Science Fiction
Both proponents and critics often point to science fiction stories as the origin of exploratory engineering. On the positive side of the science fiction ledger, the ocean-going submarine, the telecommunications satellite, and other inventions were anticipated in such stories before they could be built. On the negative side of the same ledger, other science fiction devices such as the space elevator may be forever impossible because of basic strength of materials issues or due to other difficulties, either anticipated or unanticipated. Or, like the submarine, it may prove not to be; in recent years – after their appearance in science fiction.
Read more about this topic: Exploratory Engineering
Famous quotes containing the words science and/or fiction:
“Religions die when they are proved to be true. Science is the record of dead religions.”
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
“The society would permit no books of fiction in its collection because the town fathers believed that fiction ‘worketh abomination and maketh a lie.’”
—For the State of Rhode Island, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)