Tales behind the movies for the sci-fi geek.
The advancement of science and science fiction have always fueled each other since the dawn of the genre. Sci-fi giants such as Jules Verne influenced and inspired countless scientists across generations, which led to them achieving the technology that was once fiction.
Without further ado, here are some of the best books highlighting the intersection of science and sci-fi as May comes to a close.
The Science of Interstellar by Kip Thorne
You could say that this book is the reason that this blog exists for you to read. If watching Interstellar was the spark, then reading this book afterward was the kindle to the fire of my love for astronomy.
Kip Thorne served as a scientific consultant to Nolan during the making of Interstellar.
In The Science of Interstellar, Thorne delves deep into the science behind the film with easy-to-understand visuals, many of them his own hand-drawn sketches.
Thorne's passion for both the film and his work is evident in his writing. Topics such as the orbit of Miller's planet around Gargantua and the models of the tesseract are fascinating to read about from the perspective of a theoretical physicist.
Interstellar: Beyond Time and Space, not shown here, is another for those looking to get an account of the production side of the film.
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction by Randall Frakes
This book was a Christmas gift to me from my family when I was around thirteen. It's safe to say that they know me and my love for science fiction well.
James Cameron(Avatar, Titanic) interviews six greats of recent science fiction films, revealing their childhood inspirations and connecting SF tropes with real-life developments. It's intriguing to read how various works as well as the featured creators influenced each other in their works. For example, Cameron admits in his interview with Ridley Scott (Alien, Blade Runner) that he always said he wanted to be like Scott growing up.
The book is also beautifully designed, with full-color images of various films complementing the interviews.
Science(ish) by Rick Edwards and Michael Brooks
This book is slightly different from the others, with a more lighthearted approach to science. Edwards and Brooks use each film as a conversation starter to discuss corresponding topics such as extraterrestrials and space travel. It's very easy to understand, and can be a gateway for you to explore other scientific fields.
Have any other book recommendations? Leave a comment! The June roundup will be on SETI and 'first contact' books, so subscribe to our mailing list if you'd like to be notified when it's published. See you in the next one!
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