On August 23rd, NASA announced a new deal with Tor/Forge books to produce a line of commercial “NASA-inspired fiction.” Partnering researchers and engineers with established writers, NASA hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists.
“Many people who work in science and technology often credit science fiction as a significant inspiration for their career choices,” the press release from NASA read. “The enormous popularity of science fiction is a key element in this collaboration to make the books a gateway to the general public and generate awareness of the significant role NASA plays in our everyday [lives].”
Meanwhile, Tor founder Tom Doherty commented: “When I was a boy, books by Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein and their colleagues excited me, inspiring a lifelong fascination with space and the science and technology that would get us there.”
Science fiction matters. Despite its former rep as a genre for basement-dwelling nerds, movies like Star Trek and Star Wars have long inspired teenagers to look to the stars and imagine life on other worlds. Novels like Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game and KA Applegate’s Animorphs novels taught teenagers to grapple with serious ethical questions. And books like Neal Shusterman’s Unwind and Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies left us imagining the tremendous (and sometimes terrifying) impact of today’s technology on tomorrow’s world.
Why, if you’re a teenager who loves science fiction, you might go on to change the universe.
. . . oooor maybe you won’t.
I was a big sci-fi geek. I donned a rubber alien head one Halloween and went out dressed like a Newcomer. I tried to teach myself Ferengi. And I inhaled every science fiction novel I could get my hands on, from books by Anne McCaffrey and Larry Niven and Frederick Pohl.
Back in the mid-90s, life wasn’t fair to sci-fi fans. The few shelves dedicated to literature for teenagers had plenty of dragons and vampires, but few spaceships. But let’s face it. Life has often been rough on fans of SF. Just ask Ray Bradbury:
I might not have become a scientist, but my love of sci-fi still transformed my life; I became a sci-fi writer! That’s why I’ve been so excited to watch the recent growing renaissance in science fiction for teenagers. From Divergent, to Delirium, Across the Universe to The Knife of Never Letting Go, teens have more options in SF than they ever have before—and every week brings awesome new titles and better new ideas.
But there have been few places where YA sci-fi readers could converge to talk about the books they love.
At the Intergalactic Academy, we agree with NASA. Science fiction matters! We hope you think so, too. We can’t wait to talk about books with you, from those with terrifying technology set in our own backyards to novels set on distant, alien worlds. Next week, we’ll kick things off with a discussion of post apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, a retrospective on the Animorphs series, and a review of Nick James’ The Pearl Wars. So stick around! Fall in love with the Future!
Maybe this will inspire more “hard” YA sci-fi. I’ve always wanted to read a book featuring a more realistic space-faring civilization, where exploring our own solar system is the focus and the technological hurdles of space travel are dealt with seriously.
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I’d be interested to see “hard” sci-fi for teenagers–I don’t think I ever have!
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If I ever finish the current fantasy I’m working on (or if I can take a break between books somehow) I’ve had a SF novel kicking around my head for years. It’s like the French revolution in space, with ballerinas. I kind of wish I was kidding about the ballerinas, but what can you do? Zero-g is just BEGGING for dancers.
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All I can say is that that sounds AMAZING. I actually read a book with space dancers that I loved years ago called The Merro Tree. You might like it.
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If I could give you a standing O, I would. (Sadly, co-workers already think I’m a spaz, so I’ll refrain). Anyway, this is hopeful, inspiring news! And the site is beautiful! Well done, honey.
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Aw, you should let your spaz-flag fly, Tee.
But thanks so much! I’ve been meaning to tell you how much I love litstack, by the way. Hooray for new projects!
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Looking forward to this. I must say that the only Sci-Fi I’ve read is ACROSS THE UNIVERSE and THE SPARROW (the latter changed me). I watch it more than read it. Not sure why, but possibly because so much world-building is required…and those books take a large chunk of my time.
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I keep hearing good things about The Sparrow–must read it! I agree that a lot of worldbuilding-heavy SF can feel a bit . . . stuffy. But there are some great books coming out over the next year or so that promise to be a little more lively. Hopefully we’ll help you find some good SF to read!
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I love Sci-Fi (it’s a new love, originated from the new Star Trek movie, but I maintain it’ll be a long-lasting one
), and so this blog makes me all kinds of excited.
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Yay for any type of Trek inspiring SF love! (I would not be a SF fan today were it not for the fact that I grew up watching my father watch the borg blow up shit.
) Glad to have you aboard!
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I think this is great news! Proves that science fiction has and can continue to be the mother of invention (or at least an aunt!!)
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I’m fairly sure I owe Andre Norton my love for space adventure. The bounteous possibilities of new worlds, new species, and not know what you’ll find – just so much fun. “Catseye” remains one of my all-time favourite novels.
The books of the new wave haven’t quite captured my attention – I just struggle too much to believe how these dystopian worlds have come into being. But I’m all for hearing about any space adventure out there.
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Andre Norton! She brought my mother to sci-fi, too. Hopefully we’ll bring some great SF works to your attention, Andrea.
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Great idea for a blog. Over the past few years most SF has moved from books to movies, but unlike film makers, a writer can budget a hundred million bucks worth of special effects on every page
Our imagination is the only limit.
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Nicely put, Simon.
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I’ve never been able to write any YA SF that I like! Good thing there are other people doing a great job in this genre.
I did an interview with Karen Sandler on my blog back in April; her debut YA novel, Tankborn, is out this month from Tu Books (Lee & Low). The interview is at http://angelicarjackson.blogspot.com/2011/05/please-welcome-karen-sandler-to-world.html if anyone wants to check it out.
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Thanks so much for the link, Angelica! We have Tankborn slated for review at the end of the month. Looking forward to read it–and your interview.
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I’ll look forward to your review, also–I haven’t actually read the book! Karen didn’t have any ARCs yet when I interviewed her, but Tankborn sounds intriguing.
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