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Science Fiction into Science Fact?
Selanit asks: "I'm a student of English literature at the University of Colorado, in Boulder, with a pronounced interest in all things tech as well. Next term I'll be taking an Independent Study course which combines the two -- the topic will be 'Influences of Science Fiction on Real-World Tech.' The professor and I are still trying to assemble a reading list. So here's my question: what science-fiction novels have had a particularly noticeable effect on the development of technology? I'm mainly interested in books that have been written since World War II. The line of inquiry is not limited to computers; any kind of link between sci-fi and hard tech will do (e.g. Cap'n Kirk's communicator == prototype mobile phone). Books that have lent a name to a technology are also interesting (like the 'Little-Endian, Big-Endian' terms which were lifted from Gulliver's Travels, or 'Babel Fish' from Douglas Adams)."
Do your own assigment.
We would still have nuclear submarines without Jules Verne. Don't even think of giving credit to Verne for nuclear warships. He wasn't that good, and you are taking credit from whomever the real inventors happened to be.
Just because they named the fucking thing Nautilus has ZERO to do with the underlying technology.
There are zero science fiction writers who are scientists. There are some scientists who write science fiction.
Just because he came up with an idea in a book doesn't mean he "invented" anything. The guy who invented the waldoe was the guy charged with manipulating nuclear material, but decided if he did it with his hands, he'd die.
Science fiction writers are not scientists. Some scientists write science fiction.
Of course EVERYTHING that has ever happened was predicted in the writings of either Nostradamus or [INSERT YOUR FAVORITE RELIGIOUS TEXT HERE]. :-) :-)
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