Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer! - Posts Tagged "science-fantasy"

Authors who delve into futuristic worlds to write Science-Fiction might start the process by considering “what if” questions.  They speculate about scientific ideas and then ask how people in the future might be affected by new events.  Of course action and adventure permeate the genre by writers who spin “space cowboy” stories.  I believe that there is more to speculative fiction than spaceships and scary aliens in gunfights.  I call my own type of work "science-fantasy" because futuristic skills might resemble magic even though the evolved talents are based in science.
 
Recently television and movie producers flock to the “X-Men” idea of genetic mutations that create people with fantastic abilities without explaining the science behind the particular changes.  This is understandable, ideas that sell are exploited.  Previously Trekkies explored the universe with Captain Kirk and his crew, meeting humanoids on exotic planets and facing alien threats.  Regardless of the current trend, wild settings and situations spring from the creative minds of futuristic writers.
 
My own science-fantasy series began when I contemplated a series of “what-ifs” relating to the pursuit of immortality.  What if an intelligent species could “host” the minds of elders to retain knowledge and wisdom?  What if human scientists invented equipment to “transfer” a mind into its clone and achieve unending life?  What kind of future would these conditions generate?  What kind of unintended consequences might develop?  How do people react to the problems?  How do they fight for control over their own lives?



Situation #1.  A canine species on Earth develops intelligence and a complex social network through communication by telepathy.  
 
Ancestors of modern wolves and dogs formed into packs that worked together using expressions, body postures, and vocal signals to hunt prey and warn the group of danger.  Mental abilities eventually progressed to enhance this communication, and formed an intelligent community of telepaths.  They hosted dying members of the pack to preserve knowledge.  What if human scientists discovered this ability and decided to exploit the animals to achieve human immortality?  Survival of the species made it necessary for the pack to establish a new colony on another planet with the help of sympathetic human friends.  Their story is told in “The Alphas, Prequel to “Howl of the Wolf”.

 
















Situation #2.  Scientists develop “Transfer” of minds into clones.
 
Organ transplant surgery developed into an ordinary method of saving lives, including the idea of cloning a human to obtain needed vital organs without rejection.  An accident during a typical surgery promulgated a new invention that eliminated surgery.  What if the human mind could be electronically transferred into its own clone?  Four scientists on Earth developed Transfer and changed the trajectory of society.  Their invention led to virtual slavery.  Individuals were forced to work off debt to the Institute that handled the mundane work associated with the scientists’ technology.  When the men running the Institute deemed the inventors dangerous to their monopoly of Transfer, the scientists needed to save their own lives by escaping. 
 
Dr. Alexander was a telepath with strong empathy for his patients.  By helping to develop Transfer, he eradicated disease and saved patients who suffered painful deaths.  After learning of an assassination plot against him, Alexander fled from the Institute on the medical spaceship Zebulon with a crew led by Captain Donovan.  Dr. Alexander soon discovered that each successful Transfer enhanced the talents of his patients, evolving into fantastic abilities.  Their story of survival on the feudalistic planet Drako, aided by a society of telepathic wolves is told in the “Heirs to the Throne” trilogy.
 


The next series is coming:

Three other scientists were involved in the invention of Transfer.  Dr. Jerome, Dr. Stewart, and Dr. Hartman each fled in different directions, seeking interesting societies that offered sanctuary.  What if these men learn about a new threat to the human race?  It becomes necessary for the four brightest minds in civilized space to band together once again to protect life.  They cannot involve the Institute, a corrupt organization that controls government,  for their own safety. 
 
Who are these men?  Where did they hide for the past three decades?
 
An expert in genetics, Dr. Jerome helped correct fatal birth defects in the clones of Transfer patients.  Upon escaping from the Institute he took refuge on Lydia, a water-world developed by oceanographers to study aquatic species.  Ninety percent of the world is covered by oceans and floating cities support the human population.  The genetic talents of Dr. Jerome are employed to develop an aquatic humanoid species to dwell in underwater cities.  He learns about the cataclysm that made it necessary to flood Lydia and stave off the Swarm, alien creatures who almost killed the beautiful planet.
 
A psychiatrist specializing in astral projection, Dr. Stewart settled on the desert planet called Klaatu.  Robotics became the prime industry on the planet, using materials mined nearby to produce plasteele.  Humans on Klaatu survive under a plasteele dome living in ultra-modern skyscrapers. With astral projection techniques Dr. Stewart’s teaches people to project their minds into the brains of robots.  The method used is similar to  Transfer. His work combines psychiatry and technology in a fashion that suits his meticulous temperament.  He discovers that robots might be critical in saving humanity from the devastation caused by the Swarm.
 
An expert in artificial life-support systems, Dr. Hartman fled into the Dark Zone where he built a successful business servicing spaceships and trades in contraband.  He is one part pirate and three parts mechanic, able to brawl with rowdy customers and flaunt technical skills needed to design ground-breaking equipment in a heartbeat.  He operates Space Station Kubrick protected by a team of feline warriors with ninja skills that surprise unwise attackers.  His life-support systems might tip the balance as they fight the Swarm.
 
More developments will be published in this blog.  Click Science-Fantasy to look at the previous books.    Take a journey with us into the stars.