Gadget Science Fiction
The presence of cyborgs, robot drones, mechanical beasts, master computer,
weapons of world-consuming destruction, or virtual space beings signal that you're either
reading or watching a science fiction thriller or that you need to seek "professional" help!
All these things are landmarks of gadget science fiction. With the introduction of an invention
or discovery, a science fiction writer transforms basic narrative reality into a strange new
dimension full of technological wonder. The intent of a gadget science fiction tale is not only to
provide thought-provoking entertainment but to make you, as the reader or viewer, examine
yourself in relation to technology. Some of the questions raised by this type of science fiction
include, but are not limited to, the following:
Is technology truly the answer to alleviating the troubles of
human existence?
Will technology eventually surpass its creators?
To what extent should technology be involved in our lives?
Will technology solve the problems that it creates?
To understand Gadget Science Fiction better, you should perhaps take a closer look at
some of the Gadget SF tales. Below are a few examples of such stories by prominent
authors in the SF field. If you wish to read more about these stories after reading
their summaries and analyses, you will be glad to know that all can be found within
The Norton Book of Science Fiction (1993),
edited by Ursula K. LeGuin and Brian Attebery.
"The Handler"
The story opens with Pete going into his favorite bar. Pete, is greeted by everyone
like he is a movie star. He goes on to tell jokes and everyone in the bar is having
a wonderful time. That is until the appearance of his handler. Pete stops moving and
his dinner jacket splits open in the back and out steps a small sweaty man who has
apparently been controlling Pete. The handler has stopped and stepped out for a beer
with everyone who he has been entertaining. Unfortunately everyone is disgusted with
his appearance and he causes several people to crowd for the door. When it is suggested
that he go back inside of the robot he obliges and everyone is happy again.
This story suggests that to these people technology is better than a real person.
They would rather see the handsome facade than the ugly little person inside controlling
everything. This story has been compared to politicians in today's
society. For example, the election of politicians is usually the election of someone who
society thinks should represent the society as a whole. Usually a charismatic, handsome person.
Today technology makes this comparison all the more salient. Television makes public
elections all the more so. But, society does not want to see the hard work that went
into making the issues, they want to see the handsome mouthpiece.
"Good News from the Vatican"
Good News from the Vatican is a science fiction short story about a robot elected
the Roman Catholic Pope.
This story is set far in the future when a Cardinal robot has been elected as the
Roman Catholic Pope and the Vatican is a computer. The story is about several people
who are discussing the candidacy and the ultimate election of the robot. They feel that
technology is loyal to itself and that flesh and blood people are being replaced and
controlled by the technology that they invent. But they, at the end, are accepting of
Pope Sixtus the Seventh and resigned about what the changes his election means.
This story implies that the future of technology is that it will reign supreme over human
intellect. The figure of the Pope is symbolic as the last word in all policy making
of the Catholic Church. If the last word is a computer, then what hope have humans in
the making of their own destiny?
"The Private World of Private Jacob"
The Private War of Private Jacob is about a young man who is unsuspecting of the plans
the army has for him.
At first this story seems as if it is set in the present because during battle the
soldiers use a lot of hand to hand combat. But, the sophisticated weaponry being
used at some points lets the reader know that we are in the future. The story is
about a young soldier in the army who doesn. This story explores how technology
could be used in the future to create an inexhaustible supply of upper military
officers without having to train them. This story illustrates how important warfare
and winning at war are to society. The society depicted in this story wants to win
this war so badly they are willing to change soldiers lives by forever altering their
personalities to suit combat. How far are we as a society willing to go to create
the perfect soldier?
"The Life of Anybody"
The Life of Anybody is a science fiction work about a couple caught on camera by the
television show, "The Life of Anybody."
SheckleyThis story is symbolic of the way in which television controls and changes lives.
The couple depicted in this story did not do anything before they were caught on camera.
Afterwards, their boring episode on television forced them to see themselves as they were,
couch potatoes. The transformation they went through is symbolic of how technology can
change us through subtle ways. Like news programs that show aspects of people?
"...Machine Sex"
(Learning About) Machine Sex is a science fiction about a woman who is convinced that
machine sex will ultimately replace the need for human love and contact.
This story is about Angel, a computer genius who has been mistreated for most of her life.
She has had stints as a teenage prostitute, a drug addict and alcoholic. She is rich
because of her computer genius and she has a new invention. A computer that simulates
sexual experiences and orgasm. In a depressed state, she goes back to the ranch where
she grew up and has a drunken conversation with one of the ranch hands. She ends up
showing him her new invention. He is disgusted with it, fearing the implications that
technology will replace human contact. She counters with the argument that human contact
only leads to hurt and frustration. He tells her that technology will never replace love.
She tells him that he is wrong. Both of them have the notion that as long as the real
thing exists the machine she has created will never sell. They are both wrong.
Molly Gloss (no links, so far)
"Interlocking Pieces"
Interlocking Pieces is short fiction about a woman who has lost her cerebellum and is
awaiting a transplant from a donor. She goes to find her donor and thank him for his brain.
Teo is an Asian woman in the future who is awaiting a transplant of a cerebellum.
She has asked her donorShe goes to his room to visit him and they have a short conversation
about the delicacies of cerebellum transplanting and their respective lives. When the
guards come to get her back to her room, it has become apparent that they both have made
peace with the procedure. This story tries to ask us how far do we go with technology?
Are we willing to trade one life for another? Are we willing to merge personalities
and physical traits to save lives?