Literature as a Form of Science Fiction

There seems to be a growing trend in the literary world that views Science Fiction as the second-rate, poor-relation member of the literature family. One should pat it on the head, and patronise it to ones hearts content, but dont encourage it too much because, poor thing, it doesn t know any better. However, this is patently the narrowest of viewpoints as I intend to show. Science Fiction not only offers more scope, breadth and depth, it is also much more fun - and the merchandising opportunities are significantly greater.

Essentially, literature is the art of exploring the human condition with all its inconsistencies, contradictions, wants, wishes, desires, hopes, fears, joys, weaknesses, triumphs, tragedies and gas bills. Did I just say gas bill? Im sorry - mines just arrived and I think Im being asked to pay for the Chief Executives private jet charter. However, we digress

When we set out to explore this human condition of ours (we are all human, arent we?), we postulate a hypothetical setting and then throw our heroes and heroines into it and see how they react. Great. Fine. Wonderful.

However, in any other form of literature, thats it, pal. You re stuck there; thats all she wrote; the Fat Lady has just sung her last chorus; and you aint goin noplace else. However, within Science Fiction you can change the background, the setting, or the time period. You can change anything you want and then see how your characters react. Picture the scene -

It is London, in the middle of winter. The year is 1893. Edward, a middle-aged shipping clerk is reading the evening paper while his wife, Emily, is darning some socks. Edward is stockily built (it's better than being brick-built), with thin, receding hair, a moustache and a monocle over one eye (well, he wouldnt have it over an ear, would he?). Emily is slight of stature (good phrase that), has a pale complexion and is sickening for something unspeakable that plagued Victorian times but which, thankfully, weve eradicated from our modern society. A clock is ticking in the background (actually, its ticking in the dining room), and a fire is burning away in the grate (where else?).

Suddenly the door is thrown open and ... What happens next? Please send your answers on a postcard to reach this office by  (sorry, wrong audience). Within conventional literature, the number of things that could possibly happen now is limited to those things, items or situations that actually existed, or were known about, during the winter of 1893 in London. For example -

What we couldnt have is Dearth Wader, with light sabre in one hand, a microphone in the other, closely followed by two cameramen, three lighting technicians, a sound engineer, a make-up artist and the director, uttering those immortal words, "Edward Boringoldfart, THIS IS YOUR LIFE!" - not unless you were writing Science Fiction, that is.