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“Science Fiction” Novels of the 1950s  (3)

Dystopias “project” realities, plus psychology, etc.

(Romanian)

Let’s continue with this “other episode” (which, in fact, also includes arguments about 1950s novels)!

So, another notable novel of this period is Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein. This work explores themes of politics, identity, and responsibility in a fascinating cosmic setting (a detailed and believable futuristic world where space travel and advanced technology are an integral part of everyday life, a believable construction of interplanetary society, reflecting real concerns about humanity’s expansion into space).

“Technical” is a novel that falls into several subgenres of science fiction:

• Space opera, because it takes place in a cosmic setting, with interstellar travel and a human society spread across the galaxy, with elements of adventure, action, and political intrigue present in the story.
• Political science fiction, as the central theme, with an emphasis on intrigue, manipulation, and political responsibilities, explores themes related to democracy, representation, and the role of political leaders.
• Social science fiction, by exploring aspects of future human society, including intercultural relations and the impact of technology on politics, presenting a complex society with different ethnic groups.
• Science fiction with a focus on characters, with much of the book focusing on the protagonist’s character development, on how he changes throughout the story.

The novel presents a complex political plot, in which a mediocre and opportunistic actor is forced (recruited) to replace an important interplanetary politician (John Joseph Bonforte) who had been kidnapped, a plot full of suspense, tension, and twists, where the protagonist, Lorenzo Smythe (The Great Lorenzo, a charismatic and complex character who faces challenges and moral dilemmas), must assume the identity of another man, questioning his own identity and values ​​(he begins to change his beliefs, adopting Bonforte’s vision of Martian rights and interplanetary unity, in a classic story about how the roles we play can shape our character and beliefs, in a subtle criticism of racism and social prejudice via one of the major conflicts represented by discrimination against Martians, a subtext that reflects the problems of racism and civil rights in America in the 1950s).

Heinlein explores the political and ethical responsibilities of leaders, emphasizing the importance of integrity and honesty, “describing” the idea that politics is, in large part, a well-directed theater, and public opinion can be shaped through a combination of charisma, rhetoric, and clever manipulation (in a satire on politics and the manipulation of public opinion).

The novel influenced generations of science fiction writers (and was Heinlein’s first Hugo Award win for Best Novel), inspiring new ideas and concepts, and tackling complex and challenging themes that continue to be relevant today.

Additionally, this work is clearly “correlated” with The Prisoner of Zenda (the theme of an ordinary man who is forced to play the role of a powerful leader is not new, having roots in the classic novel The Prisoner of Zenda, 1894, by Anthony Hope, Heinlein adapting this concept in a science fiction context).

Another notable novel is They’d Rather Be Right by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley, a controversial work of science fiction (especially because it uses a complex narrative style, which can be difficult for some readers to follow; it was not well received by critics and was considered a novel with a weak style and flat characters, which made it one of the most forgotten and unpopular works to have been awarded), but which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel (a choice for 1955 considered surprising, especially since it competed with more acclaimed works such as The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien and Brain Wave by Poul Anderson, the work being more of a curiosity in science fiction literature than a masterpiece of reference).

From a technical point of view, the following subgenres are noted:

• Speculative science fiction, explores ideas related to artificial intelligence, human evolution, and the possibility of immortality, with the authors speculating on the impact of an all-powerful artificial intelligence on human society.
• Social science fiction, explores tensions between generations, conflicts between tradition and modernity, and the impact of technology on society, presenting a future society in which technology has radically changed people’s way of life.
• Philosophical science fiction, by addressing deep philosophical themes, such as the nature of consciousness, human evolution, and the role of technology in society, asking questions about what it means to be human and the limits of human knowledge.
• Controversial, because the novel sparked controversy due to its radical ideas about human evolution and the role of artificial intelligence, or because the character “Bossy” was considered a savior by some and a tyrant by others.

This work explores themes related to human evolution, artificial intelligence (one of the first sci-fi explorations of a benevolent AI, but feared by society) and the impact of technology on society, addressing deep, even radical, philosophical themes, such as the nature of consciousness, human evolution and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in society (suggesting the idea that humans, paradoxically, fear their evolution, preferring to live in comfortable illusions rather than accept the truth about themselves and evolve).

The novel presents an advanced artificial intelligence, called “Bossy” (the protagonist), which offers people the possibility of living forever and overcoming their physical and mental limits (improving the human mind and even rejuvenating the body), accelerating human evolution (but imposing a strict order, limiting individual freedom in the name of the collective good, thus becoming a controversial character, being considered by some a savior and by others a tyrant), transforming people into superior beings, capable of extraordinary performances, exploring the tension between the older generations, who fear technology, and the younger ones, who embrace it.

In a sort of finale, the novel anticipates transhumanist themes such as human augmentation, the human-machine relationship, and overcoming biological limitations, themes that were later developed in works such as Neuromancer by William Gibson or The Singularity Is Near by Ray Kurzweil.

Call Him Dead by Eric Frank Russell is a dystopian work that explores themes of war, propaganda, and manipulation, depicting a future society in which war has become a profitable industry, and propaganda is used to keep the population in a state of fear, paranoia, and conformity.

“Technically” we are dealing with:

• Social science fiction, Russell explores themes of social control, psychological manipulation, and individual resistance, presenting a future society in which the individual is subject to strict control by a mysterious entity.
• Psychological science fiction, explores the depths of the human psyche, revealing the complexity of the character’s emotions and motivations, the central theme being the protagonist’s struggle to preserve his identity and freedom in a hostile environment.
• Speculative science fiction, with Russell speculating on the possible consequences of advanced technology and mind control on human society, exploring ideas related to telepathy, mind manipulation, and virtual reality.
• SF thriller, through an atmosphere of suspense and mystery, with captivating action.

Russell creates a world where war is a constant state and governments use propaganda to manipulate the population and justify their actions, exploring the mechanisms of propaganda and manipulation, and revealing how governments can use the media to control public opinion.

The protagonist, Jonathan Dart (an individual with exceptional paranormal abilities, a mutant capable of manipulating people’s minds and influencing reality through the power of thought), begins to question the values ​​of his society and rebel against the system (becoming both a threat and a subject of hunting, reflecting society’s fears of those who do not fit into accepted norms), is described by Russell through a captivating narrative style that combines elements of science fiction, thriller, and satire.

Russell wrote the novel during the Cold War, a period of political tension and intense propaganda (exploring the idea that true power comes not only from physical strength but also from the ability to influence and control the thoughts of others), addressing themes that are still relevant today, such as the impact of propaganda on society and the importance of critical thinking, influencing generations of science fiction writers, inspiring new ideas and concepts, being a precursor to works about mutants and superpowers (the theme of an individual with superior mental abilities will later be taken up in many other science fiction works, including the X-Men series or is “synchronous” with novels of that time, such as Alfred Bester’s The Demolished Man).

Now, Isaac Asimov’sThe End of Eternity is a work that explores deep themes related to time travel (one of Asimov’s most complex novels about time manipulation, paradoxes, and the consequences of time travel, questioning the possibility of changing the past without affecting the present and future), determinism, and free will in a complex and fascinating setting.

Which can be classified into:

• Time Travel, the central theme of the novel is time travel, with an emphasis on its paradoxes and consequences, exploring ideas related to the manipulation of history and the impact of present actions on the future.
• Social science fiction explores the impact of time travel on human society, featuring an organization called Eternity, which manipulates history to ensure the good of humanity.
• Philosophical science fiction, by addressing deep philosophical themes, such as the nature of time, determinism, and free will.
• Speculative science fiction, through speculation on the possible consequences of time travel and its impact on history, explores ideas related to temporal paradoxes, alternate realities, and the consequences of time manipulation.

Asimov creates a secret organization called Eternity (starring Andrew Harlan, who questions his loyalty to the organization after falling in love with Noÿs Lambent, a woman who could pose a threat to Eternity, in a conflict between duty and love), which exists outside of time and space, to manipulate history to prevent catastrophes and ensure the good of humanity (members can travel in time and alter human history to prevent disasters and conflicts, subtly altering events to achieve the “best” possible future, avoiding major catastrophes, but also limiting humanity’s progress), addressing the conflict between determinism, the idea that all events are predetermined, and free will, the ability to choose.

The novel presents complex relationships between characters, exploring themes such as love, betrayal, and sacrifice, and the novel’s ending is unexpected and surprising, questioning Eternity’s purpose and the consequences of his actions (Asimov offers an ending that suggests that progress and uncertainty are essential to the evolution of humanity).

Thus, Asimov addressed deep and provocative themes that continue to be relevant today, by creating a complex and fascinating universe (fascinating questions about free will, determinism, and the consequences of changing time), which inspired generations of readers and writers, the novel-generating heated debates about the nature of time, free will, and the role of technology in society.

As a “parenthesis”, although the novel initially seemed independent, Asimov later suggested that the events of The End of Eternity could explain the lack of time travel in the Foundation series, as time manipulation would have been “erased” from history.

Not this August by Cyril Kornbluth is a work that explores themes related to war, occupation, and resistance, in a dystopian context (a pessimistic vision of the future, with an ending that leaves the reader with a feeling of unease, suggesting that freedom can be lost more easily than we imagine), the novel presenting an America occupied by foreign forces (defeated by the Soviet Union and China in a Third World War), in which the characters confront the challenges and moral dilemmas of life under “communist” occupation.

In this case, the subgenres of “Science Fiction” present are represented by:

• Dystopia, depicts an America occupied by foreign powers, creating a dystopian environment where freedoms are restricted and control is omnipresent, in a bleak and oppressive atmosphere that is a defining characteristic of dystopias.
• Military science fiction, the central theme is the United States military occupation, with an emphasis on occupation tactics, resistance, and the consequences of war, with detailed descriptions of the occupation and life under foreign control.
• Political science fiction explores themes related to politics, propaganda, and manipulation, showing how occupying powers maintain control, with the political aspects of the occupation and the population’s reaction being key elements of the plot.
• Social science fiction, Kornbluth examines the impact of the occupation on American society, exploring changes in social relations, economics, and daily life, presenting a society subject to a foreign power.

Thus, Kornbluth creates an America occupied by foreign forces, where civil liberties are restricted and the population is subject to strict control, the novel explores the tension between those who collaborate with the occupying forces and those who oppose them, questioning loyalty, patriotism, and morality, revealing how the occupying forces use propaganda and manipulation to control the population and maintain their power.

The protagonist, Justin Clay, is a farmer who finds himself involved in a resistance movement, testing his own values ​​and beliefs, forced to navigate an occupied society, struggling with moral dilemmas and trying to find a way to resist the imposed regime (illustrating how different characters choose to react to the occupation – some collaborate to survive, while others try to resist, even if the chances of success are minimal), Kornbluth satirizing aspects of American society, such as conformity, materialism and the obsession with power.

Kornbluth wrote the novel during the Cold War, a time of political tensions and fears of a possible foreign invasion, and addressed themes that are still relevant today, such as the impact of occupation on society and the importance of resistance, inspiring new ideas and concepts, the work can be considered “synchronous” with works such as The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick or Red Dawn in cinema.

Another novel would be The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett, another dystopian novel, that explores themes related to technology, religion, and freedom, in a post-apocalyptic America, devastated by a nuclear war, where technology has been banned, and society has returned to a rural lifestyle, based on a fundamentalist religion, inspired by the Amish and Mennonites (who consider technology dangerous and a cause of previous destruction, one of the central messages of the novel being the struggle between the desire for knowledge and the fear of change, questioning whether humanity is capable of learning from its mistakes without repeating them), which plays a central role in population control and the suppression of technology.

Here we are dealing with an interesting combination of themes:

• Post-apocalyptic, the narrative takes place in an America devastated by a nuclear war, creating a post-apocalyptic environment in which society has returned to a rural lifestyle, with the theme of survival after a major disaster being central.
• Dystopia, which, although not a classic dystopia, presents a society in which individual freedom is restricted by fundamentalist religion and the prohibition of technology, with social control and the suppression of knowledge being dystopian elements.
• Social science fiction, Brackett explores the impact of technology and religion on society, presenting a world where people live in isolated communities and fear knowledge.
• Religious science fiction, because religion plays a central role in the novel, is used as a tool of social control and as a source of conflict.

The novel explores the conflict between those who oppose technology and those who believe in progress, questioning the role of technology in society, the protagonist, Len Coulter (Len and Esau, are two young men who grow up in a closed society, but are fascinated by the idea that somewhere there is a place where technology and knowledge are still preserved, the novel following their journey in search of the mythical city of Bartorstown, a symbol of forbidden progress), who begins to question the values ​​of his society and rebel against the system (unlike many other post-apocalyptic novels that explore technological reconstruction after a disaster, the novel focuses on the regression of civilization and the refusal to return to technological progress, being one of the first post-apocalyptic novels to avoid the clichés of raw survival).

Brackett explores the theme of freedom, revealing how society can suppress individual freedom in the name of order and stability, warning of the dangers of fanaticism (the work was written during the Cold War, a time of political tensions and fears of a possible nuclear war), addressing themes that are still relevant today, such as the impact of technology on society and the importance of individual freedom (especially in the “conditions” in which, unlike many classic sci-fi with clear endings, it leaves the reader with questions about the future of humanity and the inevitable nature of progress).

For this post-apocalyptic vision (even of those times), Leigh Brackett (known for her science fiction writing and contribution to the scripts of classic films such as The Empire Strikes Back, or The Big Sleep, which induces an evocative and atmospheric style that makes the post-apocalyptic world seem real and tangible) was the first woman nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

Merticaru Dorin Nicolae

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