Blurring the Line Between Fantasy and Science Fiction

Fantasy and Science Fiction are lumped together on the bookshelves, but they are clearly distinct. Science Fiction is usually a fanciful prediction of the future and fantasy is sheer escapism. Probably every science fiction author’s dream is to be an accurate prophet of future technology. How does our mental picture change when Lord of the Rings predicts future technology?

What am I talking about? There have been a number of efforts in the recent news to use animals, either in robot or cyborg form, as spies:

Cyborg Moths Robot flies

As you may recall, the Fellowship of the Ring had to hide from a flock of birds that it feared to be spies of Saruman. In the very near future, you may either be comforted or terrified to know that ‘Big Brother’ is watching over you through the eyes of the animal kingdom.

This entry was posted in future, science fiction. Bookmark the permalink.