History of the Future
4: The Future in Britain
Frankenstein
Written by Mary Shelly (1792-1822) Frankenstein creates life
Uses electricity, body parts Monster sympathetic but destructive Little scientific content, but is about science
Has been claimed as first SF novel Themes & meanings are complex
“There are some things man is not meant to know”
Jules Verne (1828-1905)
French writer, hugely popular Stories of adventure
Often with technological component Similar to today’s technothrillers 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870) Around the World in 80 Days (1874) Journey to the Center of the Earth (1863)
Among the best known
From the Earth to the Moon (1869)
Theme of futuristic travel fitted with others Fired out of a huge cannon
But insisted scientifically plausible
Quite funny- parody national identities Optimistic, believer in progress
H G Wells (1866-1946)
Prolific, versatile, popular author Trained as biologist, interested in evolution
Studied under T H Huxley Earl work as science journalist Scientific romances Comedies, dramas Futurism, social reform
Worked in many genres
Tension between utopia dreams, Darwinism
The Scientific Romance
Term originated in 1880s
Associated with work of Wells
Key characteristics
Long evolutionary perspective Not much sense of frontier Lack of strong masterful hero Often somewhat pessimistic
Evolution
Darwin – Origin of Species, 1859
Preceded by Lamarck, Philosophi Zoologique (1809) Mechanisms of heredity, mutation remain unclear Darwin does not even have idea of gene Herbert Spencer – Social Darwinism Remains more controversial in the USA
Rapidly accepted in Britain
Raises possibility of further human development
Directing Human Evolution
Eugenics – improvement of human gene pool
Sterilization, selective breeding Eliminate mental & physical disease Long practiced with animals
Popular in USA through 1940
Given a bad name by the Nazis
War of the Worlds (1898)
Invasion of Martians
Percival Lowell – Canals of Mars Dying race, starved of water
Civilization crumbles pretty quickly
They have the superior technology Plan to colonize earth A 1955 magazine version
Local microbes save the day
Progress & Ambivalence
The Time Machine
Victorian travels forward in time Discovers humanity divided into two races Evolution may not equal Progress
The First World War
Ends the “long nineteenth century”
Reverses trend of globalization Shakes faith in progress, science Tanks, guns, gas used on Europeans
British feeling of stagnation, decline Wells takes it badly
Initial hope for utopian rebuilding dashed Grows increasingly bitter
Between the Wars
Substantial leftist sentiment in Britain Peace through international unity
Socialism & communism appeal to many World State to grow from League of Nations Religious skepticism
Struggle between Fascism & Communism
Spanish Civil War
Framing Stapledon
Takes many ideas from Wells
Collapse of civilization in war Rise of World State Martian invasion Evolution of giant-brained men Space flight
Turns them into something grander
ultimately quasi-religious Huge influence on Arthur C. Clarke