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Introduction: Discerning the Real, the Possible, and the Impossible

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Book cover Exploring Science Through Science Fiction

Part of the book series: Science and Fiction ((SCIFICT))

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Abstract

A major goal of the present work is to increase public awareness and appreciation of science, but the approach is somewhat unorthodox. We will use science fiction as a vehicle for exploring actual science and as a springboard for discussing some of the exciting topics that are currently being researched. Our examples will be drawn almost exclusively from film and television. Occasional references to a few of the classic works of science fiction literature are also included.

Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.

Benjamin Franklin

Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.

The Queen of Hearts

Alice in Wonderland

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References

  1. Frayling, C.: Mad, Bad and Dangerous? The scientist and the cinema, p. 48. Reaktion Books, London (2005)

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  2. Duncan, D.W.: Package essay for Landmarks of Early Film. Image Entertainment, Inc. (1994)

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  3. Hugo (Martin Scorsese, Paramount 2011). Fictionalized account of the life of motion picture pioneer Georges Méliès

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  5. Verne, J.: From the Earth to the Moon and a Journey Around It (English translation), p. 76. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York (1886)

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  6. Moonraker (Lewis Gilbert, MGM 1979). James Bond investigates the hijacking of an American space shuttle. Lethal acceleration in flight training centrifuge [DVD scene 5]

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  7. Lear, J.: Kepler’s Dream, with the full text and notes of Somnium, Sive Astrononomia Lunaris, Johannis Kepleri, p. 87. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles (1965)

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  8. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, MGM 1968). Reference frames [DVD scenes 6 and 10]

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Luokkala, B.B. (2019). Introduction: Discerning the Real, the Possible, and the Impossible. In: Exploring Science Through Science Fiction. Science and Fiction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29393-2_1

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