Reality Ahead of Schedule: How Science Fiction Inspires Science Fact

Description

Review BOOKLIST Science fiction starts with science and extrapolates possibilities. But how, and how often, does science fiction influence the course of science and technology? Levy does an admirable job of teasing apart this relationship by exploring the history of science fiction and tracing the origins of many ideas which came to dominate science over the years: H.G. Wells envisioned the atom bomb and tanks, for example; credit cards were predicted in a work written in 1888; and Star Trek gave us ideas for 3D printing, telecommunications, and health apps. In some cases, science fiction explores scientific ideas before they enter the mainstream. In others, people who grew up on science fiction work to make those stories a reality. Much of what Levy illuminates is already well-known but there are some surprising connections here, too. Most notably, he argues that telepresence (as portrayed in the movie Avatar) belongs to the evolution of videophones. He presents information in an accessible and engrossing way, highlighting manyforgotten classic works of science fiction. This work should appeal to anyone who's interested in the history of science, technology, and science fiction.  — John Keogh YA/S: High school and even advanced middle school readers with an interest in science fiction and technology will appreciate this accessible book. JK. Read more About the Author JOEL LEVY is a writer and journalist specializing in science and nature. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including A Curious History of Mathematics, Really Useful, and Newton's Notebooks. He has also written features and articles for major national media and has appeared on numerous national television and radio shows. Read more