Why are so many sci-fi's set set close to now, when the technology clearly won't exist?
POSTED BY: chrisisall
UPDATED: Tuesday, December 4, 2007 22:12
VIEWED: 12199
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2001: a Space Odyssey...okay, so where's our commercial space travel?
Back To The Future 2 happens in part in 2015, Blade Runner in 2019....is that when we'll have flying cars ya think??
I, Robot is in in less than 20 years also- will there be robots for all then?
Demolition Man has freezers for criminals in 1997...
The Jupiter 2 lifted off in 1997, according to Lost In Space...
UFO had us in space with a fully-functioning Moonbase in 1980, Space 1999 had us one in, well, 1999...
What's up wit dat???
Picky Chrisisall
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Well when these things were written, that was the future. Joss was smart to jump ahead several centuries rather than just a few decades, doncha think?
I am selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes. I am out of control. And sometimes I'm a little hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.
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I think that, back when those movies/shows came out back in the 50s, 60s, and even the 80s, the whole "new millenium" idea still represented the fantastic, the amazing, and the unknown. They didn't really have a realistic grasp on how much technology would actually improve. So when 2000 arrived and the flying saucers didn't land and the computers didn't rise up and revolt, we were disappointed.
But who knows? Maybe they will develop flying cars or transporter technology within the next 20 or thirty years. There's still hope. I don't have any idea if we'll be able to traipse (sp?) around the galaxy at ludricrous speeds when we get to the 28th century like in SW or Trek. But it's fun to dream.
"Mwah ha ha ha...mine is an evil laugh. Now die."
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I've read lots of stories by Asimov, Heinlein, and such where we had colonized the solar system in the early 80's, and by 2100 had spread to space. I chuckle when I read such stories, but then kick the cat when I realize that IT. SHOULD. BE. HERE. NOW!
I'll be in my bunk, sobbing.
We sometimes catch a window
A glimpse of what's beyond
Was it just imagination
Stringing us along?
More things than are dreamed about
Unseen and unexplained 
I'm not worthy!
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Agree with BB.
Also, capturing the audience with the whole "near future" thing. Attaching them on a personal level where maybe their kids and grandkids could experince such a thing. Whether it be frightnening or wondrous.
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I think it is important to remember that some of these things do come true. Here is an article from a paper at the turn of the century (not our turn, the one before World War I). You'll see many of these things have been surpassed or at least achieved while others leave us scratching our heads at what these people were thinking.
(To actually read it visit this' style='max-width:600px; width: expression(this.width > 600 ? 600: true);'> site).
And don't forget these were their top-thinkers of the day! These are just things people see happening... and then they don't. (For example: the cure for cancer has only been $x or x years away from discovery for how long now?)
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And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer
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I suppose with the moon landings, people thought the leap so vast that the notion of flying cars and JET PACKS!!!! was somewhat just around the corner, and no longer the stuff of fantasy. I must admit when you think of all the space technology there is and has been, you would have thought a local JETPACK!!! store to be but an everyday thing in 2007!!!! Yet where the hell are they?!!!!!
Anyway I guess Hollywood felt they were reflecting a near certain futuristic vision, with these things.
Do you remember the Star Wars trump cards? Where some of the space ships were predicted on the cards to be 'fully operational' in the early part of the 21st Century. I think the Death Star was predicted to be around 2050..? If I recall, although it was a long time ago that I played that.
Talking of iRobot I always loved their vision of the future because it wasn't all out 'New'. There were old buildings next to new futursitic ones, rather than a complete 'new' looking city, which is what often occurs with films set in the future. As for Robots actually being apart of a household like Microwaves, or Fridges (refrigerators) who knows... Twenty years is a short space of time for technology, but it has a tendancy to veer elsewhere, away from the fun! 
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About the Star Wars trump cards: don't forget Star Wars occurred a long, long time ago...
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And if someday on some little piss-ant moon/My hand is a little too slow, or my aim a little bit off/At least I’ll go down fighting, not lying abed surrounded by quacks - "Sir Warrick" by Geezer
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Quote:
Originally posted by TPage:
About the Star Wars trump cards: don't forget Star Wars occurred a long, long time ago...
And in a galaxy far away so they'd be more advanced anyhow.
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Quote:
Originally posted by BlueBomber:
I think that, back when those movies/shows came out back in the 50s, 60s, and even the 80s, the whole "new millenium" idea still represented the fantastic, the amazing, and the unknown. They didn't really have a realistic grasp on how much technology would actually improve. So when 2000 arrived and the flying saucers didn't land and the computers didn't rise up and revolt, we were disappointed.
But who knows? Maybe they will develop flying cars or transporter technology within the next 20 or thirty years. There's still hope. I don't have any idea if we'll be able to traipse (sp?) around the galaxy at ludricrous speeds when we get to the 28th century like in SW or Trek. But it's fun to dream.
"Mwah ha ha ha...mine is an evil laugh. Now die."
I don't believe ludicrous speed was achieved until Space Balls!
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