Everything Everywhere Daily: History, Science, Geography, & More The History of Science Fiction
Feb 9, 2026
A brisk tour of science fiction’s roots from ancient satire to Kepler’s lunar tale. It traces Frankenstein’s scientific spark, 19th century proto‑SF, and Verne’s gadgetry. The narration moves through pulps, the Golden Age icons, New Wave rebels, and cyberpunk. It closes on how sci‑fi reshapes imagination and real‑world inventions.
15:23
Science Fiction As Idea Generator
- Science fiction explores imagined futures and transformed presents driven by speculative science or rational inquiry.
- Gary Arndt emphasizes SF's dual role as story and idea-generator that influences real-world thinking.
Proto-SF Reaches Back Centuries
- Early works like Lucian's True History and Kepler's Somnium show proto-SF stretching back centuries.
- Kepler's Somnium stands out for grounding fantastical travel in contemporary science and commentary.
Frankenstein As Genre Watershed
- Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is widely seen as the first true science fiction novel because it used scientific means to create life.
- Gary Arndt highlights its themes of scientific hubris and creator responsibility shaping the genre.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Defining Science Fiction
02:55 • 1min
What Science Fiction Examines
04:18 • 15sec
Early Speculative Narratives
04:33 • 27sec
Lucian's True History
05:01 • 30sec
Kepler's Somnium as Proto‑SF
05:31 • 43sec
17th Century Speculative Works
06:14 • 44sec
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
06:58 • 1min
19th Century Proto‑SF Authors
08:15 • 48sec
Jules Verne and Hard SF
09:03 • 1min
H.G. Wells' Speculative Social Science
10:10 • 1min
Pulp Era and Gernsback
11:15 • 1min
Golden Age and the Big Three
12:26 • 55sec
New Wave and Later Movements
13:21 • 50sec
Science Fiction's Real‑World Impact
14:11 • 2min
Outro
16:06 • 28sec
#935
• Mentioned in 39 episodes
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
In 'Invisible Man,' Ralph Ellison tells the story of a nameless black protagonist who navigates the surreal and often hostile world of 20th-century America.
The novel begins with the narrator living in an underground room, reflecting on his life and the various ways he has experienced social invisibility.
He recounts his journey from a small Southern town to Harlem, involving experiences with racism, a brutal 'battle royal,' and his involvement with the Brotherhood, a civil rights group.
The narrative delves into themes of identity, power, and the struggle for self-definition in a society that refuses to see him.
Through his experiences, the narrator grapples with the complexities of being a black man in America, ultimately leading to a profound exploration of invisibility and the search for one's true self.
#2399
• Mentioned in 19 episodes
Time Machine
John Prince
H. G. Wells
Ken Marulis
Sabrina S. Beidler
H. G.
Wells' 'The Time Machine' follows an inventor who travels to the distant future and discovers a society divided into two distinct groups: the Eloi and the Morlocks.
The Eloi are beautiful but passive and indolent creatures living on the surface, while the Morlocks are subterranean workers who maintain the machinery that sustains the Eloi.
The Time Traveller gradually realizes that the Morlocks are exploiting and preying upon the Eloi.
The novel explores themes of social class, evolution, and the potential consequences of technological progress.
It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked advancement and the importance of maintaining a just and equitable society.
#20004
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
First Men in the Moon
H. G. Wells
In 'The First Men in the Moon', H. G. Wells crafts a tale of adventure and discovery as two men, Mr. Bedford and Mr. Cavor, journey to the Moon using a gravity-defying substance called Cavorite.
Upon arrival, they encounter the Selenites, an insect-like civilization living beneath the lunar surface.
The novel explores themes of exploration, societal structure, and human nature.
It is both a fantasy of space travel and a satire of turn-of-the-century Britain.
#7140
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
The Island of Dr. Moreau
H.G. Wells
The novel follows Edward Prendick, a man who survives a maritime disaster and is rescued by a ship.
He is eventually left on an island where he encounters Dr. Moreau, a scientist notorious for his vivisection experiments.
On the island, Prendick discovers that Moreau has been conducting bizarre experiments to create 'Beast Folk' by genetically modifying animals to give them human-like characteristics.
The story delves into themes of evolution, ethics in science, and the nature of humanity, highlighting the moral and societal implications of Moreau's experiments and the eventual collapse of his creations' adherence to the laws imposed upon them.
#6458
• Mentioned in 8 episodes
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
Jules Verne
The book follows Professor Otto Lidenbrock, an eccentric German scientist, his nephew Axel, and their Icelandic guide Hans as they venture into the Earth's interior through a volcanic tube in Iceland.
Along their journey, they encounter numerous dangers, including cave-ins, underground oceans, prehistoric creatures, and other extraordinary phenomena.
The novel blends Victorian science with innovative concepts, making it a landmark in the science fiction genre.
#45227
Five Weeks in a Balloon
William Lackland
Jules Verne
Jules Verne's 'Five Weeks in a Balloon' follows Dr. Samuel Fergusson, his servant Joe, and his friend Richard Kennedy as they journey across Africa in a specially designed balloon named the 'Victoria'.
The novel combines adventure, exploration, and scientific speculation.
The trio encounters various landscapes, cultures, and dangers as they navigate the uncharted territories.
Verne's detailed descriptions of geography, meteorology, and ethnography make the story educational and engaging.
The narrative reflects the spirit of exploration and scientific curiosity prevalent during the 19th century.
#20760
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
The Blazing World
A New History of Revolutionary England
Dr Jonathan Healey
#570
• Mentioned in 55 episodes
Neuromancer
William Gibson
Published in 1984, 'Neuromancer' is a seminal work in the cyberpunk genre.
The novel revolves around Case, a skilled hacker who was once the best in his field but was crippled by his former employer after he tried to steal from them.
Case is recruited by a mysterious employer named Armitage for a high-stakes mission that involves hacking into the highly secure systems of the Tessier-Ashpool family.
Joined by a diverse group of allies, including the cyborg Molly and the performance artist Peter Riviera, Case must navigate the complexities of cyberspace and the real world to merge two powerful artificial intelligences, Wintermute and Neuromancer.
The book explores themes of technology, identity, and the blurring of lines between the physical and virtual worlds.
#44321
The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall
Onlyart Books
Edgar Allan Poe
In 'The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall,' Poe crafts a tale of adventure and satire as Hans Pfaall, a bankrupt bellows-mender, devises an ingenious plan to escape his creditors by traveling to the moon in a revolutionary balloon.
The story is notable for its blend of science fiction and social commentary, reflecting Poe's early influence on the genre.
Originally published in 1835, it was intended as a hoax but showcases Poe's imaginative storytelling and scientific knowledge.
#8119
• Mentioned in 6 episodes
From the Earth to the Moon
Eleanor E. King
Lewis Mercier
Jules Verne
Published in 1865, 'From the Earth to the Moon' is a pioneering science fiction novel by Jules Verne.
It follows the Baltimore Gun Club as they embark on an ambitious project to send a projectile to the Moon.
The novel is notable for its scientific accuracy and imaginative storytelling.
The story concludes with the launch of the projectile, leaving the fate of the astronauts uncertain until the sequel, 'Around the Moon'.
#533
• Mentioned in 58 episodes
The War of the World
Niall Ferguson
#33491
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
A Descent Into the Maelstrom
Edgar Allan Poe
In 'A Descent into the Maelström', Edgar Allan Poe crafts a thrilling tale of survival and terror.
The story follows a fisherman who recounts his experience of being caught in a colossal whirlpool, known as the Maelström, off the coast of Norway.
Through his observations and rational thinking, the protagonist manages to escape the vortex by clinging to a cylindrical barrel.
This tale is often classified as an early form of science fiction and explores themes of nature's power and human resilience.
#3405
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne
The novel begins in 1866 when ships of various nationalities report sightings of a mysterious sea monster.
Professor Pierre Aronnax, a French marine biologist, his servant Conseil, and Canadian harpooner Ned Land join an expedition to find and destroy the monster.
They discover that the 'monster' is actually a futuristic submarine called the Nautilus, commanded by Captain Nemo.
The story follows their year-long underwater adventures as they visit various oceanic regions, including the Antarctic ice barrier, the Red Sea, and the South Pole.
The novel explores themes of technological innovation, scientific discovery, and Captain Nemo's quest for revenge against terrestrial civilization.
#21293
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Voyage to the Moon
Von Braun
#20663
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
True history
Lucian of Samosata
#3472
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
New Atlantis
Francis Bacon
Written around 1623 and published posthumously in 1627, 'New Atlantis' is a philosophical and utopian work by Francis Bacon.
The story follows a group of sailors who discover the mysterious island of Bensalem, where they encounter a society governed by a democratically elected parliament and guided by the principles of Salomon’s House, an institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the study of nature.
The novel emphasizes the integration of science and ethics in governance and highlights Bacon’s vision of a society where knowledge and reason are central to human progress and happiness.
#35
• Mentioned in 283 episodes
Frankenstein
Mary Shelley
Written in epistolary form, the novel tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant and ambitious scientist who, driven by Enlightenment-era ideas of progress and science, creates a living being from dead body parts.
However, upon seeing the creature come to life, Frankenstein is horrified and abandons it.
The creature, shunned by society due to its appearance, seeks revenge against its creator, leading to a series of tragic events.
The novel explores themes of guilt, loss, and the emotional and moral consequences of scientific hubris, blending elements of Gothic and Romantic literature.
#74679
Somnium
Johannes Kepler
Johannes Keplers "Somnium" ("Traum") ist ein frühneuzeitliches Werk der Science-Fiction-Literatur.
Es beschreibt eine Reise zum Mond aus der Perspektive eines isländischen Zauberers.
Kepler nutzt seine astronomischen Kenntnisse, um eine realistische Darstellung der Reise und der Mondlandschaft zu schaffen.
Das Werk ist bemerkenswert für seine wissenschaftliche Genauigkeit und seine visionäre Vorstellungskraft.
"Somnium" ist ein wichtiger Beitrag zur Geschichte der Science-Fiction und zeigt Keplers Interesse an der Erforschung des Weltraums.
Es ist ein faszinierendes Beispiel für die Verbindung von wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnis und literarischer Fantasie.
One of the most popular genres of literature, film, and television is science fiction.
Science fiction is relatively new, and by its very nature, it is always evolving and reinventing itself.
Also, unlike other genres, science fiction isn’t just about storytelling. It is about generating ideas that have had an actual impact on the world we live in.
Learn more about the history of science fiction and how it has impacted the world on this episode of Everything Everywhere Daily.
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