Re: Sci-Fi aliens [was RE: Sticky Ideas needed.]

From: Eugen Leitl (eugen@leitl.org)
Date: Thu May 16 2002 - 07:22:44 MDT


On Tue, 14 May 2002, Edmund Grech wrote:

> I think that any sci-fi author in tv, film, novels, or otherwise who
> relies upon technology too much, or as the central point of the plot,
> is generally lacking in imagination, or simply hasn't got the

The point is that they can't apply technology consistently (even within a
single scene, nevermind across the series). Even minor advances like huds
and telepresence completely change the culture and the visible
environment, to the point that the bulk of viewers would be in "Huh?" mode
most of the time, and thus unable to track the plot.

This is especially applicable for technologies which break the assumption
that humanity is a constant.

> priorities of a story straight. I would except this in cases where the

The assumption is that the producers realize that they're creating fairy
tales for a modern audience, using technology as a backdrop.

> technology described (not in detail) applies to a use or possibility
> not before encountered or suggested.



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