From Past Futures to Future Presents: Analyzing and Creating Speculative Fiction

Assignment Elaboration:

Title: “From Past Futures to Future Presents: Analyzing and Creating Speculative Fiction”

Objective:
Students will critically analyse classic science fiction stories to understand the relationship between speculative fiction and real-world technological and social progress. They will then apply this understanding to create their own near-future science fiction story based on current trends and research.

Part 1: Analysis (40% of grade)
1. Read one of the suggested classic science fiction stories (list below).
2. Write a 500-word analysis that includes:
   a) A brief summary of the story (150 words)
   b) Identification of at least 5 future predictions or speculations made in the story
   c) For each prediction, discuss:
      – Whether it has come true, partially true, or not at all
      – The accuracy of the timeline predicted in the story vs. reality
      – Possible reasons why the prediction did or did not come to pass
   d) An overall assessment of the author’s foresight and the story’s impact on scientific or technological development

Part 2: Creation (60% of grade)
1. Write a 1000-word science fiction story set exactly 30 years in the future (2054).
2. The story should:
   a) Include at least 5 speculative elements (technologies, social changes, environmental conditions, etc.)
   b) Ground each speculative element in current research, trends, or early-stage technologies
   c) Explore the impact of these changes on individuals and society
   d) Have a coherent plot and well-developed characters
3. Include a 250-word appendix (not counted in the story’s word count) that briefly explains the research or current trends supporting each of your speculative elements.

Suggested Classic Science Fiction Stories for Analysis:

1. “The Machine Stops” (1909) by E.M. Forster
   Themes: Virtual communication, artificial environments, technology dependence

2. “A Logic Named Joe” (1946) by Murray Leinster
   Themes: Personal computers, internet, search engines

3. “There Will Come Soft Rains” (1950) by Ray Bradbury
   Themes: Home automation, nuclear war, artificial intelligence

4. “The Fun They Had” (1951) by Isaac Asimov
   Themes: Digital education, computerization of daily life

5. “The Minority Report” (1956) by Philip K. Dick
   Themes: Predictive policing, free will vs. determinism, data privacy

6. “The Gernsback Continuum” (1981) by William Gibson
   Themes: Retrofuturism, impact of imagined futures on the present

7. “Blood Music” (1983) by Greg Bear
   Themes: Nanotechnology, biotechnology, posthumanism

8. “Speech Sounds” (1983) by Octavia Butler
   Themes: Pandemic, loss of communication abilities, societal breakdown and adaptation

These stories offer a range of predictions about technology, society, and human behavior, spanning from the early 20th century to the 1980s. This variety will allow you to see how science fiction predictions and their accuracy have evolved over time.

For the creative part, focus on crafting a compelling narrative rather than just showcasing future technologies. Consider how the speculative elements affect characters’ lives, relationships, and society at large. The story should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, with conflict and resolution centered around the implications of the imagined future.

Pay attention to the pacing and structure of the classic story that you analyze, as this can inform your own writing. Also consider the tone and style of the story – whether it’s optimistic, cautionary, or somewhere in between – and how this reflects your view of current trends and potential futures.