The Science of Science Fiction

December 12, 2016
In this intriguing addition to the Inquire and Investigate series, Wood explores the science behind cloning, time travel, and other science fiction staples. A nifty timeline contrasting real-world developments with their pop culture predecessors (such as smartwatches and Dick Tracy) sets the stage for discussions of robotics, genetics, astronomy, and the theory of relativity. Comics, sidebars, and experiments offer a variety of approaches to the topics (such as using a microwave and chocolate bar to calculate the speed of light), and QR codes provide links to supplemental online resources. It’s an engrossing look at how science and fiction converge and diverge. Ages 12–15.

February 1, 2017

Gr 6 Up-Blockbuster hits like Star Wars and Jurassic Park have plots, settings, and technology that could exist only in the far distant future. But as science advances and new discoveries are made, fantastical sci-fi technologies might be closer to reality than one may think. This title compares fictional stories with real-life scientific breakthroughs, including artificial intelligence, cloning, space travel, and beyond. Older examples such as H.G. Wells's The Time Machine and more contemporary movie releases like 2015's The Martian are cited. After presenting a work of sci-fi and its fictional aspects, the author uses information and theories about the subject to explain how possible or impossible it is presently and in the future (for instance, the chances of humans traveling to Mars or cloning a woolly mammoth). Accompanying the main text on each page are additional facts, photos, and short comics infused with a bit of corny humor. Each of the six chapters ends with a section of projects and discussion questions that make for great student interaction or homework assignments.

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