Ten billion tomorrows : how science fiction technology became reality and shapes the future / Brian Clegg.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Clegg, Brian, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Science fiction--History and criticism.

Science fiction.

Science fiction films--History and criticism.

Science fiction films.

Science fiction--Influence.

Literature and technology.

Science and civilization.

Science--Popular works.

Science.

Physical Description:

x, 307 pages ; 22 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, N.Y. : St. Martin's Press, 2015.

Summary:

"An exciting new book about real-life technology derived from science fiction and its impact on the world"-- Provided by publisher.

"Science fiction is a vital part of popular culture, influencing the way we all look at the world. TV shows like Star Trek and movies from Forbidden Planet to Inception have influenced scientists to enter the profession and have shaped our futures. Science fiction doesn't set out to predict what will happen - it's far more about how human beings react to "What if?..." - but it is fascinating to see how science fiction and reality sometimes converge, sometimes take extraordinarily different paths. Ten Billion Tomorrows brings to life a whole host of science fiction topics, from the virtual environment of The Matrix and the intelligent computer HAL in 2001, to force fields, ray guns and cyborgs. We discover how science fiction has excited us with possibilities, whether it is Star Trek's holodeck inspiring makers of iconic video games Doom and Quake to create the virtual interactive worlds that transformed gaming, or the strange physics that has made real cloaking devices possible. Mixing remarkable science with the imagination of our greatest science fiction writers, Ten Billion Tomorrows will delight science fiction lovers and popular science devotees alike"-- Provided by publisher.

"What if ... ?" It was the starting point for intelligent computers, force fields, ray guns and cyborgs. Discover how science fiction has excited us with possibilities, whether it is Star Trek's holodeck transforming gaming, or the strange physics that has made Harry Potter's invisibility cloak all but possible. Clegg shows how science fiction and reality sometimes converge, sometimes take extraordinarily different paths.

Contents:

Through a glass, darkly

Blue pill or red pill?

Buy me

Feel the Force

Rossum's children

Dinosaur construction

Suit up

Ray gun ready

Take me to your leader

End of the world, part three

Atom world

Beam me up

Destination Moon

It's good to talk

Cyborg

Engage cloaking device

Open the pod bay doors

Never-ending story.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [277]-293) and index.

ISBN:

9781250057853

125005785X

OCLC:

898419050

Online:

Cover image