collective consciousness marking a dramatic break with the past.

The novel presents the sudden appearance of the alien race who, under the leadership of their leader Karellen (who is not fully revealed until several generations later, as he resembles the classic demons of mythology, with red skin, horns, bat wings, a revelation that creates an interesting parallel between mythology and science, suggesting that humanity’s ancestral fear of devils was, perhaps, a premonition of a real event), take control of the Earth, bringing peace and prosperity, but, as time passes, the true purpose of the Overlords is revealed, that of guiding humanity in a process of radical transformation, in which the children evolve into a collective consciousness (the children of humanity developing psychic and telepathic abilities, preparing for a merger with the Overmind, the adults remaining “behind”, unable to evolve, and the human race, as we know it, disappears, the last man on Earth, Jan Rodricks, living in supreme isolation, being witness to the extinction of his species).

Clarke explores the tension between the human desire for freedom and the need for progress, questioning whether individual sacrifice is justified for the collective good (humans do not control this process, being only a “bridge” to a cosmic consciousness), using powerful symbols and allegories to convey profound messages about human nature, evolution and spirituality (under the impact of the fact that the Overlords are not the true supreme force, they are only intermediaries of a higher cosmic entity, called the Overmind).

Clarke tackled complex and challenging themes that continue to be relevant today and influenced the science fiction genre through generations of science fiction writers (profoundly influencing later themes in literature and cinema, including Clarke’s 2001: A Space Odyssey series, the theme of human transcendence also found in films such as The Matrix or Interstellar, etc., not to mention the numerous future video games that would take many of Clarke’s ideas), inspiring new ideas and concepts, provoking heated debates about the nature of evolution, the role of religion, and the destiny of humanity.

Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement stands out for its emphasis on scientific accuracy and detailed construction of an alien world, demonstrating that science fiction can be scientifically rigorous (appreciated for its rigorous details of physics and exobiology) and yet captivating (also becoming a classic example of an alien world created with a high degree of scientific realism), setting a standard for “Hard Science Fiction” (influencing generations of writers).

But, even if I previously “left out” a detail, here is the “technical” framing of this novel:

• Hard Science Fiction, the novel is notable for its emphasis on scientific accuracy and the detailed construction of an alien world, and
• Planetary exploration, the central theme of the novel is the exploration of an alien planet, Mesklin, where the characters face challenges related to adapting to a new environment and understanding the physical laws of the planet.

Clement (known for his rigorous approach to science in previous works) creates a planet called Mesklin (detailed and believable, which inspired the imagination of readers), characterized by extremely strong gravity and unusual climatic conditions, standing out for the detailed descriptions of the planet (a massive planet, extremely flattened at the poles, which rotates rapidly, in less than 18 minutes. where gravity varies enormously, over 700 G at the poles and under 3 G at the equator, a unique concept in SF literature, being based on rigorous calculations by the author), of its physics and biology (the environment influencing everything, for example the structure of living things, their behavior and the technology used by the planet’s inhabitants, the Mesklians), which are a strong point of the novel (the author conducting thorough research to ensure the scientific coherence of the novel).

The story (an adventure that focuses on scientific exploration and practical problem-solving) follows a human mission to recover a probe from Mesklin, which has landed in a region with extreme gravity, since humans cannot survive on the planet, they collaborate with the Mesklins to carry out the mission, the narrative unfolding from the perspectives of a human explorer and an indigenous creature, offering a complex picture of the alien world, the novel exploring the ability of living beings to adapt to extreme environments, both at the individual and species levels, given that, initially, people believe that the Mesklins are naive and easy to manipulate, but Barlennan (a Mesklin “leader”) proves a subtle intelligence and an excellent diplomatic sense, the end of the novel emphasizing the need for mutual respect between species, even when the differences are extreme.

Ultimately, this novel is considered a model of hard science fiction, influencing writers such as Larry Niven, Arthur C. Clarke, and Alastair Reynolds, with the planet Mesklin being one of the most detailed alien worlds ever created in science fiction. And, why not, the novel spawned sequels and spin-off stories, including Star Light (1971), but none matched the impact of the original.

The Caves of Steel by Isaac Asimov is a work that combines elements of a detective novel (of the “whodunit” type) with a dystopian one (without forgetting science fiction), being also the first in the Robots series (which continued to explore these themes in Asimov’s later works), exploring themes such as the relationship between humans and robots, the evolution of society, and the impact of technology on human life, creating a captivating and complex story.

From a “technical” point of view, it is a complex and innovative novel, which falls into several subgenres of science fiction, represented by:

• Science fiction detective, combining elements of science fiction with those of the detective novel, presents a crime in a future society where robots are integrated into everyday life.
• Social science fiction, Asimov explores the impact of technology on society and human behavior, presenting a world in which people live in gigantic underground cities, called “Steel Caves”, addressing themes related to claustrophobia, social isolation, and the relationship between humans and robots.
• Dystopian science fiction, without being a classic dystopia, presents a future society in which individual freedom is restricted and people are subject to strict control by the state and technology.
• Robots, is the first novel in the Robots series, in which Asimov introduces the three laws of robotics, which have become a central concept in science fiction.

Moving on to the “details”, Asimov creates a future world in which most people live in gigantic underground cities, called “Steel Caves” (megacities where billions of people live), where contact with nature is limited, exploring the complex relationship between humans and robots (and not only that, the conflict being fueled, like a key to the plot, by the relationships between Earthlings, who live in underground cities, suspicious of robots, and Spacers, the descendants of space colonists, who use advanced robots is the key to the plot), presenting robots as valuable partners, but also as possible threats, a central theme being people’s fear of robots, which threaten to take their jobs and reduce their importance in society, a theme that will be found in many subsequent works (novels, films, television series, video games).

The narrative begins with a mysterious murder (“the attractor” in the classic “mystery SF” subgenre), where a scientist is murdered, and detective Elijah Baley is tasked with solving the case, having as his partner a humanoid robot, R. Daneel Olivaw (the first humanoid robot perfectly integrated into a human society), presenting the conflict between the older generations, who fear technology, and the younger ones, who embrace it, exploring the psychology of the characters, revealing their motivations and inner conflicts (his relationship with Elijah Baley being a reinterpretation of the classic detective duo “composed” of a rational but emotional man vs. a logical but emotionless partner, similar to Holmes and Watson or Spock and Kirk later), exploring the motives of the crime, false leads and logical deductions, while preserving classic elements of SF.

“Famous” for genre literature, is the fact that in this work he developed the “applicability” of the laws of robotics (Asimov formulated the three laws of robotics, which became a central concept in science fiction and debates about artificial intelligence, on the occasion of the short story “Runaround” (1942), published in the magazine Astounding Science Fiction, laws integrated into the collection “I, Robot” (1950), containing several stories that explore the ethical and logical implications of the interaction between humans and robots), introducing an essential concept in SF, represented by the relationship between humans and robots in a complex future society.

The three laws are:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Ultimately, this was Asimov’s first major success in science fiction, leading to sequels such as The Naked Sun (1957), The Robots of Dawn (1983), and Robots and Empire (1985), strongly influencing future science fiction stories featuring robots and detectives, including films such as Blade Runner (1982) and the concept of human-robot partnerships in literature and cinema, or video games such as “Detroit: Become Human” (2018).

Yes, one more thing, R. Daneel Olivaw will play a major role in connecting the robot series and Asimov’s Foundation, becoming one of the most important characters in his work.

As a kind of “consequence” of what I presented previously, it is time to analyze the novel More Than Human written by Theodore Sturgeon, which explores deep themes related to the nature of humanity, evolution and the potential of the human mind, “narratively” describing the depths of the human psyche, revealing the complexity of emotions, motivations and interpersonal relationships, addressing deep philosophical themes, such as the nature of consciousness, human evolution and the relationship between the individual and the collective.

From a “technical” point of view, it is a work that falls into several subgenres of science fiction, but which transcends their boundaries, being considered a complex and innovative literary work. Here is an analysis of its classification:

• Psychological science fiction, explores the depths of the human psyche, revealing the complexity of emotions, motivations, and interpersonal relationships.
• Speculative science fiction, Sturgeon speculates on the possibility of human evolution towards a higher form of consciousness, exploring ideas related to telepathy, telekinesis, and other paranormal abilities.
• New Wave (precursor), because, although it was published before the official emergence of the New Wave movement, the novel presents elements that would become characteristic of this subgenre, represented by an experimental narrative style, a psychological approach to the characters, and an exploration of themes related to identity and sexuality.
• Philosophical science fiction, by addressing deep philosophical themes, such as the nature of consciousness, human evolution, and the relationship between the individual and the collectivity, asking questions about the meaning of existence and the potential of the human mind.

Specifically, the novel presents the story of six individuals with extraordinary, paranormal abilities (the characters are complex and well-defined, each with their traits, conflicts, and motivations), who unite to form a collective consciousness, called “homo gestalt” (in the idea that the next step in human evolution could be a psychic fusion between several individuals, forming a collective organism with extraordinary powers, conscious, like a “superior”, “superhuman” entity, the concept is called “Gestalt”), a consciousness that exceeds individual limits and explores new dimensions of existence.

Sturgeon uses an experimental narrative style (unlike the hard science fiction of the era), structured in three parts (The Fabulous Idiot, Baby is Three and Morality), emphasizing morality, identity, and interconnectedness (deep characterization and ethical issues, rather than focusing on technology or science), which combines elements of science fiction, psychology, and poetry, the novel influencing generations of science fiction writers, inspiring new ideas and concepts.

The novel is considered one of the most important works of science fiction of the 1950s, having an impact on later themes in the genre, including the concept of collective intelligence or post-human evolution, “benefiting” from numerous accolades (the International Fantasy Award) and becoming a cornerstone of speculative science fiction.

And, from here, with due apologies, another episode follows!

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

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