Books

Frankenstein | Foundation | Dune | Neuromancer

Summaries of some influential novels and a brief exploration of their central themes.

Frankenstein

Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley and is widely considered to be the first science fiction novel. Published in 1818, the story is told in the form of letters sent by Robert Walton to his sister. Robert is captain of a ship travelling to the North Pole. He meets Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who tells Robert of his construction of a creature from the parts of corpses, which he then animated in an attempt to learn the secrets of life and death. Victor rejects the monster he has created and it seeks revenge, by destroying people that Victor cares about. Victor vows to destroy the creature and tracks it north, eventually encountering Robert. After the death of Victor Frankenstein, Robert finds the monster that Victor created mourning his death. Feeling remorse and suffering the pain of loneliness, the creature travels further north into the Arctic to die alone.

Written during a period of rapid advances in science and technology, the novel Frankenstein reflects both the optimism and ambition some expressed and the concerns of many regarding the possible dangers. Themes explored within the novel remain relevant today. For example, in discussions related to the ethical questions regarding genetic engineering and artificial intelligence. The narrative also provides insights into aspects of psychology, such as the nature of identity, mental health and the impact of isolation. The creatures search for meaning and connection will resonate with many people today, while the failure of Victor Frankenstein to recognise potential consequences of his work and take adequate responsibility has real world parallels. During the more than two hundred years that have passed since it was first published, Frankenstein has influenced artists, writers and filmmakers, becoming part of the cultural fabric of society.

Foundation

The novel Foundation was the first book in the Foundation series. It was written by Isaac Asimov and began as a series of short stories, that were compiled into a novel and published in 1951. The narrative depicts a time thousands of years in the future, when humans have colonised the galaxy and established a Galactic Empire. A mathematician called Hari Seldon has developed psychohistory, a discipline that uses mathematical analysis of human behaviour and history to predict large scale future events. Hari has calculated the empire will fall, but that by following his plan the period of consequent chaos could be reduced from 30,000 years to 1,000 years. On the planet Terminus, a Foundation of scientists, mathematicians and scholars from various disciplines is established, to preserve human knowledge. The Foundation overcomes economic, political and military threats from remnants of the empire, to become a powerful force in the galaxy.

During the period Foundation was written, the second world war had recently ended and the cold war had begun. Parallels could be drawn between the rival powers in the novel’s imagine future and real world events taking place at that time. Psychohistory draws upon the tendency for human history to go through cycles, shaped by predictable aspects of human behaviour at large scales and the impact of science, technology and the belief systems people follow. The novel explores themes related to social structures, decision making, leadership and the nature of free will. Foundation has influenced science fiction and research into real world disciplines such as futurology. Statistical data used to build models cannot predict individual behaviour, but might be able to predict group level trends, economics and geopolitics, informing decision making. Preservation of information for future generations resonates with current concerns regarding the temporary nature of digital information.

Dune

Published in 1965, the novel Dune is set thousands of years in the future and is the first in a series of books set in a universe that humans have colonised. The main events of Dune take place on the desert planet Arrakis, source of Melange, a spice that is key to space travel. In a feudal society, powerful families fight for control of Arrakis. Duke Leto Atreides is established by the emperor as ruler on Arrakis, but House Harkonnen overthrow his house. Duke Leto is killed, while his wife Jessica and son Paul escape into the desert, where they encounter the Fremen, humans who have adapted to life on the planet, where water a precious resource. Paul joins the Fremen. They begin to believe he is a messiah, who will lead them to freedom, which he does in a violent uprising that leads to the deaths of billions.

Themes found within Dune reflect issues that were of global concern during the 1960s, when it was written. These include human rights, geopolitical power, the environment and the power of visionary leaders to influence human behaviour. The central character, Paul Atreides, undergoes the archetypal heroes journey. The product of a selective breeding programme run by a religious order called the Bene Gesserit’s, he posses latent powers, reflecting contemporary interest in genetic engineering and human potential. Use of artificial intelligence has been banned in the universe of Dune, due to concerns that are currently being widely discussed. The fight to control Melange parallels contemporary competition for natural resources on Earth. The exploration of power dynamics and conflict in society through world-building has inspired many writers and film makers. On a personal level, Dune looks at relationships between people, power, ideology, free will and the nature of the human condition.

Neuromancer

Written by William Gibson, Neuromancer was a formative influence within the science fiction genre named cyberpunk. Published in nineteen eighty-four, the novel contrasts the harshness of the real world in an imagined future with advanced technology and cyberspace. The central character Case is a hustler, who had been a skilled operative within a virtual data realm termed the matrix, but after stealing from an employer had his ability to access it removed. Molly, who has cybernetic enhancements, approaches Case with a job offer, on behalf of a former military officer called Armitage. As payment, Case has his ability to access the matrix restored, but if he fails to complete the job it will be reversed. Case and Molly undertake their mission, which takes them on a journey through the real world and cyberspace, where they encounter conspiracies, competing forces and the artificial intelligences Wintermute and Neuromancer.

The interest in personal computers and the early Internet was growing during the nineteen-eighties, as were concerns about the power of corporations and the dehumanising impact of technology. Within the novel, technology was far more integrated into daily life than was then the case, but in our society today we are closer to that imagined world and issues it raises becoming reality. Themes that resonate with modern audiences include blending reality with virtual worlds, the global power of corporations, the influence of artificial intelligence on our lives, what it means to be human and the merging of humans with machines. Concepts explored in Neuromancer influenced not only science fiction writing, movie making and video games, but also real world science and engineering. Terms used in Neuromancer have entered common usage. The novel also influenced the perception of technology, such as the Internet, virtual reality and artificial intelligence.