What will be humanity’s next step? This question has been addressed by every science fiction writer in the genre’s history. The predictions made by these writers in their fiction are usually based upon the current state of politics in the time in which they are writing, with some of the most famous works coming in the time following World War II at the height of the Cold War. Some write of a bright future, where all of the world’s nations have unified into one government and humans have become very technologically advanced and may be expanding out into the dark unknown of outer space. Others write of a more dystopian future complete with some form of nuclear holocaust or governmental corruption. An author’s view as to which of these directions
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Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut are two science fiction writers that have expressed both of these predictions in their writing. Bradbury articulates his views in “A Sound of Thunder,” a short story, and The Martian Chronicles, a novel. Through these stories, Bradbury includes elements of both good and bad futures. Kurt Vonnegut, perhaps most well known for his historical satire Slaughterhouse-Five, also has something to say about humanity’s future in his short story “Harrison Bergeron” and in his first novel Player Piano. Ray Bradbury’s and Kurt Vonnegut’s stance on the future is expressed through the story elements, tone and themes of their science fiction works. In his short story, “A Sound of Thunder,” Ray Bradbury shows optimism for the future. “A Sound of Thunder” was originally published in 1952 and became one of Bradbury’s most famous works. The story begins with the main character, Eckels, reading a sign that says “Time Safari, Inc. Safaris to any year in the past. You name the animal. We take you there. You shoot it,” (“A Sound…” …show more content…
The characters explain that a man named Keith, who is presumably a traditional democratic/republican president, won the election against Deutscher, a dictator. One man says, “We’re lucky. If Deutscher had gotten in, we’d have the worst kind of dictatorship. There’s an anti everything man for you, a militarist, anti-Christ, anti-human, anti-intellectual,” (“A Sound…” 1). By including this political statement, it implies that Bradbury believes that the United States will continue democratically in the future and will avoid dictatorship. This optimism for humanity, both technologically is a common thread in Bradbury’s science fiction. Terry Heller confirms this notion in Magill’s Survey of American Literature saying, “The dominant thematic note in Bradbury’s fiction is a kind of hopefulness for humanity,” (Heller). Although Bradbury is generally positive about the future, he mixes it up a little in his praised novel The Martian
Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut are two science fiction writers that have expressed both of these predictions in their writing. Bradbury articulates his views in “A Sound of Thunder,” a short story, and The Martian Chronicles, a novel. Through these stories, Bradbury includes elements of both good and bad futures. Kurt Vonnegut, perhaps most well known for his historical satire Slaughterhouse-Five, also has something to say about humanity’s future in his short story “Harrison Bergeron” and in his first novel Player Piano. Ray Bradbury’s and Kurt Vonnegut’s stance on the future is expressed through the story elements, tone and themes of their science fiction works. In his short story, “A Sound of Thunder,” Ray Bradbury shows optimism for the future. “A Sound of Thunder” was originally published in 1952 and became one of Bradbury’s most famous works. The story begins with the main character, Eckels, reading a sign that says “Time Safari, Inc. Safaris to any year in the past. You name the animal. We take you there. You shoot it,” (“A Sound…” …show more content…
The characters explain that a man named Keith, who is presumably a traditional democratic/republican president, won the election against Deutscher, a dictator. One man says, “We’re lucky. If Deutscher had gotten in, we’d have the worst kind of dictatorship. There’s an anti everything man for you, a militarist, anti-Christ, anti-human, anti-intellectual,” (“A Sound…” 1). By including this political statement, it implies that Bradbury believes that the United States will continue democratically in the future and will avoid dictatorship. This optimism for humanity, both technologically is a common thread in Bradbury’s science fiction. Terry Heller confirms this notion in Magill’s Survey of American Literature saying, “The dominant thematic note in Bradbury’s fiction is a kind of hopefulness for humanity,” (Heller). Although Bradbury is generally positive about the future, he mixes it up a little in his praised novel The Martian