History of the Future History of the Future 4: The Future in Britain 4: The Future in Britain
Dec 18, 2015
FrankensteinFrankenstein
Written by Mary Shelly (1792-1822)Written by Mary Shelly (1792-1822) Frankenstein creates lifeFrankenstein creates life
Uses electricity, body partsUses electricity, body parts Monster sympathetic but destructiveMonster sympathetic but destructive Little scientific content, but is about scienceLittle scientific content, but is about science
Has been claimed as first SF novelHas been claimed as first SF novel Themes & meanings are complexThemes & meanings are complex
““There are some things man is not meant to There are some things man is not meant to know”know”
Jules Verne (1828-1905)Jules Verne (1828-1905)
French writer, hugely popularFrench writer, hugely popular Stories of adventureStories of adventure
Often with technological Often with technological componentcomponent
Similar to today’s technothrillersSimilar to today’s technothrillers Among the best knownAmong the best known
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1870)(1870)
Around the World in 80 Days Around the World in 80 Days (1874)(1874)
Journey to the Center of the Earth Journey to the Center of the Earth (1863)(1863)
From the Earth to the Moon From the Earth to the Moon (1869)(1869)
Theme of futuristic Theme of futuristic travel fitted with otherstravel fitted with others
Fired out of a huge Fired out of a huge cannoncannon But insisted scientifically But insisted scientifically
plausibleplausible Quite funny- parody Quite funny- parody
national identitiesnational identities Optimistic, believer in Optimistic, believer in
progressprogress
H G Wells (1866-1946)H G Wells (1866-1946)
Prolific, versatile, popular authorProlific, versatile, popular author Trained as biologist, interested in Trained as biologist, interested in
evolutionevolution Studied under T H HuxleyStudied under T H Huxley Earl work as science journalistEarl work as science journalist
Worked in many genresWorked in many genres Scientific romancesScientific romances Comedies, dramasComedies, dramas Futurism, social reformFuturism, social reform
Tension between utopia dreams, Tension between utopia dreams, DarwinismDarwinism
The Scientific RomanceThe Scientific Romance
Term originated in 1880sTerm originated in 1880s Associated with work of WellsAssociated with work of Wells
Key characteristicsKey characteristics Long evolutionary perspectiveLong evolutionary perspective Not much sense of frontierNot much sense of frontier Lack of strong masterful heroLack of strong masterful hero Often somewhat pessimisticOften somewhat pessimistic
EvolutionEvolution
Darwin – Origin of Species, 1859Darwin – Origin of Species, 1859 Preceded by Lamarck, Philosophi Zoologique Preceded by Lamarck, Philosophi Zoologique
(1809)(1809) Mechanisms of heredity, mutation remain unclearMechanisms of heredity, mutation remain unclear Darwin does not even have idea of geneDarwin does not even have idea of gene
Rapidly accepted in BritainRapidly accepted in Britain Herbert Spencer – Social DarwinismHerbert Spencer – Social Darwinism Remains more controversial in the USARemains more controversial in the USA
Raises possibility of further human Raises possibility of further human developmentdevelopment
Directing Human EvolutionDirecting Human Evolution
Eugenics – improvement Eugenics – improvement of human gene poolof human gene pool Sterilization, selective Sterilization, selective
breedingbreeding Eliminate mental & Eliminate mental &
physical diseasephysical disease Long practiced with Long practiced with
animalsanimals Popular in USA Popular in USA
through 1940through 1940 Given a bad name by Given a bad name by
the Nazisthe Nazis
War of the Worlds (1898)War of the Worlds (1898)
Invasion of MartiansInvasion of Martians Percival Lowell – Canals of Percival Lowell – Canals of
MarsMars Dying race, starved of waterDying race, starved of water
Civilization crumbles pretty Civilization crumbles pretty quicklyquickly They have the superior They have the superior
technologytechnology Plan to colonize earthPlan to colonize earth
Local microbes save the Local microbes save the dayday
A 1955 magazine version
Progress & AmbivalenceProgress & Ambivalence
The Time MachineThe Time Machine Victorian travels Victorian travels
forward in timeforward in time Discovers humanity Discovers humanity
divided into two racesdivided into two races Evolution may not Evolution may not
equal Progressequal Progress
The First World WarThe First World War
Ends the “long nineteenth century”Ends the “long nineteenth century” Reverses trend of globalizationReverses trend of globalization Shakes faith in progress, scienceShakes faith in progress, science Tanks, guns, gas used on EuropeansTanks, guns, gas used on Europeans
British feeling of stagnation, declineBritish feeling of stagnation, decline Wells takes it badlyWells takes it badly
Initial hope for utopian rebuilding dashedInitial hope for utopian rebuilding dashed Grows increasingly bitterGrows increasingly bitter
Between the WarsBetween the Wars
Substantial leftist sentiment in BritainSubstantial leftist sentiment in Britain Peace through international unityPeace through international unity
Socialism & communism appeal to manySocialism & communism appeal to many World State to grow from League of NationsWorld State to grow from League of Nations Religious skepticismReligious skepticism
Struggle between Fascism & Struggle between Fascism & CommunismCommunism Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil War
Framing StapledonFraming Stapledon
Takes many ideas from WellsTakes many ideas from Wells Collapse of civilization in warCollapse of civilization in war Rise of World StateRise of World State Martian invasionMartian invasion Evolution of giant-brained menEvolution of giant-brained men Space flightSpace flight
Turns them into something granderTurns them into something grander ultimately quasi-religiousultimately quasi-religious Huge influence on Arthur C. ClarkeHuge influence on Arthur C. Clarke