Chapter 6: On Science Fiction

Answer. The author’s attitude towards the pre-scientific imagination and the tone he adopts while talking about it can be summarised as follows:

• Isaac Asimov talks about the time when science did not hold much predominance in human society. Science fiction is the creation of the last two centuries. It cannot be seen as the future unless and until people get the idea that science and technology produce the future. The author’s tone towards pre-scientific imagination is sceptical in the beginning since he talks about magic, flying carpets, and winged horses.
• A notion prevailed that the universe is full of superstitious things and beliefs in mythical creatures, and some energy or superhuman was the leader of the universe.
• No one could get that idea until the rate of scientific change became significant enough to be noticed by people over the course of their lifetimes.

Answer. Paragraphs that consist of just one sentence are:

1) “The goals of these ancient stories are the same as those of modern science fiction – they depict life as we don’t know it”.

2) “Science fiction is a literary universe of no mean size because science fiction is what it is, not through its content but its background”.

In the first paragraph, the author talks about ancient and modern science fiction. In the second paragraph, the author throws light on the science fiction background and its genres.

The author tries to put these paragraphs in one line to emphasise a strong plot by explaining what science fiction entails in different forms.

Answer. Linkers used by the author to connect the point he makes in one paragraph with that in the next are:

1. “There must have been tales of the strange and different…. Let’s consider – The respect that people have…. manipulate that key.”

2. “Science fiction is a literary universe of no mean size because science fiction is what it is, not through its content but through its background: Let me explain the difference that makes.”

Language Work

Literary Allusions

Look up a literary dictionary or encyclopaedia or the internet to understand the references to the following mythical creatures.

Centaur     Satyr            Sphinx          Harpy

Gryphon    Gorgon        Pegasus

Find out parallel creatures in Indian mythology.

1) Centaur: Kinnaras (half-man half-horse)

2) Satyr: Half man half goat

3) Sphinx: Devdutt

4) Harpy: Garuda

5) Gryphon: Garuda same as Harpy

6) Gorgon: Kali

7) Pegasus: Kalki