History of the FutureHistory of the Future

4: The Future in Britain4: The Future in Britain

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