Science fiction is the most important
literature in the history of the world, because it's the history of
ideas, the history of our civilization birthing itself... Science
fiction is central to everything we've ever done, and people who make
fun of science fiction writers don't know what they're talking about.
- Ray Bradbury, author of Fahrenheit 451
Well, I have never come across anything closer to the truth about the
essence of science fiction than Ray Bradbury's quote above. Science
fiction is, indeed, the history of ideas - ideas that, when they were
conceived, were considered impossible, impractical, fantastical and
even, at times, blasphemous! However, the history of civilization stands
witness to the fact that a lot of those "fantastical" ideas and
concepts have, indeed, seen the light of the day in the form of creative
inventions and path-breaking discoveries that have paved the way for
lofty advancements in the field of science and technology. There is no
accounting for how many ingenious scientists and inventors have drawn
inspirations for their inventions and discoveries from the so-called
bizarre ideas of sci-fi literature. Therefore, science fiction is not
just a colorful ruse for occupying oneself on a leisurely summer
afternoon - it often hides more sense and potential inspiration in its
narrative folds than it is given credit for.
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