I write: Technology in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Writing Assignment – Technology in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Overview:

We’re back to the workshop again this week, this time thinking about the technology that exists in our created world, how it affects that world, and the people in it. But we’ve got to keep the tension up, so at least some of this technology creates an impending disaster.

A technology allowed to be taken to the extreme threatens to destroy our civilization: socially, politically, or physically.

1. What is the technology?
2. What is it that makes it such a threat?
3. What kind of character would be the most interesting to engage with the technology and save the world?

1. Implanting humans with the ability to interact telepathically
2. The original use of the tech was to turn human instinct and communication abilities into something that would make traditional communication devices obsolete – people could be taught to control who could reach them, or who they could reach at any given moment, but the basic idea was for people to use their innate abilities to contact others without outside technology. There are of course people who twist everything into something negative, learning to control other people’s minds rather than just communicating between people. There are groups of “scientists” who train each other to get into the thoughts of other people and control them.  These groups are becoming more and more common, and average citizens are finding themselves completing actions they don’t understand the reasons for. The world is shaping into something that is only advantageous for those who have developed this skill, and there are very few people who know how or why it’s happening so no one knows how to teach people to make it stop.
3. For some reason, one of the government scientists is unable to be controlled, though she can feel attempts. She’s been researching mind control in an effort to stop it from happening, but now that it seems to be an imminent danger, her research has become more important, and she has to continue the studies secretly, in order to avoid being discovered and make sure she doesn’t get removed from her position, and potentially society before finding a solution.