The Poison of Misinformation: Analyzing the Use of Science in Science Fiction Novels, Including an Original Short Story
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Date
2015-12
Authors
Piazzola, Clara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis was to read a variety of science fiction novels and
understand how the science progresses each novel. For the novels Creature by Peter
Benchley, The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton, Dune by Frank Herbert, and
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi, I considered the role of science in relation to plot
and character development. For Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton, I analyzed the
creativity that the author used with science in addition to the role science played in the
novel. For Jaws by Peter Benchley, I researched the accuracy of the science used and
determined that the majority was accurate. With all of these analyses in mind, I created
a template to guide authors in writing science fiction. Finally, I wrote my own science
fiction short story, titled "Poison."
Description
78 pages. A thesis presented to the Department of Biology and the Clark Honors College of the University of Oregon in partial fulfillment of the requirements for degree of Bachelor of Science, Winter 2015.
Keywords
Creative Writing, Science, Science fiction, Marine biology, Literature analysis, Scientific accuracy, Public education, Jaws, Jurassic Park