For the scientific properties of rubber in the real world, see Rubber.
Rubber science is a science fiction term describing a quasi-scientific explanation for an aspect of a science fiction setting. Rubber science explanations are fictional but convincing enough to avoid upsetting the suspension of disbelief. Rubber science is a feature of most genres of science fiction, with the exception of hard science fiction. It is also frequently invoked in comic books.[1][2]
The term rubber science was coined by Norman Spinrad in his essay "Rubber Sciences", published in Reginald Bretnor's anthology The Craft of Science Fiction (1976).[3] Rubber science was Spinrad's term for "pseudo-science ... made up by the writer with literary care that it not be discontinuous with the reader's realm of the possible."[4] In "Rubber Sciences," Spinrad proposed eight rules of rubber science to write plausibly about future technology:
Explanations must feel scientifically correct and have internal consistency.[3]: 58
Principles used for plot purposes must be planted in the reader's mind long before they are used as plot elements.[3]: 58
Concepts shouldn't be over-explained; a theoretical basis is sufficient.[3]: 59
When creating a new science, authors should pay attention to how established sciences evolve.[3]: 59
Interfacing two or more existing sciences will create a plausible new science.[3]: 61
Plausibility can be lent by systematizing terminology and relating it to existing human knowledge by choosing words for metaphorical resonance.[3]: 61
Rubber science can be solidified with believable hardware.[3]: 62
Rubber science can "contribute to the dialectic of scientific evolution"[3]: 62 as a tool for intellectually exploring the unknown.[3]: 64
Usageedit
The term and concept have been adopted by science fiction writers to describe science based on "speculation, extrapolation, fabrication or invention."[5]
In their writing guide On Writing Science Fiction, George H. Scithers, Darrell Schweitzer, and John M. Ford cite Spinrad's rules for rubber science as a way to "play fair with the reader," building a background logically from a minimum of assumptions, and focusing on the consequences of those assumptions rather than the assumptions themselves.[6]
Science fiction author Poul Anderson references Spinrad's concept of rubber science in his article "On Imaginary Science". Anderson prefers the term imaginary science to avoid plagiarizing Spinrad. He divides imaginary science into three types of usage: routine use, where the concepts are taken for granted; loose use, where concepts are treated for their own sake but without rigor; and brilliant use, where the implications of concepts are deeply explored. Anderson reiterates Spinrad's requirement that authors using rubber science know real science and avoid violating it unless they are conscious of what they're doing and what it means.[7]
Star Trek: Voyager script consultant Andre Bormanis used "the so-called rubber science or the very speculative, consistent with reality" when he was unable to find scientific explanations "based in fairly well-established real science".[8]
Some science fiction authors have used the term disparagingly. Bill Ransom associates rubber science with science fiction of the 1940s and 1950s, an era marked by "lots of cool gadgets," before "the genre became more character driven" under the influence of writers such as Frank Herbert and Samuel Delany, focusing on humans rather than technology solving dilemmas.[9]Lucius Shepard, responding to a negative review by George Turner, decried the suggestion that he "haul a gob of rubber science out of the vat in order to justify and explain [his] physics".[10]Ann C. Crispin considered Star Trek's rubber science to be a forgivable flaw.[11]
Reviewers have used the term to praise deft or plausible scientific explanations,[12][13] and to criticise underdeveloped or distracting worldbuilding;[14] for instance, a Washington Post review criticized Orson Scott Card's novel Xenocide for its "chapter long dialogues about rubber science".[15]
^Scithers, George H.; Schweitzer, Darrell; Ford, John M. (1981). "Science: The Art of Knowing". On Writing Science Fiction. Owlswick Press. p. 141. ISBN0913896195.
^Crispin, A.C. (May 5, 2011). "The Wall Comes Down in Space: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country". Tor.com. Retrieved August 11, 2013.
^"The Uprising". Kirkus Reviews. LXXXI (12). June 15, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
^Benford, Gregory (1996). "In the Wake of the Wave". In George Edgar Slusser; Gary Westfahl; Eric S. Rabkin (eds.). Science Fiction and Market Realities. University of Georgia Press.
^"The Bar Code Prophecy". Kirkus Reviews. LXXX (20). October 15, 2012.
^Suillivan, Tim (September 29, 1991). "Worlds Without End". The Washington Post.
December 07, 2023
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For the scientific properties of rubber in the real world see Rubber Rubber science is a science fiction term describing a quasi scientific explanation for an aspect of a science fiction setting Rubber science explanations are fictional but convincing enough to avoid upsetting the suspension of disbelief Rubber science is a feature of most genres of science fiction with the exception of hard science fiction It is also frequently invoked in comic books 1 2 Contents 1 Coinage 2 Usage 3 See also 4 ReferencesCoinage editThe term rubber science was coined by Norman Spinrad in his essay Rubber Sciences published in Reginald Bretnor s anthology The Craft of Science Fiction 1976 3 Rubber science was Spinrad s term for pseudo science made up by the writer with literary care that it not be discontinuous with the reader s realm of the possible 4 In Rubber Sciences Spinrad proposed eight rules of rubber science to write plausibly about future technology Explanations must feel scientifically correct and have internal consistency 3 58 Principles used for plot purposes must be planted in the reader s mind long before they are used as plot elements 3 58 Concepts shouldn t be over explained a theoretical basis is sufficient 3 59 When creating a new science authors should pay attention to how established sciences evolve 3 59 Interfacing two or more existing sciences will create a plausible new science 3 61 Plausibility can be lent by systematizing terminology and relating it to existing human knowledge by choosing words for metaphorical resonance 3 61 Rubber science can be solidified with believable hardware 3 62 Rubber science can contribute to the dialectic of scientific evolution 3 62 as a tool for intellectually exploring the unknown 3 64 Usage editThe term and concept have been adopted by science fiction writers to describe science based on speculation extrapolation fabrication or invention 5 In their writing guide On Writing Science Fiction George H Scithers Darrell Schweitzer and John M Ford cite Spinrad s rules for rubber science as a way to play fair with the reader building a background logically from a minimum of assumptions and focusing on the consequences of those assumptions rather than the assumptions themselves 6 Science fiction author Poul Anderson references Spinrad s concept of rubber science in his article On Imaginary Science Anderson prefers the term imaginary science to avoid plagiarizing Spinrad He divides imaginary science into three types of usage routine use where the concepts are taken for granted loose use where concepts are treated for their own sake but without rigor and brilliant use where the implications of concepts are deeply explored Anderson reiterates Spinrad s requirement that authors using rubber science know real science and avoid violating it unless they are conscious of what they re doing and what it means 7 Star Trek Voyager script consultant Andre Bormanis used the so called rubber science or the very speculative consistent with reality when he was unable to find scientific explanations based in fairly well established real science 8 Some science fiction authors have used the term disparagingly Bill Ransom associates rubber science with science fiction of the 1940s and 1950s an era marked by lots of cool gadgets before the genre became more character driven under the influence of writers such as Frank Herbert and Samuel Delany focusing on humans rather than technology solving dilemmas 9 Lucius Shepard responding to a negative review by George Turner decried the suggestion that he haul a gob of rubber science out of the vat in order to justify and explain his physics 10 Ann C Crispin considered Star Trek s rubber science to be a forgivable flaw 11 Reviewers have used the term to praise deft or plausible scientific explanations 12 13 and to criticise underdeveloped or distracting worldbuilding 14 for instance a Washington Post review criticized Orson Scott Card s novel Xenocide for its chapter long dialogues about rubber science 15 See also editTechnobabbleReferences edit Peter Coogan Randy Duncan amp Kate McClancy Winter 2009 The CAC Report Comic Con Magazine 22 Retrieved August 21 2013 Bliss Pam April 12 2010 Hopelessly Lost But Making Good Time 108 Sequential Tart Retrieved August 21 2013 a b c d e f g h i j Spinrad Norman 1976 Rubber Sciences In Reginald Bretnor ed The Craft of Science Fiction New York Harper amp Row pp 54 69 ISBN 0060104619 Spinrad Norman September 9 2010 A Critic at Large in the Multiverse Norman Spinrad p 22 ASIN B0042JT3MQ Benford Gregory 1989 01 29 Rubber Science Real Science and Science Fiction Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2011 05 26 Scithers George H Schweitzer Darrell Ford John M 1981 Science The Art of Knowing On Writing Science Fiction Owlswick Press p 141 ISBN 0913896195 Anderson Poul April June 1979 Baen James ed On Imaginary Science Destinies Ace Books 1 3 310 313 Bischoff David February 1995 Star trek Voyager Omni 17 5 82 Friedrich Brionna May 12 2013 What if Sci fi and poetry natural to Grayland writer The Daily World Retrieved August 11 2013 Shepard Lucius 2010 A Letter from Lucius Shepard In Damien Broderick ed Skiffy and Mimesis More Best of Australian SF Review Second Series Borgo Press p 212 ISBN 978 1434457875 Crispin A C May 5 2011 The Wall Comes Down in Space Star Trek VI The Undiscovered Country Tor com Retrieved August 11 2013 The Uprising Kirkus Reviews LXXXI 12 June 15 2013 Retrieved August 21 2013 Benford Gregory 1996 In the Wake of the Wave In George Edgar Slusser Gary Westfahl Eric S Rabkin eds Science Fiction and Market Realities University of Georgia Press The Bar Code Prophecy Kirkus Reviews LXXX 20 October 15 2012 Suillivan Tim September 29 1991 Worlds Without End The Washington Post Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rubber science amp oldid 1187720537, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
