The problem lies with Scientist. Could they be the solution?

Blame the scientist for the death of science fiction, for the decrease in people’s interest in science, for America becoming the next socialist state, and the eventually collapse of the United States of America.

I recently found a posting on Scientific America http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=south-pole-environment-antarctic-treaty , that went to explain how the sea life in Antarctica has been reduced by fishing, how the fragile environment is being destroyed by the thousands of tourist that visit the continent each year. The article ultimately states that allowing countries to lay claim to parts of Antarctica could stem the decline of certain marine life.

Once again we hear scientist raising the alarm that due to mans influence, we are destroying fragile ecosystems and something needs to be done. Unfortunately what this tells the youth is that unless you become an environmentalist you are just as criminal as a murderer.

This continual rhetoric of global warming and man destroying the environment has killed science fiction. Why, because there is no hope for a better world. We have been told for so many years now that the Earth is falling apart and that we are to blame. This inappropriate, irrational fear mongering has been forced on us to such an extent that no one can even imagine a future with space ships, flying cars or any of the host of cool technological leaps we were promised in the 50’s and 60’s. How can anyone imagine a science fiction future, if all you can imagine is growing up to be “one with nature.”

Yes the environment is important and it needs to be managed and USED to its fullest to lift up man and not bring him back to the hunter gatherer stage of evolution. Leading man to that end will surely destroy man and the planet in the process. What needs to happen is man needs to progress as quickly as possible to that science fiction future, to the future where near limitless power is not science fiction but science fact, where space elevators exist, where colonies on the moon and mars are thriving communities, and where mining the asteroid belt is a legitimate career choice for someone that is born today. Once we have put man at the forefront of science, placed our needs above all else, then we can look back to the planet Earth and turn it into a complete natural preserve. Unavoidably things will be lost along the way, but at the way we are going nothing will be saved.

The dreadful Obazy and all his Zombie subjects

As the political juggernaut of the election circus ground to an end, and the Electoral College cast their votes in the District of Columbia, I sat back fearing to exhale for the uncertainty that a new presidency and new party will bring to Washington.

The top of my fear was that science and science fiction would take a back seat over the next four years. And to this end I would see it harder and harder to sell stories, or to find stories to read myself that were of good quality.

Suddenly, I let out my breath and realized things weren’t as bad as I had thought, in fact I was at once excited about what the future held, a kernel of hope popped in my head, hope like a stale rally cry, I saw something more than just a change political parties? I saw a world full of political intrigue, the central intelligence agency run unchecked throughout the world, Blackwater pulling the strings of third world countries, the dead walking the surface of the world. I realized that I was not about to embark on four bleak years, but I was paying witness to the beginning of a season of change, and not just a slight change but a drastic one, an earth shattering one. I was watching the birth of a new venue in science fiction, and horror, I was witnessing the dawn of the dreadful Obazy and all his zombie subjects.

Every administration has its cross to bear and that will be no different with the incoming administration. I look forward to hearing more about Obazy and his zombies, I hope to see Saturday Night Live pick up on “Obazy” (you can say you heard if here first), and do skits - Obazy taking a drag of his cigarette before sending his minions to suck the life out of companies – Obazy lurching across a field of arms and legs to board Marine One under a banner of peace – Obazy reaching out to shake hands with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad only to walk away his arm still firmly in the grasp of Ahmadinejad wearing a disgusted and horrified stare.

I hope over the next four years we are treated to more zombie movies mixing science fiction and humor, it seems it would be most appropriate for the time.

The Universe is Full of Life....

I read a short blurb on http://io9.com/5099375/sugar-molecule-could-point-the-way-to-alien-life that a team of astrobiologist at University College London found a sugar, glycolaldehyde, at a place in our galaxy which could prove that this particular molecule, which could be crucial to creating life, may be more widespread than originally believed.

This is an example of why I want to scream, yell and stamp my feet. Here is something that hints, just hints mind you, of the potential of life in the universe outside our spherical drop of water floating somewhere in the ocean of space; yet the science community blows off science fiction as mere dreams of fancy that aren’t founded in science.

Science fiction is to entertain, excite, and spark conversation about a future we all are heading toward whether we like it our not. Our society, and the world in general is becoming a resemblance of Quakers, not wanting to change, and deathly afraid of embracing new science and new technology. Nasa has returned to technology from the 50’s and 60’s in its attempt to return to the moon. Why is this? Why haven’t we advanced our technological knowhow by 50 years?

When the golden age of science fiction was writing about bug eyed monsters, and man traveling to the stars. We invented the technology to go to the moon. Kids dreamt of going to the stars in their lifetimes. When hard science came in and said “we can write stories and make them scientifically correct,” it effectively killed science fiction as a medium, although the death has been long and painful, and it killed the dreams of going to the stars. Maybe aliens are among us here on Earth, and they don’t want us to reach the stars, what better way to stifle space exploration.

You can look but don’t touch!

Questions about Science and Science Fiction: My Science Blogger Answers

I am responding to a post on sciencefictionbiology.blogspot.com/2008/11/science-and-fiction.html in which they are asking for input regarding science and fiction. I offer my opinion in answering the questions, from this science fiction writers point of view:

• Why are you writing science fiction in particular? What does the science add?

Why do I write science fiction? The answer is, at its most basic level very simple, to tell a story. Why do I use science fiction as the medium to tell a story? That answer requires a more involved and personal explanation. For me writing science fiction is an escape from the mundane affairs of everyday and a glimpse into a future; a chance to imagine what might be, whether it is scary or a paradise, and the opportunity to add my distinct and different voice to those that have already imagined a future, in order to tell others what I feel could happen.

What does science add? In some instances I use science fiction to explain a new technology that is real and founded in hard science, but in other cases I write stories that are more in the category of “Wouldn’t it be cool if…” and have none or very little basis in science. Science adds to stories by giving more credence to the setting of the world, moving the plot along, giving the characters an upper hand or occasionally it is the bane of their existence, but in all instances it is used as tool to help tell the story.

• 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?

My background is in business, computer and electronics. I do have a Bachelor of Science degree, and I have worked in the electric transmission and distribution field for many years and have a strong understanding of electrical engineering.

As far as studying, well I always do research, but I can’t say that I am a true student, since there are so many fields in science that not even the hard science stalwarts can be experts in all of them. What should not be forgotten, is that the story is the important part, and the science whether it is, real science or made up, I merely window dressing. My favorite fields in science are related to propulsion systems and space elevators.

• How important is it to you that the science be right? What kind of resources do you use for accuracy?

To me getting the science right is not that important, but a reasonable check should be done by any author wanting to right a science fiction story. But once again the story needs to dictate what and how things happen; for instance, if a character needs to travel to the asteroid belt in a certain amount of time, I’ll calculate if it’s possible to travel in the allotted time by a legitimate propulsion system, just to give credence to the story. But I’m not going to go into a lot of detail about the propulsion system, speeds, and artificial gravity or relativistic affects, unless they are important to the story.

My number one resource is the web in order to check the accuracy of my work. If I can’t prove what I want, and my assumption is turning in to being a science fantasy then I leave it at that. What those that are in the science and research fields need to take away from science fiction is the sense of imagination. Science fiction is not meant to be an easy to read text book for physics. It is to tell a story and initiate imagination.

• Are there any specific science or science fiction blogs you would recommend to interested readers or writers?

The science fiction blogs I follow most are www.I09.com, wotfblog.galaxypress.com, blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy, www.centauri-dreams.org, blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance, sfsignal.com/index.html, blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/

Is the "idea" of Captain America still a superhero?

In the early 1940's some people in America new the dangers of Hitler and Nazi Germany, but for the most part the nation wanted to let what happened in Europe stay in Europe. Some people chose to show the world their fear of Nazi Germany, by what ever means they could. To this end we see the conscious creation of a political comic book character Captain America. He appeared a year before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and was a huge success. It should also be noted that some people were strongly opposed to what Captain America stood for, and the creator’s received a lot of threatening letters and hate mail.

Captain America fought everything from Nazis to space aliens, but throughout his career he wrestled with, and in some cases was a sounding board for, events happening within and attitudes prevalent throughout the United States. As the series progressed from the early 1940's to the 2000's his overt opposition to the real world Nazis became covert opposition to threats such as terrorists, anti-nationalism, anti-registration, and many other ideals opposed to - who? The United States or to, what Captain America once stood for.

I have heard many times that Captain America is out dated. I don’t believe this is true, because if it is, you may as well say that freedom is out dated. The red, white and blue shield carrying superhero is the embodiment of what makes this country great. He fights against evil, he questions what is right and what is wrong, and he is not deterred. Killing off Captain America is more of a metaphor for pushing aside the values and beliefs of the United States. The scary part of understanding what people are saying when they say Captain America is out dated, is that they are saying the values and ideals of America are out dated.

Here I believe that the detractors of Captain America are wrong. In the future the comic book character will be brought back, and it will coincide with a shift in the attitudes of America. I am looking forward to that day, but until then it looks as if the superhero of choice will be one that reflects the shift in the political climate and the attitudes of America, perhaps someone such as Flag-Smasher is a more appropriate supervilian for the current climate sweeping across America.

A Scary New World Order

Well the election is over and none to soon. The morning after the election; the president-elect made speeches stating how he would put the country and world back in order. As I stepped outside my house to leave for work, a distinct chill ran through my body, and I silently apologized to my two year old boy for the world he would grow up in. Latter that morning the sun rose, just as it has for millennia.

It seems to me very unfortunate that for many in the U.S. the election came down to race. If you didn’t vote for the democratic nominee you were a racist, if you voted against him, for any reason, you were considered a racist. I believe many white people fell into the trap of wanting to seem progressive, and show how much race didn’t matter to them by voting for the democratic nominee.

For me the election came down to one thing, the role of government. Senator McCain didn’t have the answer I was looking for, but he had a better policy than the democratic nominee. As a country we have left behind the philosophy of our founding fathers, and are beginning to resemble the founding philosophy of communist Russian and China.

Thomas Paine said, "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." Government has become huge, over-reaching, and too involved in all levels of society to be the limited government envisioned by the founding fathers. What has happened? Will we, as a nation, recover? Yes we will, but the road will be long and hard.

What I fear most from our president-elect is a further increase in the government, more spending on social programs, more regulation, more laws, a bigger and bigger government that attempts to take care of everyone, whether they work or not, regulate everyone, oversee what everyone says or does. And worse of all is the idea of spreading the wealth, although on a gut level it sounds great, a piece of the reward that is enjoyed by only a few given to all, after all they have lots let’s give a little to everyone. But that way of thinking is scary and dangerous, for this reason; why would anyone want to work and exceed if they know that their reward that they were working for by their own individual effort will be distributed to everyone? The answer is simple they wouldn’t. The idea of opening a business in order to improve your life to make more money than one does presently would be replaced with the idea of “no it’s not worth it.” In fact if you are working at that small job, and your wage is going to be taxed so that others that don’t work can be raised to the same level as you, why work?

My plan for writing? Look for grants from the government to start rolling out, and go out and get my undeserved share of the wealth.

This is the fear I have from what I hear coming from the democratic agenda. This is what will make the road back to a successful country a hard and long one.

But what does this have to do with science and science fiction? I don’t know. I’m sure I could go back look at statistics and determine if there is a decrease or increase in science and science fiction under a democratic party rule, but at the present time, I don’t have the time or inclination. I’m sure I will survive in this new foreign administration, science will progress, and people will continue to read science fiction. But will it be the science fiction of hope, or the dark dreary scifi of a bleak and forlorn scary new world


Till next time
Do svidaniya
Comrades

Current

As I mentioned in my last blog, I sold a short story to an E-zine called RayGunRevival. That is the first of a planned three part story. The central character in the story is Jason Hawkins, who currently lives on Earth but works at power plant on the asteroid Ceres. In the first story Jason has a very eventful trip on his way to work in the asteroid belt.

I have been hard at work on the second story which will take place on the asteroid Ceres, where Jason works.

The third story has been outlined, but as yet I have not put any words to paper. I anticipate that I will start on this third story, at the beginning of November.

It's a sell

Well the time spent in front of a computer, reading and re-reading, proofing, critiquing, and second guessing myself have paid off. The pay day will not allow me to quit my day job, but never-the-less I can say that I'm a published writer.

I have a story that will be published in the E-Zine Ray Gun Revival . It hasn't posted yet, but when it does I will notify everyone I know, and mention it prominently here on this blog.

But even though I am not in the current issue online or any of the archives, I would encourage anyone that happens to read this blog to check out there website, for excellent golden age science fiction.

Check back soon, hopefully I have more news to share.

Howard vs. Tolkien - Not!

Today’s blog takes us slightly out of the science fiction realm and back to the Hyborian age, and to the tales of Conan the barbarian written by Robert E. Howard, the best that the Fantasy genre has to offer.

Lately, I have been reading the classics of Science Fiction, and Fantasy. There is no other author who is more responsible for creating the model of the Fantasy genre, than Robert E. Howard and the Conan series. I hear the arguments already - Tolkien, Tolkien, Tolkien – I agree Tolkien set the standard for creating a fantasy world and telling an epic story. The last thing I want to do is get into a discussion comparing Tolkien with Howard, as far as I’m concerned there is very little comparison.

What Howard did for fantasy, and what will keep his works fresh and alive for years to come; is that he wrote about very gritty, real characters in a world that leaves room for the imagination to take hold and make the world real to the reader. Where other writers of the fantasy genre differ from Howard, is that there worlds are complete down to the DNA level. Howard left room in his stories for the reader to dream and to make up their own piece of the world for the hole that Howard left in it.

Where, at times, science fiction does not age well and the science that at once seemed fantastic and very probably is proved to be unattainable, fantasy can be timeless. The tales of Conan are the epitome of the golden age of fantasy, and are timeless in their telling. The Conan stories will not age if the Large Hadron Collider discovers the higgs boson, they will be as crisp as the snow fields Conan stomped across on his way to a bloody battle.

Scarrier than Fiction

It’s another day in the world of SciFiWriter. In my earlier post I talked about what ever happened to dreaming about going to the stars, and what happened to the moon missions and beyond.

Well today we saw a page taken out of a science fiction book. But the sad thing is this particular page would be the beginning of an apocalyptic - End of the World - story, and it all starts with the meltdown of the financial markets.

I don’t intend to be a preacher or doom (but I may not be able to avoid that), and I don’t intend to take political sides. What I do want to say is that, what happened today is amazing, sad and scary.

Unfortunately what we are seeing is a self fulfilling prophecy. The mortgage banks and other faltering institutions say, “if we don’t get help the financial markets of the U.S. will collapse. Next the president says, “if we don’t pass the bailout bill, the financial Markets of the U.S. will collapse. Add to the proclamations of woe from several senators and congressman, a very apprehensive world market going into delirium tremors every time the U.S. blinks, and what we have left is a prophecy of doom being orchestrated and played out in front of our very eyes.

As I said, I don’t intend to lay blame on either side of the political aisle, nor will I say it’s the fault of every American or the world in general. What I will say is, that this is a scenario that is stranger than fiction, an event that science fiction writers often play out, after the world is invaded by aliens. Financial markets are not supposed to collapse when everything is running, I dare not say smoothly, but they are not supposed to collapse in such a manner with out an incredible world event.

Enough said about the topic, many more people throughout the world are writing about this very topic that have much more knowledge than I about why, and how this happened.

I will leave you with this thought. Don’t be surprised to wake up in the next week or so and find out the government has released all their knowledge about UFO’s and aliens.

What ever happened to....

I remember playing with two friends on the playground at school sometime in 1970's, it was after Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon, the three of us were determined to become astrounauts. We played astrounauts on the school yard and in our hearts. When we were asked what we wanted to do when we got older, it was always to become an astrounaut, it was an overpowering dream.

Today it has been over 30 years since we have last set foot on the moon. NASA still has astrounaust. But I don't hear kids playing or dreaming of becoming astrounauts. Space has lost its alure, kids, and with them the adults, have lost their dreams of going to the stars.

Was it the end of the space program that killed the dreams? Or did too much science fact muddle up what was a fertile breading gound of dreams during the golden age of Science Fiction.

The First

This is my first blog!

Posted September 12, 2008

This blog is a place for me to showcase my writing, talk about my influences, both past and present, and to create a resurgence and return to the golden age of science fiction, thereby ushering in a renewed golden age of space exploration.