Isaac Asimov's Foundation and the trilogy named after it represent a pinnacle in science fiction. Science fiction lovers from every walk of life have joined together to praise Asimov and Foundation. Furthermore, this series has been awarded the first Hugo Award for Best Science Fiction Series. Not before or since the publication of Foundation has this award been given. Despite this recognition, the mainstream literary critics ignore works of science fiction as candidates for more prestigious awards. Instead, science fiction is often dismissed as technology-dependent literature, immature in character development, theme, and structure. A large portion of the literary world still levels a sniff and a scoff toward Foundation and indeed the entire genre of science fiction.
Asimov's Foundation can be seen as an archetype demonstrating the validity of science fiction and refuting these criticisms. It is argued that the writings of Asimov are the foundation upon which much of science fiction is built upon. From the outset Asimov maintained a strong faith in the genre, believing that its status will be enhanced with time. "If enough people read science fiction or are, at least, sufficiently influenced by people who read science fiction" he wrote, "enough of the population may come to accept change…."(Asimov 4)
Several differences between Foundation, and therefore science fiction exemplified by Foundation, and the other divisions of literature must be considered before judging the genre. First, a whole different approach must be taken before judgment. Foundation deals with a nearly limitless range of possibilities. Therefore, the mind must be adapted to put aside incredulity and disbelief.
Secondly, Foundation deals with event...
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...elope into unknown territory. This constitutes change. Historically, change is slow to come. The negative and judgmental reactions to Foundation and science fiction come from those who resist change, however unfounded their criticism may be.
Science fiction is the one branch of literature that accepts the fact of change, the inevitability of change. Without the initial assumption that there will be change, there is no such thing as science fiction, for nothing is science fiction unless it includes events played out against a social or physical background significantly different from our own.(Asimov 4)
In our view, science fiction, particularly as represented by such works as Asimov's Foundation, is a valid form of literature, and time will see it through.
Works Cited:
Asimov, Isaac. Foundation and Empire. Garden City, NY: Double Day & Company,. 1952.
Jules Verne heavily impacted science fiction and the technology of today through his novels. His science fiction novels grew popular and as a result made this genre well-known. More importantly, his novels predicted the moon landing, skyscrapers, submarines, planes, hot air balloons, and more. These works were read by scientists and explorers, like Simon Lake who designed the submarine, and these readers attempted and succeeded to create these inventions and explore to the places, like the moon, that are in his stories.
Wood, Karen and Charles. “The Vonnegut Effect: Science Fiction and Beyond.” The Vonnegut Statement. Vol. 5. 1937. 133-57. The GaleGroup. Web. 10 March. 2014.
Everyone is faced with difficult obstacles at some point in his or her life, whether or not they are able to overcome them can define them as a person. Every story has a plot, but a plot is determined by the characters and their actions to events that take place in the story. According to the article “Science Fiction Images of Computers and Robots” written by Patricia S. Warrick, many of the plots in Asimov’s novels depend on “computers and robots [along with] space exploration and development” (54). Characters in the novels written by Isaac Asimov have to figure out the capabilities of new technology, understand other characters, and find solutions to problems with no end in sight. Characters’ actions and responses to problems play large roles in the plot of a story. The characters in Asimov’s novels have to solve problems that could affect the future of humankind. With such great advancements in technology, the humans begin to worry that technology such as robots will take over and become the primary race. In Isaac Asimov’s novel, Foundation and Empire, one of the themes is deception and some characters use deception to get what they want, and in a world of power, they became the most powerful of all. When the structure of organizations and countries begin to fall apart in the world, there are some people who will do almost anything to gain power. In Asimov’s eyes, the future world is going to be enormous expanding across galaxies, having unlimited technology, and billions of people. Asimov is one of few writers who has had success writing novels containing science fiction and mystery. Isaac Asimov depicts similar themes of power and deception by using the plot, characters, and setting, while the use of all these makes him an i...
Sexual assault encompasses the criminal act of rape; however it seems as if many relative cases spawn from various alcohol encounters. In Emily Yoffe’s article “College Women Stop Getting Drunk,” she links both victim and perpetrator to alcohol. How can this cause be changed?
The first and most striking similarity shared in recent sexual assault cases is alcohol was present. Not only was it present, but it was a very significant factor in these cases. This is no minor detail. Alcohol has a way of making people more willing to disregard normal decision-making processes and engage in behavior they wouldn’t remotely consider in normal instances. Unfortunately, some of these
H. G. Wells, author of the science fiction novel The War of The Worlds, used irony and foreshadowing to portray the theme that humans have a superiority complex that makes them think they have control and that they are the superior race. H. G. Wells is often regarded as the father of modern science fiction.
In literature there are over 20 different genres of reading, and each of them contains many similarities and differences. Science fiction, arguably one of the most popular genre’s, is also one of the hardest to understand, however there are certain elements/characteristics that can easily determine if a book is or is not science fiction. The characteristics that make up science fiction are, advancements in technology and the application of advanced technology. In books such as The Veldt and Fahrenheit 451 both technological advancements and there application play a crucial role on determining that these books fall into the science fiction genre.
...n including those of physicians and attorneys remained close to women, and the men still accounted for more than 95% of all of the doctors in 1900’s.” Women always believed that they were more than just your average housewives. Single workingwomen also began to doubt their virtues in life, because of the stereotypes that they were given based on their past occupations.
The United States Government has pumped more than $3.5 trillion U.S. taxpayer dollars into welfare but, ironically, the poverty rate is higher than when they started (Tanner, Welfare Reform). This outrageous amount of money proves that welfare will lead United States into debt. The original intent of current welfare benefits has failed; therefore the national welfare system must be reformed. To fully understand how to reform the welfare system Americans must know what the history of welfare is, illegitimate births’ obvious connection to crime and welfare, how welfare has failed to keep the poverty rate down, the great problem of dependency, and finally what reforms must be made. Welfare reforms will greatly help this Nation become stronger and have a more secure future.
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Communities nation-wide are noticing that sexual assault headlines are becoming more common in the news. Most commonly these headlines are alleging that the instances are happening most frequently in bars and also include under-age drinkers. Some allegations are even stating that other illicit drugs are factors in instances of sexual assault. In order to stop these occurrences communities need to be made aware of the factors involved with these situations.
Over the years, Asimov produced over 500 novels and short stories. (Seiler) His most notable works are "Nightfall", The Foundation Trilogy (later to have two more books added), and the Robot series. The Foundation series is based around a collapsing empire and the creation of The Foundation, a small isolated planet that contains the extent o...
Kornbluth, C. M. "The Failure of the Science Fiction Novel As Social Criticism." The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism. (1969): 64-101.
Messman-Moore, L. T, Ward, M. R., & DeNArd, A. K. (2013). The impact of sexual alcohol expectancies and risky behavior on alcohol-involved rape among college women. Violence against women, 19(4), 449.
Whitaker, Matthew C. "Dont Blame Women's Drinking for Rape." CNN. N.p., 6 Nov. 2013. Web. 4 Nov. 2015.