Wednesday, September 5, 2012
So, after reading these sci-fi short stories by Chiang I am curious whether the short story is indeed the perfect format for a science fiction work. It seems that a short story allows the author to create a believable world while providing as little background story as necessary. The introduction of some fantastic technological advancement can be handled in a few sentences, whereas a full-length novel may require a more in-depth explanation. A short story also lets the author present whatever sort of ethical or philosophical question or lesson in a compact story without the need for an extensive narrative with sub-plots and dozens of side characters. What are you guys thoughts on this? Is sci-fi better presented as a short story, novella, novel, TV series, movie, game, or some other format?
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I really love short stories for science fiction, because short stories usually have more questions than answers. The author is able to create a world and a dilemma and then focus in on that issue without including a bunch of extraneous subplots. A short story gives you a lot to think about in a compact story, but don't over-explore the ideas.
ReplyDeleteTV shows also tend to work very well for science fiction- think of how on Star Trek the characters might discover new life and new civilizations in one episode and then start on an entirely new planet in the next. Each week we're introduced to a new technology or society and all of the benefits and problems that go with it, but it's in a compact 30-minute story. TV is an especially good medium for telling long and short stories simultaneously- for example, Doctor Who tends to have individual episodes that can stand alone, but also overarching plots that span entire seasons.
I think that it really is dependent on the author's writing style. It seems Chiang excels at capturing an entire world with new ideas and making them fit almost seamlessly into the short story format. Not only does he do an excellent job presenting moral issues in such a short space, he also manages to engage the reader and immerse them into his other worldly creations. So, the short story fits Chiang's style. But that does not necessarily mean that it is the "perfect" and only media to portray science fiction. I've read several science fiction novels where the authors were able to reach the same goal, but on a lengthier scale. I feel like trying to assign a perfect format for science fiction is about as equally difficult as trying to decide on one specific definition.
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on what you want to do with the story. If your goal is to describe a series of events in detail or show a character's change over time, then a longer novel works better.
ReplyDeleteIf we're talking more about what Chiang is trying to do, quickly get across a new world and make people think about it, then a short story may work better. A short story doesn't give all the answers, so the reader has to speculate on their own.