The Lure of Discovery (part 4)

Science fiction often has familiar themes that are balanced with themes that are new to us. It is difficult for a reader/audience to be thrown completely into an unfamiliar world where nothing is similar to our reality, though some authors (such as William Gibson) are quite skilled at testing these boundaries. It is important to have a balance, however, or the reader/audience might become overwhelmed with the new information and will give up on trying to become immersed in an unfamiliar world that they can’t relate to. However, if the world is too familiar, or even exactly the same as our reality, it is easily predictable and will likely be held to a much higher level of scrutiny if it deviates from reality in even a small way. Science fiction is a delicate balance to achieve, but when the ingredients are mixed correctly, it can stimulate the imagination in profound ways.