Position:Home>Books & Authors> HELP!!!! all BOOK READERS and SCI-FI PEOPLE needed!!!!!! 10 POINTS!!!!!!!!!!?

In my opinion this phrase means that all science fiction texts are based on the hero-damsel sindrome in which a strong masculine gung-ho style male saves the damsel , may that damsel be a woman, a child or even the earth, most if not ALL of the story lines follow a certain trend in which the hero reluctantly accepts to conquer/kill/save the damsel in distress and the damsel repays him by falling in love with him (In the case of a woman), by getting to like him as a father figure (In the case of a child/children) or if the object in danger is the whole world or mankind by showing it's appreciation honoring the hero in some way, most heroes also follow a certain set of guidelines, usually smart yet never nerdy, rogue, sexy, impulsive, this character tends to get hurt but never seriously and if seriously is always miraculosly saved, the hero never makes fatal mistakes, is usually single, most times a loner, 90% of the plots tend to show that he has a military or law enforcement background yet seldomly is obedient to superiors, never fearful the hero doesn't think twice about jumping a three story buildinga nd somehow doesn't seem surprised when an unexpected dump truck breaks his fall, the damsel when a female tends to always be very atractive, sexy, child like or innocent, unaware of how most males in the book/movie desire her, in some instances another male figure, usually the enemy of our hero also views for her love yet is never encouraged or accepted by her!.
a third basic element of our everyday science fiction movie/movie/story line is the "sidekick" who is often funny, smaller or weaker than the hero, always less atractive and usually nimble, this character cherishes his friendship (situationally forced or present from the begining) with the hero and lives for his approval, now the twist that makes the previously explain set of guidelines and makes any plot into a successful Science-Fi piece is the futuristic weaponry, the audience will be entranced with laser guns, flying vehicles, tiny bombs, special shields because it causes the reader/viewer consider the actual existence (In teh future of course) of said gadgets and since this weapons/gadgets are not in existence today the writter or director can pretty much make them as amazing as their imagination lets them, so is the case of "aliens" or inhabitants of other planets, they can hold a million diferent characteristics and is all up to it's creator's imagination which is NOT the case with let's say a true criome book, or non fiction piece in which the facts must retain their veracity, thus the wilder, strangest the creature the more we like them!.

And if we are to compare the science fiction usual guidelines to a certain movie such as the "Fifth element" we can clearly see them there, Bruce Willis the military-retired hero who falls for Leeloo (our damsel) and saves the earth (secondary damsel) yet doesn't respect authority and tends to follow his own ideas of what is right, main sidekick being Chris Tucker in the role of Ruby Rod who becomes Korben Dalla's sidekick due to circumstances, this story has two main "Bad guys" being Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg and the unknown character that although looks like a planet is able to make cell phone calls and whats to destroy the earth, there is a number of alien creatures going from the violent gun-totting, shape shifting to the beautiful soul singing diva,and as to futuristic weaponry and vehicles in this story we can find flying cabs, mighty all-function weapons, ship destroying time bombs, and intergalactic cruise ships that hold an entire vacation spot, Thus we can conclude that apart from yet a few exceptions this movie follows almost in it's entirety the science fiction guidelines!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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i think u should touch on how different writers think of sci-fi!. it could be in a very deep and story oriented tale, like an upcoming video game called too human in which all of Norse mythology is replaced with a sci-fi setting that totally makes sence, or in the usual slash and clash like Star Ship Troopers or the Chronicles of Riddick!. maybe it's a combination of both!. I thought planet of the apes was a good example of action and story elements fused as one!.

sci-fi can be a very broad subject, so try to focus on a specific topic in the genre!.

try how they see transportation of warfare!. what kind of people and aliens are there, if any!? and most importantly, be very descriptive!. your professor might not be a fan on sci-fi!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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I don't completely agree----

Maybe all stereotypical science-fiction texts follow that prompt, but what about political sci-fi novels such as 1984!?
The prompt is too specific to encompass all of science fictionWww@QuestionHome@Com

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well you are supposed write about how all the science fiction books focus in a hero saving the world with the right gadget! right!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Well, it is a simple example of the incorporation of the advances of mankind made by the author!. Instead of simply describing the world, accordingly to his imagination, he incorporates it into his work through the practical use of tools and equipment, usually by a hero, or unusual character!. He shows how far, in his story mankind has come, and because of the technological advances, any man can be a hero, as long as he uses everything the right way!.

For example, in the Fifth Element, it showed how an ordinary man (I doubt you can get more ordinary than a taxi driver), can accomplish great feat with advanced equipment!. It accompanied to writers look on the world!. Everything fit into the setting like a puzzle piece, and this movie had a classic finish, because even though they lived in an incredibly modern world, it all came down to the basic elements of life, Earth, Water, Air, Fire!.

The point being, in a Sci-fi movie or book, in the right setting, in the right environment, any man can be a hero, because the world the writer thinks of is supposed to be better than the one we live in now!. It is supposed to be superior, and what better way to prove it, than having an average Joe turn into the terminator!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

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This statement is complete and utter drivel!. Anybody who could make such an idiotic statement with any seriousness has never read any significant amount of science fiction!. Granted, it is the dominant premise in Hollywood sci-fi, but I can't think of any science fiction to come out of Hollywood that I would consider as anything other than utter garbage (with the possible exception of a few adaptations of written works)!.

Start with the first premise - saving the world!. There are stories where the protagonist(s) try to save the world but fail (Brunner's <The Sheep Look Up>, Tiptree's "The Screwfly Solution")!. There are stories that are simply slices of ordinary life in the future (Pohl's "Day Million," Stross's "Lobsters")!. Other stories have no threat to anyone other than the protagonist (Weinbaum's "A Martian Odyssey," Cordwainer Smith's <Norstrilia>)!. Many stories deal with solving a puzzle arising out of a new technology (most of the stories in Asimov's <I, Robot> fall into this vein)!.

Heroic figure - take one of the archetypal sf stories <The War of the Worlds> (the novel, not any of the film adaptations)!. The protagonist is not heroic, just an ordinary individual caught up in events beyond his control!. Any characters who could be described as heroic die quickly and messily!. And Wells is not unique in this!. Need more be said!?

The right technological gadgets - again, problem-solving stories, where the technology is the problem, and the solution comes from "mere" logic and reason!. In addition, many sf stories deal with sociological issues where gadgetry is not the solution - LeGuin is famous for these!.

Again, the statement is ludicrous, moronic, and completely and utterly false!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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Um!.!.!.!. whats the question!? I've seen the movie but I think a better example of a gadget wielding hero would be Batman!. First in most cases, if they are using gadgets from the future, they only usually win with an aspect of luck behind it!. But in the instance of present weapons, even the 5th element was using gadgets current in their time, knowledge plays a bigger role!. Bruce Willis and Bruce Wayne were kinda of tactical professionals!. But the gadgets are only an extension of the main character!. Heck, even look at Bruce Willis in The DieHard movies!. It's still the same situation!. Internal abilities were heightened by gadgets!. The gadgets were the dominant factor!. If the gadgets were the main focal point the story would eventually decline and the audience would stop caring for the main character(s)!. Prime examples are Voltron or the Power Rangers!. Other than fighting inside their gadgets, the story is a little bland!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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