Editorial – April 2024 : Ruling The Universe.
Hello everyone
I like rule structures, mostly because its what governs science and the universe would fall apart without it. You do certain actions, whether in physics or chemistry, and you know you’ll get the repeatedly the same results. If you know only some of the variables involved, then you can calculate the other ones pretty accurately, too. It gives an understanding of the universe and, although you’re not playing god, it does give a feeling of control of events and consistency. The universe runs by rules. Unlike alchemy, proof beat imaginative invention and don’t forget a lot of the early scientists were also alchemists, trying to turn lead into gold for their paymasters and probably knew it wouldn’t work. The only odd thing is 15 constants or fudges that make reality work and no one has any idea why they do that. Speculatively, it also means although we can formulate the answers we don’t know all about the universe which puts mankind in its place.
As far as we know, the science that rules our lives is the same throughout the universe. There are some anomalies around singularities but we know about them. The universe might have some elements of chaos but its rules give some semblance of order. Something that is always worth repeating. As it falls apart, it tries to do it orderly.
It’s also the basis of Science Fiction. Even if all its readers don’t have a background in science, they will appreciate any of its use within a story. It also means you do appreciate having the rule structure. The oddest thing is how easy we accept faster-than-light travel and even time travel, despite the fact we don’t have any evidence of them existing! Just goes to show the division between real and belief is very marginal which is fine for SF.
One could surmise that is wishful thinking but it’s a belief many, short of those who only like hard Science Fiction, can probably describe better than the actual science laws that already exist. Now that is an unusual quandary, although they are simply explained. Even the most basic law, nothing can be created or destroyed only its form changed, can rarely be quoted, let alone the three laws of gravity, yet all four laws are regularly used in our lives. The fact that many people don’t realise it is even more remarkable, even amongst SF fans.
Of course, a lot of is down to education. Physics uses a lot of maths and a lot of kids don’t initially like maths. Oddly, SF rarely rises above o’level or the equivalent in whichever country you’re reading to a high school grade and even then rarely explains in detail within the story because it can be shown by example. That’s probably why ftl and time travel tends to stick in people’s minds because its shown working. You don’t have to understand why, just enough to know it works for transporting. The biggest problem for ftl is everything happens in the same time frame when, allowing for nominal acceleration and deceleration, generations would have passed from take-off to landing.
Science Fiction is actually slightly misnamed as it is really Applied Science Fiction because it doesn’t spout theory but shows science in practice although I doubt if Technology Fiction or Tech Fiction labels would be taken on now. Who wants to read fiction about theory when seeing it in action is better? Look at how many people know what a computer, black hole, robot, android and cyborg are. Even the term ‘bionic’ is common knowledge now, largely because of ‘The Six Million Dollar Man’ and ‘The Bionic Woman’ TV series although it existed before then meaning ‘like life’, even if it is not quite accurate when addressed to artificial limbs. Mind you, the way nerve connections are now being made that might not be far off. Science Fiction certainly made many people more adaptable to our current reality, even though it might be more from film or TV than the written word. Image and moving image shows how visuals leave a stronger image in our heads. An acceptance of SF does give an advantage of adapting to our current reality than those who don’t and us hardcore fans will certainly look harder at the consequences and make better decisions. From the looks of things, my misgivings over the dangers of social media wasn’t totally unfounded. Always allow for business companies for messing it up for money.
Such things need to be reinforced as we move towards the future, Despite all the problems on Earth, Man still has an eye on the cosmos, looking again to put colonies on the Moon and Mars. Better than thinking the world would be over-run by zombies. Even so, Science Fiction needs better reinforcement in the population with ideas for the future.
I suppose we should up the interest in SF even when there aren’t as any books out there pre-covid. Short of an alien first contact, we’re getting closer to the apex of being an SF reality and we need to show we can still go a long way beyond what we have today. Extrapolating from our current reality compared to how much is already out there should be child’s play in our hands.
Thank you, take care, good night and what do they do with the hour taken changing to summer time?
Geoff Willmetts
editor: www.SFCrowsnest.info
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