Putting the science in fiction - Dan Koboldt, Chuck Wendig 2018

Introduction

by Dan Koboldt

Science, medicine, and technology have starring roles in a wide range of genres, most notably science fiction, but in other genres as well. Unfortunately, many depictions of technical subjects in literature, film, and television are pure fiction. This is perhaps not very surprising, since most writers don’t hold advance technical degrees or have years of laboratory training under their belts. Furthermore, popular myths about scientific and technological concepts have pervaded mass media for decades.

Public misconceptions are especially common in the field of genetics, which happens to be my area of expertise. Most often, nonexperts tend to simplify the concepts of genetic inheritance to the point where first-degree relatives are expected to have the same eyes. Or hair. Or nose. Also prevalent is the idea that someone’s entire future is written in his genetic code (à la the 1997 SF thriller Gattaca). In reality, genetics is usually more complex than most people realize, and there’s so much we don’t know. I felt it was my duty, as a scientist and SF writer, to try to help others avoid these pitfalls in their own writing.

So I wrote an article for Apex Magazine called “Eye-Based Paternity Testing and Other Human Genetics Myths,” which debunked some of the worst of them (simple inheritance, mutations being “good,” etc.). The response to that article was astonishing. I began asking people who worked in other disciplines to share their expertise. And so the Science in Sci-fi blog series was born. Each week, I discuss the scientific, medical, or technological aspects of science fiction with help from an expert in the field. Over a few years, I gathered a wealth of material, much of which you hold in your hands.

The forty or so contributors in this anthology represent a wide array of scientific, technological, and medical expertise. They’ve collectively endured more than one hundred years of graduate study in their chosen fields so you don’t have to. They won’t bore you with dense treatises on the latest scientific theory. Instead, they’re going to cover the fundamentals of each topic, addressing common misconceptions and offering tips on how to get the details right. In other words, they’ll teach you just enough to be dangerous.

This book aims to be a reference for the genre fiction writer. While your story doesn’t have to adhere to every scientific fact—it is fiction, after all—a basic understanding of biology, physics, engineering, and medicine empowers you to create more realistic stories that satisfy even the most discerning readers. It will not only help you write realistic, compelling technical elements (and avoid common pitfalls), but might provide the seeds of new story ideas by showcasing the current state of the art. Whether you’re writing about mutant monsters, rogue viruses, giant spaceships, or even murders and espionage, Putting the Science in Fiction will have something to help you craft better fiction.