Honors HU/SS1520 Spring 2014
Science Fiction and the History of Science
Instructors: Dr. Eric Swedin and Dr. David Ferro Office: DV137L at the Davis campus and SS250 on the Ogden campus (Swedin), and ET110 (Ferro) Office phone: 801-395-3553 (Swedin) and 801-626-6304 (Ferro) E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected] Office Hours: Office hours are available by appointment.
Texts: David L. Ferro and Eric G. Swedin, editors, Science Fiction and Computing: Essays on Interlinked Domains (McFarland, 2011) ISBN-13: 978-0786445653
Mario Livio, Brilliant Blunders: From Darwin to Einstein - Colossal Mistakes by Great Scientists That Changed Our Understanding of Life and the Universe (Simon & Schuster, 2013) ISBN-13: 978-1439192368
Orson Scott Card, editor, Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century (Ace Trade, 2004) ISBN-13: 978-0441011339
Robert Silverberg, editor, The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One (Orb Books, 2005) ISBN-13: 978-0765305374
Class Description and Objectives: This course will examine current and historical writings of science fiction in the context of the history of scientific and technological developments.
Class participation and discussion is expected.
Grading Policies: Grades will be determined on the following basis:
Quizzes 60% Term Paper 30% Class Participation 10%
Grades: A: 90 - 100% B: 80 - 89% C: 70 - 79% D: 60 - 69% E: 0 - 59% (Grades at the high or low ends of these ranges will earn plus and minus grades.) Quizzes: There will a short quiz every day at the beginning of class. Each quiz will be based on the readings that you were given for that day, or will be given on the content of the previous class’s presentations. There may also be a couple of questions from the previous quizzes content.
Term Paper: A ten page paper on any topic covered in the course is required. You may turn in an early draft for the instructors to critique and we will return the critiqued draft two weeks later. The final draft is due on the final day of class. You must use at least six sources, only half of which may come from the Internet, and you must cite all quotations. The following web sites are useful: http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Style.html
Cheating Policy: Cheating and deceit are not accepted at Weber State University. Cheating on an quiz or assignment, or turning in someone else's work as your own, will result in an E for the class. You may work together on your assignments and papers, but you must turn in your own work. If you quote from a book, article, or web site, you must properly quote and cite your work. Avoid even the appearance of cheating or plagiarism.
Cell Phones, Texting, and Laptops: Put your cell phones on vibrate. Try to avoid leaving class to take a call, but an occasional emergency is understandable. There will be NO texting in this class. Laptops or other personal digital tools may be used to take notes or look up material relevant to class discussions. No other uses of laptops will be tolerated.
Students with Disabilities: Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in Room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
Campus Closure: In the event of an extended campus closure, please look at your Weber State email in order for instructions on how we will continue the class via email and the Canvas online course system. Schedule:
Week Tuesday Thursday January 7 Introduction to class (no quiz) Introduction to Science Fiction Introduction to History Readings: Silverberg text, Ray Bradbury, “Mars is Heaven!” They're Made out of Meat short film Card text, Terry Bisson, “Bears Discover Fire” Ferro & Swedin text, Introduction and chapter 1, “Technology’s Other Storytellers” January 14 Science and Discovery Science and the Age of Discovery Readings: Livio, Preface and Readings: Livio, chapter 2 chapter 1 Silverberg text, Murray Leinster, Card text, Harry Turtledove, “The “First Contact” Road Not Taken” January 21 Science and Scientific Credit Science and the Mechanical Age Readings: Livio, chapter 3 Readings: Livio, chapter 4 Card text, George R. R. Martin, Online version, first seven chapters “Sandkings” of H. G. Wells, War of the Worlds Handout: “Junior Achievement,” by (available at William Lee, in Tomorrow’s http://www.fourmilab.ch/ Children, pg 167. etexts/www/warworlds/warw.html) Online version, first two chapters of Jules Verne’s From the Earth to the Moon (available at http://www.online-literature.com/vern e/earth_to_moon/) January 28 Science and Biology Science and Evolution Readings: Livio, chapter 5 Readings: Livio, chapter 6 Silverberg text, Theodore Sturgeon, Card text, Edmond Hamilton, “Microcosmic God” “Devolution” February 4 Science and the Age of the Earth Science and Geology Readings: Livio, chapter 7 Readings: Livio, chapter 8 Silverberg text, James Blish, Card text, Larry Niven, “Inconstant “Surface Tension” Moon” February 11 Age of Biology No class today (LTUE). Readings: Livio, chapter 9 Card Text, “Rat” by James Patrick Kelly Ferro & Swedin text, Chapter 17, “Nanotechnology Tomorrows” February 18 Media day (no quiz, but credit for Media day (no quiz, but credit for attendance will be given) attendance will be given) Firefly, episode 1, and discussion Firefly, episode 2, and discussion February 25 Science and Anthropology Science and Psychology Readings: Livio, chapter 10 Readings: Livio, chapter 11 and Silverberg text, Isaac Asimov, Coda ANightfall@; Silverberg text, Lewis Padgett, Card text: Robert Silverberg, “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” “Passengers” March 4 What does it mean to be human? Pulp Fiction Readings: Silverberg text, Daniel Readings:Silverberg text, Fredric Keyes, “Flowers for Algernon”; Brown, “Arena” Card text, John Crowley, “Snow” Ferro & Swedin text, Chapter 5, Card text, Jerome Bixby, “It’s a “Computer Science on the Planet Good Life” Krypton” Card Text, Brian Aldiss,“Who Can Replace a Man”
March 11 Spring Break March 18 The Atomic Age The Computer Age Readings: Silverberg text, Clifford D. Card text, Isaac Asimov, “Robot Simak, “The Huddling Place” Dreams” Silverberg text, Tom Godwin,“The Internet: Murray Leinster, “A Logic Cold Equations” Named Joe ”
April 1 Imagination SF and the Big Questions: Religion Readings: Card text, Robert A. Readings: Card text, Arthur C. Heinlein, “All You Zombies–“; Clarke, “The Nine Billion Names of Card text, Lloyd Biggle, Jr., God” “Tunesmith” Amazon Kindle: Eric James Stone, “That Leviathan, Whom Thou Hast Made” ($2.99)
April 8 Media day (no quiz, but credit for Media day (no quiz, but credit for attendance will be given) attendance will be given) TBA TBA
April 15 Science Fiction and Politics Spare day Card text, Harlan Ellison, “Repent, Harlequin! Said the Ticktockman”; Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”
April 22 NO Final Exam