Questions about the Firefly Universe
POSTED BY: Valdron
UPDATED: Sunday, November 20, 2005 21:19
VIEWED: 7518
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I'm not sure that's correct. 100 million years is a very very tiny sliver of time in the life cycle of the sun. It's already 5 billion years old.
Well, it may not be correct, but it made it into Astronomy or Scientific American or some such magazine that I occasionally read.
TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree
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When it comes to suspension of disbelief in ST:TNG I always think of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Compensator, that wonderful "magic" black box (Deux Ex Machina) that allowed the Transporter to work despite the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.
Jaytee
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Quote:
Originally posted by TheRealMe:
A good story is a good story. But good science fiction requires that science figure into it somewhere. Otherwise, it is a thinly disguised police drama or western given the trappings of science fiction.
The science should not necessarily be the point of a good SF story, but it should be inegral to the story somewhere.
So, while I think that all of Firefly to date has consisted of good stories, I don't think it has all been good SF.
TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree
Sorry, but I have to disagree on this point. To my mind, the "science" part of science fiction enables the telling of stories that couldn't otherwise be told. It's a device, a MacGuffin, nothing more. Stories (of any sort) are human stories. Making the science be the point just cheapens the human aspect. Who the f
k cares if this droid has a bad motivator? What the fk does that even mean? It doesn't matter--it's just a device so Luke can have Artoo.________________________________________________________________________
I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
But it's ludicrous to suggest that every little thing has to be scientifically possible. .... But regretably, I can't get on board with you because Joss is not telling the story of the technology of the 'verse. He's telling the story of the crew of Serenity. .... Stop watching the technology and the science and start watching the story!/QUOTE]
With all due respect, and I certainly respect your views and opinions, do you really have the right to tell me how to enjoy the show? What questions I'm allowed or not allowed to ask? What premises may be examined?
It seems to me that if, as part of enjoying the show, I would like to examine various premises, and explore either the underlying logic or dynamics, or the extrapolated consequences of a particular premise, then, I've probably got a right to do so.
Now, I know that you didn't intend to be rude or offensive to me. But its very difficult for me not to take your attitude in this way.
Warmest regards and best wishes.NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by JayTee:
When it comes to suspension of disbelief in ST:TNG I always think of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Compensator, that wonderful "magic" black box (Deux Ex Machina) that allowed the Transporter to work despite the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.
This is a prime example of science overtaking the story. Why on earth would you need to explain how the transporter works? Who cares? It's just a device.
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I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Valdron:Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
But it's ludicrous to suggest that every little thing has to be scientifically possible. .... But regretably, I can't get on board with you because Joss is not telling the story of the technology of the 'verse. He's telling the story of the crew of Serenity. .... Stop watching the technology and the science and start watching the story!
With all due respect, and I certainly respect your views and opinions, do you really have the right to tell me how to enjoy the show? What questions I'm allowed or not allowed to ask? What premises may be examined?
It seems to me that if, as part of enjoying the show, I would like to examine various premises, and explore either the underlying logic or dynamics, or the extrapolated consequences of a particular premise, then, I've probably got a right to do so.
Now, I know that you didn't intend to be rude or offensive to me. But its very difficult for me not to take your attitude in this way.
Warmest regards and best wishes.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Valdron:
Now, I know that you didn't intend to be rude or offensive to me. But its very difficult for me not to take your attitude in this way.
I certainly didn't mean any offense; I apologize if I came across that way (though I often speak without editing so this happens a lot).
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I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.
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Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:Quote:
Originally posted by Valdron:
I certainly didn't mean any offense; I apologize if I came across that way (though I often speak without editing so this happens a lot).
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I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.
No problem. I had noticed that my 'snippy' reflex was acting up, and I worried that I might get defensive and insulting. I didn't think you really meant to be a prick, but you were just responding to a discussion you saw as irrelevant.
Well, I can appreciate Firefly on literary terms, and in terms of its acting, characterization, thematic resonance and all that good stuff.
But, I've got a secret geek, and I like to explore these other areas too. No harm no foul.
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Secret geeks come in a variety of flavors, I've noticed. I've got a massive geek side (or, one might say, an itty-bitty normal side), but my geek never expresses itself in terms of the technical aspect. I'd never buy a tech manual or any such thing. My geek side obsesses over the mythology. So of course I'll devour books and articles and such, and play the RPG and all that, 'cause I just can't get enough of the mythology. Explains why I'm also obsessed with Star Wars, Tolkien and Lost--good mythologies.
As far as the offense thing goes--well, I've been learning over the last few years that the way I think things in my head isn't always the way they sound to the hearer. Days past, I didn't give a damn. Figued it was the other fella's fault if I were misinterpreted. These days, though, I'm realizing that relational networks are what make the world turn, and you can't build one of those unless you give a care for the way you're perceived.
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I wish I had a magical wish-granting plank.
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Well, I suppose I need to explain myself. I believe that science fiction is more than flying around in a space ship.
As a term, I believe that science fiction as a genre should deal with how science impacts our lives. Now, I don't insist that the stories need to be about science or (worse) non-scientific Star Trek technobable. Of COURSE the focus should be on the characters.
Let me give an example or two.
Heart of Gold was a good episode in my opinion. Great characters. Great conflict. I loved it. But it was not science fiction. The only things verging on SF were Rance's laser gun and hover vehicle, and these were not at all central to the story. He could have easily been in a car with a fancy pistol. This story could have been set in the old west or in a modern (relatively lawless) nation with almost no alteration. When you can strip away all the science/speculative elements and the story is essentially unchanged, then it is not really science fiction.
Now, the movie Serenity dealt with
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brain surgery that resulted in mental powers, and with a controlling government using some kind of drug to try to control an entire population!
These elements WERE central to the story. So if you take out the scientific or speculative elements, the movie Serenity falls apart. In my mind, it is a good story AND good science fiction.
TheRealMe, First Officer of the Sereni-Tree
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