5 Lessons Science Fiction Taught Us

My husband and I belong to different generations and we are from two different cultures. Nevertheless I am aware that there are Science Fiction and Comic book lovers all over the world. You see, I was never into comic books growing up so my exposure to super heroes was only watching cartoons on TV and I was simply more interested in sports and playing with friends than watching TV. Just like you and many other millions of people, while I was growing up I watched reruns of the original Star Trek and Quantum Leap and also watched, on TV of course, the Star Wars original trilogy.

I guess you can say I am the generation that grew up between the launch of original Star Trek and Star Wars saga. In addition, I never saw a single episode of Doctor Who, Battle Star Galactica or other Sci-Fi classics.

Since we have been together I have learned more about Science Fiction classic stories and characters than ever before. I understand the fascination around super heroes, mutants, and time-space traveling aliens. More than that, I understand and appreciate the deepest of the stories, in some case the inspiration for social changes and complexity of its characters. Here are also some other things I learned about and from Sci-Fi:

1. Geek is the new cool

With very few exceptions Marvel and DC Comics inspired movies are making it big in the mainstream market:  movies like Avengers, Iron Man saga, Captain America, Thor, Dark Night saga, Spiderman (forget the latest one), Hulk (not the first one), X-Men saga, upcoming Wolverine, and others. In addition, shows such as The Big Bang Theory have gained a huge fan audience. Although it certainly reinforces some stereotypes it hits a geek nerve in all of us. It shows us that it's ok to quote Star Wars or Star Trek for everyday life moments.

Also huge among a wider audience is The Walking Dead zombie apocalypse story that now is a prime time Sunday night presentation; followed by a one-hour Talking Dead talk show where cool celebrities give their five cents about the new episode. Reality TV is also catching up with shows about comic book stores and an upcoming American Pickers style of show will feature a guy looking for collectible toys.

2. It’s not about super powers but about human condition

Super hero stories in comics, for the most part, show us the story of misfits, awkward and struggling to fit in. Persons like us that just happen to have super powers. Most characters fight personal demons and even insecurities that prevent them from being the person they can be. This internal, perhaps never ending, story is what all of us in one way or another deal with personally, professionally, or spiritually.

We will never be perfect or feel 100% satisfied and sometimes things will go wrong, the important things is to carry on and keep trying, just like Spiderman.

3. Live a little

There's nothing quite like the spirit and atmosphere of a Comic-Con. People decide to let loose and live their fantasies paying tribute to their favourite character by wearing costumes of super heroes or Sci-Fi characters. It's fun, entertaining, and empowering. I think there should be more events like Comic-Con where we can free ourselves from our inhibitions and have fun sharing with others a passion and admiration for an idea or a fictional character.

4. Good science fiction transcends time

Ultimately good science fiction is about social and human issues such as inequality, discrimination, spirituality, moral and ethical choices, and how we relate to each other regardless of our origin or culture. This is the ultimate value that Star Trek brought to its time by dealing with current 60s social issues in a way that was non-confrontational, such as introducing a black woman in a leading role playing a professional and accomplished officer. What was their secret? Placing this story and character in a future traveling through space, a setting and context where all viewers could relate.

To me one of the finest examples is Ray Bradbury's literature. All of Bradbury's stories are relevant to this day and can touch any reader. Bradbury did not mean to write only about advanced time machines, space craft or specific alien races but about the human condition.

5. Science fiction inspires generations

There is a generation of people out there who dreamed about working on projects that would lead to that future presented in science fiction stories such as Star Trek. From space craft to medicine, robotics, telecommunications, and design, people have actually created many of those gadgets or technologies only imagined back in the 60s.

As a society we thrive by the pursuit of innovation. Science fiction shows us what we could achieve. It also inspires us to imagine what has not been created yet. Science fiction in literature, TV or comic books deserves to be seen not only as imaginary and incredible stories but as an inspiration of what we can achieve as society.