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The Martians were here
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Even in these dumbed down times there is readership for that fascinating branch of reading, science fiction
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FACT AND FICTION Robots rule the sci-fi world
When I was a teenager, science fiction left me cold. Then I married a man who goes gaga over Isaac Asimov (if he had done it during the girl-meets-boy event, I don't know whether I would have married him, and that would have been a shame!) But his sci-fi books have co-existed with my collection of P.G. Wodehouse for over 20 years now and I've come to love Asimov. Not because of his science fiction, but because of his sheer knowledge, his passion for writing responsibly and his extremely witty introductions and asides.
Before Isaac Asimov died on April 6, 1992, he had written over 500 books that enlightened, entertained, and spanned the realm of human knowledge. His first short story, Marooned Off Vesta, appeared in the sci-fi magazine Amazing Stories, and he soon started writing for other sci-fi magazines like Astounding, Astonishing Stories, Super Science Stories and Galaxy. How did he write so much? Who taught him so much about intriguing worlds?
"You did, Father," Isaac is said to have told his first-generation immigrant father. When the Russian dad said he didn't understand a thing about his son's writings, Isaac is said to have continued, "Father, you taught me to wonder. The rest just followed."
Ever wonder why?
How many of us wonder about anything at all... I wonder. "Do you read science fiction," I asked a young girl who calls herself a voracious reader. "I read fantasy stories, but sci-fi, NO!" said the Harry Potter fan. "I just can't understand the few that I have tried; the description seems so confusing," she adds.
Writing science fiction is not easy. To quote from Asimov's introduction in Short Science Fiction Tales: "In a murder mystery, there is no need to describe a gun. In love stories ... if you are a bit sophisticated, you even know what a line of asterisks means.
A science fiction story is set on another world or in a future time. The gadgetry is different, the customs are different, and sometimes the most accepted things are different.
It is only in SF that this special creative joy in background is possible."
For sci-fi lovers this look into an alien world is what makes the stories so interesting.
Ask Srinarahari, General Secretary of the Indian Association for Science Fiction Studies.
The man who was awarded a PhD for his work on Asimov's writings is happiest while sharing sci-fi facts, and inspiring young people to write science fiction.
The only Indian reporter for international sci-fi magazine LOCUS, Dr. Srinarahari writes stories for www.adbhut.com, an Indian sci-fi site, edits books and his association has compiled two volumes of stories written by rural girls in the age group 13-16 in Karnataka. So sci-fi is very much around and flourishing in the B-towns of Karnataka!
And among Dr. Srinarahari's students are four research scholars working on sci-fi.
"I'm tired of reading about all these aliens coming to life in the laboratories of scientists and then turning hostile," says Rajesh Prasad, who now reads only serious non-fiction!
The three laws
But Isaac Asimov did formulate the Three Laws of Robotics, quoted faithfully in a popular movie:
A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
For 32 years, Asimov continuously wrote a monthly science column for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.
The real Asimov
If characters described in books and movies are to be believed, one would picture Asimov as a loon with mad eyes. Instead, fans know him to be very humane.
Decide for yourself after you read this letter he wrote to one of his editors:
"It is very good of you to increase my payment again. As you know, I have never asked for an increase or even hinted that an increase might be in order for I know that The Horn Book is not a vast money-making concern.
Consequently, I hope you will be able to assure me, for the sake of conscience, that this increase (from an original payment of $25 to the present one of $65) does not seriously affect the magazine budget... "
The unknown world
The huge unknown world around us has inspired sci-fi writers. And for many of us, sci-fi evokes dreams of better worlds and nightmares of what could happen to our own world... .a good whack on the side of the head to keep our precious world in order!
Dr. Srinarahari welcomes mails at drsrinarahari@gmail.com or science fiction india@yahoo.com
MALA KUMAR
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