What does science fiction give to a person? Why is it useful to read science fiction?

With the current pace of technology development, the topic of science fiction is becoming increasingly relevant. Most likely, many literature lovers would be interested to know what famous science fiction writers thought about this. Each of them had his own vision of the future of humanity. Works like these give us the opportunity to imagine the endless possibilities that will open up for people as we push the boundaries of reason and science. In this article we will look at 9 cult science fiction novels that have already stood the test of time.

"Time Machine", 1895

The cult novel by the English writer H.G. Wells “The Time Machine” was published back in 1895. Wells first introduced the concept of time travel using a special device into science fiction. In fact, with his novel Wells gave birth to a separate genre of fiction, now known as chrono-fiction.

The plot of the novel tells about the fascinating journey of a scientist into the future, 800 thousand years later. The future population of the planet is divided into two types of post-human beings - the Morlocks and the Eloi, who are in constant hostility with each other. The new world is a kind of dystopia. Scientific and technological progress and modern capitalist society have led to the degradation of humanity.

Why it's worth reading: The novel "The Time Machine" is a cult science fiction novel, and the founder of the genre. It was in this novel that the idea of ​​time travel using a special machine was first considered.

"I, Robot", 1950

“I, Robot” is a collection of 9 science fiction stories by the famous science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. The work has had a great influence on modern science fiction literature. Of course, Asimov's collection can be called a cult one, because it served as the basis for hundreds of novels and stories about robots and their interaction with humans.

Humanity has created robots - faithful servants and reliable assistants in the future. However, the new mind has questions for its creators, and sometimes it even enters into an argument with them. How this will turn out for humanity, only time will tell.

"Fahrenheit 451", 1953

The dystopian novel by the famous American science fiction writer Ray Bradbury, “Fahrenheit 451,” has become an icon of the science fiction genre. The epigraph states that 451°F is the ignition temperature of paper.

The novel describes the future of a totalitarian society, which is based on consumer thinking. All books that make you think about life are burned. People who think outside the box and keep such books are criminals and are punishable by law. The main character of the novel works as a “fireman” and is engaged in destroying literary works. At the same time, he believes that he is doing his work for the benefit of humanity. But later, disillusioned with the ideals of society, he becomes a militia member and joins a group of marginalized people who memorize the texts of books in order to preserve them for posterity.

"2001: A Space Odyssey", 1968

“2001: A Space Odyssey” is the literary script of the film of the same name directed by Stanley Kubrick, which has become a classic of science fiction, and has been reworked into a novel. The novel tells the story of a series of encounters between people and mysterious black monoliths that influence the course of human evolution.

The crew of the space shuttle Discovery must explore one of these monoliths located in the orbit of Jupiter. Since by that time people had not yet made such long flights, it was decided to put the crew into a state of suspended animation, and entrust the flight to three crew members - two professional astronauts and the latest computer with artificial intelligence. Moreover, only the computer knew about the true purpose of the flight. Along this path, many unexpected discoveries await the main characters of the novel.

Why it's worth reading: In his novel, Arthur C. Clarke raises important questions about who we are and what place we occupy in the universe. Moreover, it would not hurt to read the basis of the film, which is regularly included in the list of the best science fiction films in history.

"Solaris", 1961

The science fiction novel by Stanislaw Lem describes the relationship between people of the future and the intelligent ocean of the planet Solaris. The action of the novel "Solaris" takes place in the distant future. The story is told from the perspective of Dr. Chris Kelvin. The novel has two storylines: Kelvin's stay aboard the Solaris research station and his exploration of the planet with the help of the scientific library on board the station.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979

The legendary ironic science fiction saga of the English writer Douglas Adams tells the story of the fascinating galactic adventures of Arthur Dent and Ford Prefect. One fine day, giant alien spaceships hovered over the Earth and announced that the planet was to be demolished and an interstellar highway would be built in its place. The only person who was lucky was the loser Dent, whose old friend accidentally turned out to be an alien. The saga consists of five novels, and in 2005, a feature film of the same name was made based on the first of the books.

"Neuromancer", 1984

William Gibson's novel Neuromancer is a famous work of science fiction that has won many famous literary awards. Gibson's novel is considered one of the best in the cyberpunk genre.

The world of the near future is immersed in virtual space, and human bodies are stuffed with high-tech devices. There are huge cities and giant corporations everywhere. The plot of the novel follows Case, a former hacker who has lost the ability to enter cyberspace. But one day, by chance, his abilities return, and meeting the mysterious Molly radically changes his life.

Why it's worth reading: In the novel, Gibson masterfully describes concepts such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, genetic engineering, and cyberspace long before they became popular in popular culture.

"Dune", 1965

The cult fantasy novel Dune is in some ways to science fiction what The Lord of the Rings is to fantasy.

Trapped on the desert planet Arrakis, the main character turns into a mysterious religious figure - Muad'Dib. He intends to avenge the murder of his father, for which he unleashes a revolution, during which he ascends to the imperial throne.

Roadside Picnic, 1972

Authors: Strugatsky brothers

The science fiction novel by the Strugatsky brothers was first published in 1972. The novel leads among other works of authors in the number of translations into foreign languages ​​(22 languages).

The story takes place on Earth, presumably in the 1970s in the town of Harmont, in a fictional English-speaking country. A few years earlier, six “zones” were formed in several places on the planet - areas in which aliens landed. The main character of the novel becomes a stalker and begins to make a living by taking artifacts with unusual properties out of the Zone and selling them for big money.

Why it's worth reading: a classic of Soviet science fiction that has received wide recognition both at home and abroad. Stanislaw Lem said in one of his interviews that the novel “Roadside Picnic” is one of the best science fiction works.

The list turned out to be very subjective. It took into account both the ratings of well-known reading portals and personal impressions after reading some of the works. Of course, it's not all great science fiction. So you can write in the comments what other novels you think should be on the list.

All people love to watch movies. Some people devote a lot of time to this, others not so much. But everyone has a love for this pastime. And why? Because films make us forget about everything around us for a while and immerse ourselves in another world.

But some people prefer dramas to comedies, and some prefer action films to science fiction. Why does everyone have their own opinion on film genres? The answer is simple, because we are all different, and we have different tastes. But let's try to analyze from a psychological point of view the fact why people like certain genres of cinema?

Let's start with mysticism. Type of viewer: “esoteric person.” People have always been attracted to something unknown. Remember traditional fortune telling on the eve of Christmas. Everyone wants to push back the thinnest veil between the present and the future, to discover new knowledge. Actually, this is what the genre of mysticism is built on. Even if what we are watching is just an invention of the creators, the feeling of discovering something mysterious, moving into the world of mystery and supernaturalness, gives the viewer satisfaction of curiosity and hunger for knowledge.

Thrillers. Horror. Viewer type: “extreme person.” This is a favorite topic of many people. There are several points of view on what exactly attracts a person to watch such films.

• The first says that if people have a routine life that reminds them of a swamp, then the desire for strong sensations increases. Therefore, some of them engage in extreme sports, while others watch horror films.
• The second point of view says that while watching a thriller a person is in nervous tension, and at the end of it we feel relaxed. Remember physiology? After tension, relaxation naturally occurs. And we feel a pleasant feeling that everything is fine with us, nothing threatens us, that our problems in life are just a trifle compared to what could happen (what we just saw in the film).
• The third tells that in such genres of films we find self-expression that we cannot achieve in life. For example, do you know what maniacs were like in everyday life? Quiet, modest, unnoticeable. But under the cover of darkness they changed their guise. It is possible that the same thing happens to ordinary people who love horror. In life they are cheerful and good, but all their negativity, the inner desire to be a predator or even a master over others, pours out at the moment of watching a thriller. Then the horror film becomes something like a sewer of emotions and again the person appears before us as cute. Just don’t be scared now and take everything personally, this is just a version. But it has the potential to exist. By the way, Western psychologists have established a direct relationship between watching negative and violent films and a person’s behavior in life.

But enough about the “chernukha”. Let's move on to more positive genres.

Fantastic. Type of viewer: “science fiction person.” This is a genre of bright colors and non-standard storylines. Such dreams in reality. Remember, Jules Verne wrote, at one time, a book of the fantastic genre, and decades later, some points from this book were actually realized in life. But in his time it seemed like fiction, in our time - reality. So it is quite possible that some of the stories embedded in current science fiction films will someday become reality. It’s interesting for a person to think about this, about how the world might change in the future, what kind of trace it will leave and how it will affect it in the future. All these questions occupy the inquisitive human brain, forcing them to think and fantasize. Do you think such a person will resist the opportunity to see the embodiment of his ideas (or others) in a visualized form?

Fantasy. Viewer type: “dreamer”. People who want to experience a real fairy tale, perhaps one they were read as children, will find what they are looking for in the fantasy film genre. To escape for a few hours from impending difficulties that are still difficult to overcome, besides, the happy ending of such films gives a charge of positive energy for life.

Drama. Type of viewer: “person-empath”. The genre seems to be close to real life, it would seem that what’s around you isn’t enough? Why watch about the same thing?

• Firstly, some people see negativity in these films, which makes them re-evaluate their own values. “Why am I so worried about problems at work, because all this becomes unimportant, for example, if a loved one dies (the idea of ​​the movie I just watched). The death of a loved one is a reason to be upset, but difficulties at work are not a reason! I can handle it, people are not yet then they worry."
• Secondly, when watching a movie, you involuntarily put yourself in the place of the hero and experience emotions with him. And here you feel compassion, accepting his pain, you become a true person. Drama is an opportunity to understand that you are not alien to other people's problems, that you are not an insensitive stump, the ability to empathize distinguishes a person from any other creature. Deep down, in the subconscious, your best qualities awaken.

Comedy. Type of viewer: "fun person". An opportunity to improve your mood, experience awkward situations with the characters and be glad that, after all, you weren’t the one who got into them. Again, think about how you could find a way out of this curiosity? Perhaps you can see yourself in the hero and look at your actions from the outside.

Detectives. Type of viewer: "human detective". Most likely, Sherlock Holmes is dormant in you. A passion for puzzles and finding the truth distinguishes fans of this genre.

Romantic melodramas. Viewer type: “idealistic person.” For many, such films are a motivator for success. Haven't found your love yet? Yes, it’s already on the way, just wait a little longer (like in the movie). Or, on the contrary, you need to act (the heroine in the movie found herself a husband through her own active work in this direction)! Besides, after such cute films you begin to believe that everything around you is not accidental, that there is fate, that there is true love, and that miracles will definitely knock on your door. And also that without bitterness you cannot feel the sweetness.

Adventure and action. Spectator type: "human fighter". From here we again take a charge of positive energy. Good conquers evil! And the dashingly twisted plot allows you to use the effect of surprise, thereby forcing us to experience the whole palette of emotions. From fright to relaxation. From tears to laughter. In addition, we often take our cues from heroes. Many men took martial arts courses after Jackie Chan “scattered” everyone with just a mop. And girls see heroines who are strong in spirit and body and also try to imitate them. Starting from practicing my own body (I want to be like her), ending with the lessons of everyday wisdom shown in the movies.

In conclusion, we note that many people still prefer Soviet films over Western ones. Why? Because these paintings are imbued with goodness. In the Soviet Union it was not customary to show bad things. They chanted “everything is fine with us, our people are the best, the most hardworking, honest, etc.”, but we are not talking about politics now, we are talking about the fact that this position of the state leadership gave a positive atmosphere. People grew up in an aura of goodness. And now, when there is so much negativity around, including on the screen, I really want to go back to that good time. That's why people love to watch those old movies.

But, whatever your tastes, we wish you to enjoy watching movies!

Thank you for your attention to the article.

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The genre of fantasy has been known since ancient times, but it gained particular popularity in the nineteenth century. The great classics of world literature, such as H.G. Wells and Howard Lovecraft, fascinated their contemporaries.

One worked in the genre of science fiction: wild animals turned into humanoid, creepy creatures in the mysterious “The Island of Doctor Moreau,” and a brilliant inventor managed to assemble a real time machine and go to the distant future, to the era of the decline of our civilization in the story of the same name.

Another immersed readers in the world of irrational fear, terrible ancient monsters, the great and powerful creature from “Call of Cthulhu”, and knew how to weave a bewitching web of madness, which to this day inspires authors of mysticism and horror. These people not only developed fantasy, but also paved the way for it: modern audiences often prefer works filled with impossible adventures and mysterious, inexplicable miracles.

Some people are still skeptical about works of this genre. Why should a modern person read science fiction? It blurs the boundaries between real experiences, conflicts, losses and things that are only possible in the vast human imagination. Bored routine, familiar pictures of the world and historical events inspire various writers to create something new, original and at the same time familiar, so that the reader can feel all the emotions of the characters and sympathize with them.

Science fiction gives you a chance to abstract yourself from reality and feel like an extraordinary hero, the chosen one, capable of saving the world from a terrible threat, or meeting a romantic alien, becoming the heroine of a romantic adventure. The genre has a huge number of branches so that anyone interested can find something that suits their taste.

Love for science fiction does not depend on age. Lewis Carroll's classic “Alice in Wonderland” is adored by many generations of adults and children. The girl who followed the white rabbit into the world of beauty and madness is still the ideal bedtime story. But in this literature there is also a place for highly rated serious works in which dragons and magic coexist with political intrigue, bloody wars and human cruelty. It is worth paying special attention to the recommended age for reading a particular novel.

A love of literature does not have to center on classical realism. Fiction gives the author the opportunity to talk about current issues through the prism of the incredible. Therefore, do not pass by: a huge list of various works and authors awaits you!

Reading books has always been a useful and very exciting habit. Thanks to reading, vocabulary and horizons develop, and imaginative thinking is formed. It is very important to instill a love of reading from an early age.

Unfortunately, teenagers nowadays read much less willingly. This is partly due to the seeming boringness of classical literature that is asked to read at school, and partly due to the changes that have come to the world along with information technology.

You can get a teenager interested and interested in reading with the help of science fiction. Nowadays, science fiction films and TV series are extremely popular, many of which are film adaptations of popular books. An interested teenager can open the book and immerse himself in the extraordinary world created by the author.

Reading has another unexpected positive effect, scientists recently discovered. During this process, the activity of our “gray matter” increases significantly, which serves as an excellent prevention of various diseases. This means that a reading child will not only be spiritually developed, but also more resistant to brain diseases.

Fantastic literature excellently develops abstract and imaginative thinking in teenagers, because while reading, pictures from the book spontaneously appear in their heads. Reading works of this kind encourages you to look at the world in a new way, to see familiar things from a different angle, to consider something that previously escaped your gaze. Teenagers who read science fiction become more creative than their peers.

It is a proven fact that many people who later became outstanding scientists or inventors had considerable interest in fantastic works in childhood and youth. Most inventions were inspired by devices or mechanisms described in one or another science fiction novel or story.

Also, reading science fiction will allow a teenager to escape from the problems and conflicts of the outside world, so to speak, to take a break from everyday worries and anxieties and, immersed in the enchanting world of a book, to feel like a pioneer of mysterious planets or an explorer of wild lands.

Thus, reading fantasy literature will help your child become even more developed and creative, cope more easily with the stresses of everyday life, and also go on many fantastic trips thanks to their own imagination.

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Incredible facts

Regardless of whether you like Harry Potter or despise films with such content, there is a psychological explanation for all of this.

Russell Webster, a doctorate in psychology at the University of Kansas, recently concluded that people experience fantasy films differently, which explains why some enjoy them more than others.

According to Webster's research, People engage in fantasy at varying levels of cognitive and emotional intensity, which helps determine how much they enjoy a particular fantasy book or movie. "There are many aspects to films like 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'Harry Potter' that attract people," says Webster. “Fantasy is the basis with which a person can “work”. You have a fantasy in which action, drama, relationships or something else later develops, all of which the person transfers to himself.”

For the study, Webster defined fantasy as a type of narrative (book, film, or work of art) that includes supernatural, unreal, or impossible aspects. This is different from science fiction, where phenomena often have explanations other than incredible power.

Webster conducted two experiments: one of them featured a written narrative, the other a visual narrative. In the first experiment, participants read a passage describing a sunrise and, after reading it, had to imagine themselves either watching it or flying towards it. In the second experiment, participants looked at one of the paintings (one of them depicted a person soaring in the sky, the other depicted a person sitting in a house). Accordingly, they were also asked to imagine themselves in the shoes of these people.

"We wanted to see if we could predict each person's subjective state of imagination," Webster explained. "We also assessed people's emotional state: how much they enjoyed what they saw, how immersed they were in what they saw or heard, and how they felt afterwards."

To better understand people's experiences, Webster also looked at two different personality traits: fantasy (where a person's dreams and fantasies are more active and more explicit) and absorption (where a person is more concerned with psychological tasks). The first trait, as a rule, describes what is happening in a person's head, while the second speaks about what is happening in his soul and heart.

People with a strong tendency to fantasize saw more vivid images, but their emotional involvement was not active. People who were characterized by absorption were more active, emotionally involved in what was happening, and were in a more positive mood at the end of the experiments.

“Pleasure comes from the heart,” Webster said. "It's also interesting that when some people reported seeing vivid images, it didn't necessarily indicate the same level of emotional involvement or how much they enjoyed the experience."

This explains why some people enjoy the fantasy imagery in The Lord of the Rings or other fantasy films, but cannot truly enjoy watching the movie.

The type of fantasy narrative (written or visual form) may also play a role in enjoyment. When reading, a person must put more effort into imagining the narrative than when imagining visual pictures. "Visual storytelling is much easier to digest in this case, especially when it comes to cinema, which has moving images, action and drama. So there is more than just a fantasy element."

Webster also found that even in situations that do not involve fantastical elements, people still insert their fantasies. For example, when participants in the first experiment were asked to simply imagine that they were watching the sun rise, they very often imagined flying towards it.

“This shows that people create their own experiences and their own fantasies, incorporating them into their daily lives through daydreaming.”