Naturalistic science fiction

"Naturalistic science fiction" (NSF) is a term created by the Re-imagined Battlestar Galactica co-creator Ronald D. Moore to describe that show's aesthetic. NSF is meant to be a realistic take on the SF genre, with its roots in drama rather than adventure tales. It eschews science-fiction staples such as one-dimensional characterizations, clear-cut conceptions of good and evil, so-called "technobabble" (technical-sounding terms that have mostly been made up), and "deus ex machina" approaches (in which a seemingly intractable problem in the plot is solved using a previously-unknown technical capability). In the case of episodic drama like the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica, there is also more of an effort at continuity - the events in one episode have visible effects in subsequent episodes, unlike other science-fiction shows in which episodes are more stand-alone. Naturalistic SF combines elements of "soft" science fiction (where characterization is of prime importance) and "hard" science fiction (where plausible technical accuracy is preferred). Fundamentally, it is a drama with sci-fi elements.
== Ron Moore's Essay on NSF ==
== Analysis of NSF Principles in the Show==
===Characters===
For the new Battlestar Galactica series, naturalistic science fiction means that characters are more three-dimensional, complete with flaws, neuroses, and even addictions. There is an attempt to stay away from stereotypical archetypes in science fiction or adventure stories such as the "smoking chauvinist," "loyal soldier," "heroic lead," "spiritual commander," Spock-type alien, or "whiz-kid genius."
The characters change over time, showing different facets of their personalities: President Laura Roslin begins the first season cautious and rule bound; by the second season she has ordered that a high-ranking military member be assassinated and attempts to steal an election . The Cylons, who in the beginning are out simply to destroy humanity, later have a change of heart, feeling guilty about the destruction they have brought about, and decide simply to enslave them .
As a general rule, the characters of Battlestar Galactica are not carbon copies of character archetypes found in other TV science fiction. For example, instead of the "lovable, irascible doctor" like Dr. McCoy on Star Trek, Major Cottle is arrogant and rude to his patients.
====Counterpoints and aired contradiction====
Some characters in Battlestar Galactica do act like cliched sci-fi characters, though. Starbuck, as the rude and cocky pilot, fills a well-known archetype, similar to Han Solo of Star Wars. Still, there are more facets to her personality than that: from the beginning she is plagued with guilt about her role in the death of Zak Adama, and later her flying skills are perceived to have atrophied as a result of alcoholism and apathy (although Solo is also flawed with sheer recklessness, a passion for gambling, and distrust). Other characters occasionally fill in stereotypical sci-fi character staples; for example, Adama is reminiscent of the general gruff military officer staple, and the Cylons are (albeit superficially) similar to other fictional robot races, such as the machines from Terminator and The Matrix, which are also machines that rebel against their human creators and take on human form.
===Technology===
Technology is far enough advanced for star travel to be possible (see: FTL travel) and plausible, yet every other aspect of Colonial technology is humbly realistic. Instead of using technology such as Star Trek transporters, people need to be physically shuttled between ships on smaller craft like Raptors. Fanciful ship defenses, such as photon torpedoes, shields and cloaking technology do not exist. Ships instead rely on point defense batteries, hull plating and stellar anomalies to foil enemy DRADIS and defeat their enemies.
Energy weapons such as Star Trek's phasers and photon torpedoes are replaced with ordinary projectile weapons and Earthly mass-destruction ordnance: guns, bullets and nuclear bombs. Other SF "deus ex machina"-style comparatively fanciful technologies are avoided entirely or replaced with technology more in line with what's seen in modern life on Earth today. When the Fleet runs out of water, Galactica is forced to search for a planetary body that has water . Technology looks familiar to the viewer, from the phones to computer screens to the bathrooms. 
Much like Aaron Doral notes in the opening of the Miniseries, form follows function when it comes to the ship designs. Galactica is designed as a battle cruiser / aircraft carrier in space; the hull is lined with armor plating, strengthened by structural ribbing and insulated from external explosions by internal structures such as water tanks . The command center of the ship, the CIC, is buried deep within the ship and protected from any attacks, unlike Star Trek Federation starships, whose bridges are openly exposed at the top-center of the ship on most classes, as few are technically designated for war. Also unlike Star Trek, in which starships could be involved in battles and suffer near crippling damage, only to appear pristine in the next episode, Galactica's damage remains consistent throughout the series. She starts out with no battle damage, and is suffering from hull breaches and burn marks by the end.
Many Colonial civilian ships are spaceborne variations of ships you may see in the air or at sea in the real-world Earth. Colonial One is designed to be a jetliner in space and is set up similar to a real world passenger airliner with rows of seats separated into various classes down the fuselage, cramped airplane bathrooms, windows with pull down shades, cargo bays in the ship's underbelly and private cabins for VIPs. 
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction====
A seemingly large violation of this rule is Laura Roslin's sudden cancer cure in "Epiphanies," and tied in with that, the ability of Cylons and humans to conceive children such as Hera, given the unlikely blend of Cylon physiology to human physiology and the Cylons' continued use of silica pathways in humanoid Cylons (this is illustrated on copies of Aaron Doral and Leoben Conoy at Ragnar Anchorage). The "naturalistic science fiction" concept clearly applies more to Colonial technology than to Cylon technology, which is much more advanced.
===No "Deus Ex Machina" Concepts=== 
Characters like Colonel Tigh are annoyed by endless technobabble. Complex procedures needed to further the plot are often explained in context to the episode in simple and down-to-earth terms, if they're ever explained at all.
When technology is mentioned, it is typically analogous to something found on the real-world Earth. Terms such as "stims," "morpha," "DRADIS" and "wireless" have somewhat-familiar real-world counterparts.
Galactica and its Fleet have to be creative with the very limited resources in the Fleet. They cannot barter with other civilizations (as there aren't any) or make parts with "replication technology." They have a limited supply of everything: fighters, ammunition, food, water, and people. Specialized crew members, such as pilots and doctors, are in even shorter supply. In Battlestar Galactica world, they don't have a home-base or a parent government: What they are and what they have is literally visible in every episode--and everything is wearing or running out. This is can be seen in the deteriorating conditions of Galactica's Vipers, which began the Miniseries in pristine condition, but, through extended use, all now have significant battle damage, burns, scars, scrapes and dents; several have been damaged beyond repair .
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction====
Again, Roslin's cancer cure by Gaius Baltar suggests a sudden and undesirable use of the deus ex machina tactic to further a plot line (the survival of the child later known as Hera). Also, Boomer is often involved in unlikely scenarios that further the Cylon aspect of her character, the discovery of water and tylium just a few examples of this phenomenon. 
===Space is big...and lonely===
There are no "planet-of-the-week" episodes. The Fleet does not encounter a new planet or culture every week as is typically done in episodes of Star Trek and Stargate (or to a certain extent the 1978 Original Series). The universe remains so big as to appear almost empty, with the odds of meeting other intelligent beings (excluding, perhaps, remnants of the Thirteenth Tribe) practically nil. Many Battlestar Galactica episodes primarily focus on internal Fleet survival issues ("Water," "Bastille Day," and "The Hand of God").
Humanoid or other intelligent life (save that of the Fleet's nemesis, the human-created Cylons) does not exist, as almost all of the encountered planets will be mostly uninhabitable and lifeless.
The characters do speak of animals from the now Cylon-occupied Colonies, and they share most of the names we use in the real-world Earth: for example chickens, dogs, cattle, and cats existed on their worlds. Socinus notes while on that he is able to listen to the birds in the trees for the first time since the Cylon attack . A dog, Jake is seen on New Caprica in "Occupation"; it presumably came with passengers on the Fleet.
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction====
Whether intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe, and whether it is in fact common, has long been a controversial issue, and a matter of speculation. At the moment, there is no way to know whether the "naturalistic science fiction" approach to exterrestrial life is in fact the accurate one.
===Storytelling and music===
Battlestar Galactica avoids the thematic elements found in Star Trek. The series has a documentary-style, cinema verite visual feel and tribal music that stands in contrast to the more standard orchestral overtures used in Star Trek, Star Wars, and the original Battlestar Galactica.
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction====
Arguably, several ceremonies conducted on the show were appropriate times for traditional Western martial overtures or marches (TRS: Miniseries, "Act of Contrition," "Pegasus"), and they could have been used based on the parallels between the Colonial Fleet and modern armed forces; given this, their exclusion may be a loss of authenticity for some.
== External Links ==
*Hard Science Fiction
*Ron Moore's essay on naturalistic science fiction as it related to Battlestar Galactica.
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