Mundane science fiction

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Mundane science fiction (roughly: "realistic science fiction ") is a young subgenre of English-language science fiction (SF). The setting of the works of the Mundane SF is usually the earth or near-earth space, and they are characterized by a credible representation of the science and technology known at the time the works were created.

Core idea

The term Mundane SF was coined in a manifesto written by Geoff Ryman in 2004 based on an idea by Julian Todd . The manifesto makes the following claims:

  • Unsubstantiated speculations about interstellar space travel can lead to the illusion of a universe full of life-sustaining worlds like Earth, which is also unlikely (see Rare Earth Hypothesis ). This illusion of abundance can lead to wasteful use of the earth's abundance of resources.
  • There is currently no evidence that extraterrestrial life or extraterrestrial intelligence exists. The absence of such evidence is not evidence of the non-existence of such beings, but it is unlikely that aliens can overcome the physical limitations of space travel any better than we can. Therefore interstellar trade, colonialism, war, alliances etc. are highly unlikely. (see Fermi paradox )
  • Communication with any extraterrestrials is made very difficult by the enormous time delays in the exchange of messages and by the probably equally enormous and probably unimaginable differences between us and the extraterrestrials. Any contact with aliens is therefore likely to be precarious and not beneficial. (see messages to extraterrestrials , list of interstellar radio messages )
  • Hence, the most likely future of humanity is one in which we are confined to ourselves, the earth, and our solar system .

Authors and works

The properties that distinguish Mundane SF are older than the corresponding term; For example, a short story by Judith Merril from 1948, That Only a Mother , can already be referred to as Mundane SF . Mundane SF also shares many of the characteristics of the cyberpunk genre.

The British SF magazine Interzone dedicated its issue No. 216 (July 2008) to the Mundane SF . Edited by Geoff Ryman, Julian Todd, and Trent Walters , this edition included short stories by Ryman, Lavie Tidhar , Chelsea Quinn Yarbro , Billie Aul , RR Angell , Elisabeth Vonarburg, and Anil Menon .

Ryman also published the Mundane SF short story collection When It Changed: Science Into Fiction in 2009 . Each of the stories was written with the help of a scientist and has a final explanatory note.

Other authors who have authored works (among others) that can be described as Mundane SF include Brian Aldiss , JG Ballard , Gregory Benford , Michael Bishop , Pat Cadigan , Philip K. Dick , William Gibson , Gwyneth Jones , Nancy Kress , George Orwell , Kim Stanley Robinson , Bruce Sterling , Michael Swanwick and Gene Wolfe , as well as the newer authors Ted Chiang , Cory Doctorow and Maureen F. McHugh . More recent novels of Mundane SF , for example, in 1992 China Mountain Zhang ( ABC Zhang ) by Maureen F. McHugh, from 2002 The Speed of Dark ( The speed of darkness ) of Elizabeth Moon - appeared both before publication of the "Manifesto" - from 2004 Air by Geoff Ryman and River of Gods by Ian McDonald and from 2007 Halting State ( You're dead ) by Charles Stross .

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Reprinted in New York Review of Science Fiction No. 226, June 2007
  2. a b c d Ritch Calvin: Mundane SF 101 ( Memento of the original from February 3, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.sfra.org archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , SFRA Review No. 289, Summer 2009, pp. 13-16.
  3. Interzone No. 216 , July 2008
  4. ^ Material World , BBC Radio 4 , October 28, 2009

Web links