Q: Science Fiction

The science fiction type of entertainment is considered by most to be fathered by Jules Verne (A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea) and H. G. Wells (The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds). Sci-Fi, as it is commonly shortened, is a fictional story in which science and technology have a significant influence on the characters and plot. Many such works are guesswork about what the future holds and how scientific findings and technological advances will shape humankind.

Writing in the late 1800s, Jules Verne was remarkably successful in his 10 guesses about future technologies of air conditioning, automobiles, the Internet, television, and underwater, air, and space travel. Unbelievably, of all places from which to choose, Jules Verne guessed Tampa, Florida, USA as the launching site of the first project to the Moon, which was only 200 kilometers away from the actual 1969 location at Cape Canaveral, Florida.

One of the best-known science fiction books is Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. Published in 1949, it was not meant as a prediction, but as a warning: Orwell was describing what he saw as the outcome of the ideas, trends, and emerging technologies of his time. Many invented terms from this novel have become common in everyday use, such as "big brother" and "doublethink". Even the author's name has been made into an adjective--Orwellian--and has become a warning descriptor for situations where privacy is lost and the individual becomes sacrifice under a totalitarian government. Nineteen Eighty-Four was translated into sixty-five languages within five years of its publication, setting a record that still stands.

What helps bring science fiction into being is usually a new discovery or innovation. The author creates an analysis of the potential influence and consequences and then wraps it in a pleasant story. For example, the beginning of space exploration was followed a few years later by the Star Trek television program and movie series. Advances in genetics cause fantasies of the end of disease, horrors of eugenics , and thrillers where creatures disappearing long ago are brought back to life. The science fiction author's self-determined role is that of field glasses for humanity--searching the world of future possibilities upon the road which we are traveling.

Answer the following questions:
1. Are there considered to be three fathers of science fiction?
2. How many are there?
3. Who are they?
4. Which one wrote in the 1800's?
5. Was he successful in 12 assumptions about the future?
6. How many was he successful in?
7. Such as?
8. What is this genre's nickname?
9. Are many of the stories certain about what the future will be like?
10. Is there another famous writer of this genre mentioned?
11. Who?
12. What's his most famous book?
13. Was it put out in 1947?
14. When was it put out?
15. Is it only in English?
A: 1. no
2. Most consider there are 2
3. Jules Verne and H. G. Wells
4. Jules Verne
5. no
6. 10
7. air conditioning, automobiles, the Internet, television, and underwater, air, and space travel
8. unknown
9. no
10. yes
11. George Orwell
12. Nineteen Eighty-Four
13. no
14. 1949
15. no
Q: CHAPTER XI

THE MAN AT THE ASTOR

The duties of Master Pugsy Maloney at the offices of _Cosy Moments_ were not heavy; and he was accustomed to occupy his large store of leisure by reading narratives dealing with life in the prairies, which he acquired at a neighbouring shop at cut rates in consideration of their being shop-soiled. It was while he was engrossed in one of these, on the morning following the visit of Mr. Parker, that the seedy-looking man made his appearance. He walked in from the street, and stood before Master Maloney.

"Hey, kid," he said.

Pugsy looked up with some hauteur. He resented being addressed as "kid" by perfect strangers.

"Editor in, Tommy?" inquired the man.

Pugsy by this time had taken a thorough dislike to him. To be called "kid" was bad. The subtle insult of "Tommy" was still worse.

"Nope," he said curtly, fixing his eyes again on his book. A movement on the part of the visitor attracted his attention. The seedy man was making for the door of the inner room. Pugsy instantly ceased to be the student and became the man of action. He sprang from his seat and wriggled in between the man and the door.

"Youse can't butt in dere," he said authoritatively. "Chase yerself."

The man eyed him with displeasure.

"Fresh kid!" he observed disapprovingly.

"Fade away," urged Master Maloney.

The visitor's reply was to extend a hand and grasp Pugsy's left ear between a long finger and thumb. Since time began, small boys in every country have had but one answer for this action. Pugsy made it. He emitted a piercing squeal in which pain, fear, and resentment strove for supremacy.

Answer the following questions:
1. Does the main character have to work a lot?
2. What is his name?
3. What is his title?
4. What does he do in his free time?
5. About what?
6. Where did he get those?
7. Were they in good shape?
8. Did he pay full price?
9. Who shows up?
10. What does he say?
11. What does he look like?
12. Does he annoy him?
13. Why?
14. What does he ask?
15. What does he do afterwards?
16. Does he go anywhere?
17. Where?
18. Does he get up?
19. Where does he go?
20. Where does he get grabbed?
A:
1. no
2. Pugsy Maloney
3. Master
4. Reading narratives.
5. Life in the prairies,
6. A neighbouring shop
7. They were shop-soiled
8. No.
9. Mr. Parker
10. Hey, kid
11. Seedy
12. Yes
13. He resented stragers calling him "kid"
14. If the editor is in.
15. Called him Tommy.
16. Yes.
17. Towards the door of the inner room.
18. Yes
19. Between the man and the door.
20. His left ear.