Science fiction in real life was discussed at the National Centre RUSSIA
The meeting
"Literary Club. Paradoxes of the Fantastic and the Real," dedicated
to science fiction, was held on February 20 at the National Centre RUSSIA as
part of a new educational project. The lecture became part of the large-scale
program of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future," which
will take place at the National Centre RUSSIA in October. Yevgeny Kharitonov,
head of the Centre for Humanitarian Projects and Research at the Russian State
Library for Young Adults and chairman of the Council for Science Fiction and
Adventure Literature of the Union of Writers of Russia, spoke about iconic
books and films of the genre, as well as the influence of science fiction on
modern science.
The speaker
reflected on the paradoxes of the film industry, how Soviet cinema once
surpassed Hollywood, and how science fiction serves as inspiration for modern
scientists and researchers, including Elon Musk.
In a
dialogue format, participants discussed how real life shapes fantastic plots
and how science fiction influences our reality. According to Yevgeny
Kharitonov, the predictions of science fiction writers are not prophecies but
rather the result of broad observation and extensive reading.
"Science
fiction writers are people who follow the development of scientific thought a
little more closely than others. Scientists are also dreamers, but they are
sometimes limited by their field of responsibility. However, those who feel
constrained within real science expand its boundaries by turning to science
fiction," noted Yevgeny Kharitonov.
The writer emphasized that many technologies, which are now an integral part of modern life, were first described in science fiction. These include wireless phones and headphones, video communication, social networks, and much more. Sometimes even children's literature is ahead of its time.
"Lewis
Carroll, who wrote many fairy tales, in his work "Sylvie and Bruno"
described the thing that is now an integral part of our lives. One of the
characters in the book says that letters lack special symbols to express
laughter, anger, or a smile. In this way, the writer predicted the appearance
of emojis," said Yevgeny Kharitonov.
Another
striking example is Nikolai Nosov’s fairy tale novel "Neznaika in the Sun
City" ("Dunno in the Sun City" in some translations.)
"A
unique prediction that cannot be overlooked. The writer could have patented the
invention he described. In the story, Neznaika encounters an unfamiliar small
machine that moves around the room from wall to wall, buzzing continuously.
This was a description of a robotic vacuum cleaner, which is now found in
almost every home," noted the writer.
Yevgeny
Kharitonov also spoke about Soviet cinema, which not only inspired Hollywood
but also influenced modern inventors. For example, Elon Musk admitted that the
idea for the two-stage Falcon 1 light launch vehicle came to him after watching
the 1959 Soviet film "The Sky Calls."
In its third season, the project received more than 15,000 entries from every region of Russia and other countries.
The message highlights the special role of the media in shaping society's spiritual and moral values.
