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Readers need more novels about real science
Editor's Note: This story was originally printed with the title "The Mad Scientist Myth"
Scientific American staff editor Mark Alpert is author of Final Theory, a thriller about high-energy physics that will be published by Touchstone in June.
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15 Comments
Add CommentWhat about Indiana Jones or the paleontologist from the Jurassic Park movies? They certainly aren't bent on world domination. Mr. Alpert gives scientists in films and novels far too little credit. Even the Professor on Gilligan's Island was the voice of reason as well as the fount of knowledge. By ignoring the vast array of scientists in literature and films, Mr. Alpert sets up a straw man to knock down to make his point. For those of us involved in the science of rhetoric, it is recognized as one of the oldest tricks in the book.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI happen to know a great physicist and personable man called Professor Geoffrey Chew [Berkeley US]. Geoffrey is now 84 and is still actively working on quantum cosmological theories. He is a perfect candidate for a work of 'faction'. Geoffrey started his career at Los Alamos, a controversial topic in its own right. Today he expounds theories that attempt to unify the scale of measurement ['space-time slices'] from the nana-subatomic to the vast cosmological level. Geoffrey is a great fan of Feynman paths! He recognises that string theory has had its day. Anyway I shouldn't really be speaking for him, but if you want to know more, please feel free to e-mail me : anna@cosmic-cherry.com or call my UK cell : 07817 046996. Best wishes
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnna Cherry
You don't seem to have looked very hard for these novels. The only science fiction you mention is Wells' and then you dwell on his protagonists who were antisociety. One has to wonder if something is wrong with your sampling mechanism? Consider either E. E. Smith or George O. Smith, both of whom portrayed scientists in the most positive light, such as Richard Ballenger Seaton or Sir Austin Cardynge. Even today it is almost impossible to pick up an issue of Analog without finding at least one story/novel segment that depicts scientists in a positive and reasonably accurate light.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTry "Zig Zag" (by José Carlos Somoza). This is a string theory novel at its best, with many physicists at the forefrunt of the action. It has the intrigue of a Dan Brown novel mixed with the science of Hawking and Brian Greene. You can read the prologue here: http://qgeek.blogspot.com/
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey didn't mention the Crichton books because he doesn't agree with their views on environmentalism - therefore he is now a pariah.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe lab lit website (lablit.com) features many novels and other fictoinal writing on a scientific theme, often (but not always) by scientists.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOne recent best-seller is The Swarm by Frank Schätzing.
And, more recently, A Version of the Truth by Jennifer Kaufman & Karen Mack; The Gift: Discovery, Treachery & Revenge by Jon Kalb; and The Expeditions by Karl Iagnemma.
See Nature's book-review section for other examples of fiction/science books.
alan lightman's novels, "einstein's dreams" and "good benito" are excellent books about scientists.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCheck out "Stem Cell Symphony" on amazon.com for a quasi-true tale of how iPod music activates neural stem cells. Written by a scientist/science writer. Me. Ricki Lewis
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI highly recommend you look at "Stem Cell Symphony" on Amazon.com. It has a solid grounding in science and how scientists have to deal with various elements of society.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe scientist is made a invention to show the talent for people. The teen scientist is coming and show their talent. They need some topic to show the real scientist. Not your everyday science fair with exploding volcanoes of baking soda or test tubes filled with colored water, this competition requires high-school students to present research, which must have an altruistic application, in front of a judges' panel of scientists, engineers and educators.
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Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIn Studio 360, a biologist had similar thoughts about problems of representation of scientists -- but the mad scientist stereotype was not even the biggest problem he saw. http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2008/01/25/segments/92136
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