In science fiction . . .

[Cort Haus]

[MrFun]

Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer. "How do science fiction writers deal with the fact that they're writing about fictional science?" We're talking about a genre that incorporates faster than light travel, time travel, zombies, god-like entities (e.g. the Eschaton), etc.

You never heard of creative thinking? Or methods that authors or producers use to allow for suspension of disbelief?

[MrFun]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cha...xt_Generation)

I've never seen this episode before. Thanks for the link.

[loinburger]

You never heard of creative thinking? Or methods that authors or producers use to allow for suspension of disbelief?

A strawman from MrFun? I am shocked! At least you didn't somehow accuse me of hating homosexuals.

[MrFun]

When I've read about the craft of writing science fiction that authors provided, they explain the amount of research they've done, then they used their imagination and creativity to come up with plausible explanations that could explain to readers enough things such as half human half humanoid alien so that readers can suspend their disbelief.

I'm surprised you're not familiar with this method of fictional writing.

[BeBMan]

What I don't understand - in historical fiction the writers often use people as characters that are already dead! How do they deal with this, do they just pretend Caesar, Caesar's wife or Washington etc are immortal or something when they let them do stuff in their books etc?!?

[Elok]

I'm sure he is. His point, IIUC, is that it's silly to be unable to suspend disbelief for something like this, but not for the other, sometimes far more egregious violations of science and common sense which proliferate throughout the genre.

XPost

[MrFun]

I agree - light speed travel and other things are also things I'm curious about, as to what kind of research and creative thinking writers and producers use.


It's silly to think that just because I brought up one topic, means that I am excluding discussion or thought of all other related topics.

[Al B. Sure!]

I thought the whole idea of suspension of disbelief was that there is no need for an explanation...

[Donegeal]

I don't remember the name of the writer who explains how TNG's enterprize works, but one question and answer sticks out in my head:

"How do the Hiensenberg Compensators work in the transporters?"

"They work very well, thank you."

[MrFun]

I thought the whole idea of suspension of disbelief was that there is no need for an explanation...

So why do science fiction writers do research for their novels?

[MrFun]

I don't remember the name of the writer who explains how TNG's enterprize works, but one question and answer sticks out in my head:

"How do the Hiensenberg Compensators work in the transporters?"

"They work very well, thank you."

[giblets]

So why do science fiction writers do research for their novels?

Possibly to come up with new ideas, although I guess they might enjoy trying to come up with a plausible explanation for something that seems ridiculous.

[Provost Harrison]

There are no human-alien hybrids in Stargate

Do remind me, what are the Goa'uld again? Intelligent parasitic alien fish things wrapped around the brain of a human (or other compatible creature). If that's not hybrid, I don't know what is!

[Al B. Sure!]

Do remind me, what are the Goa'uld again? Intelligent parasitic alien fish things wrapped around the brain of a human (or other compatible creature). If that's not hybrid, I don't know what is!

That's not a hybrid. A hybrid is like a mule. Having a tape-worm does not make you a hybrid.