Navigating the Boundaries of Sci-Fi: Realism and Creativity in Technology and Crime Novels

Writing a science fiction novel that intertwines technology with crime can be a thrilling endeavor, but it’s equally important to consider the realism and ethics of the concepts you introduce. In this article, we will explore common sci-fi tropes, specifically focusing on time travel and cloning, and discuss their implications in the narrative as well as potential creative avenues for their use. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting your journey, understanding these nuances can help create a richer, more believable story.

Time Travel: A Double-Edged Sword

Despite its fascination, the concept of time travel can be a double-edged sword. While it provides a thrilling narrative device, it often comes with complex issues that can undermine the realism of your story. One critical problem is the potential for paradoxes, which can quickly become overwhelming to resolve. This is especially true if the time-traveling character can seamlessly return to their 'real' timeline, but this raises the question: what is the true point of time travel in the first place?

Personally, I hate time travel as a story device. The only way to make it work without creating a series of interacting paradoxes that quickly become overwhelming to deal with is to posit that each time something is changed in the timeline, some kind of alternative universe is spawned. In that case, the character can never get back to their 'real' universe, which continues on without them. So what is the point of the time travel in the first place?

Another option is to introduce time travel without the ability to return. However, this leads to the other issue: the absence of choice. If the character didn’t deliberately choose to travel, the consequences of a one-way journey to an alternate universe would still linger. Without agency to prevent such travel, the story might feel destined and lose the element of choice that is essential to character-driven plots.

Even if the time travel is one-way, you’re either stuck with believing in predestination or you’re still stuck with paradoxes. So yeah, I’m not big on time travel.

However, there are ways to make time travel plausible without invoking paradoxes. For instance, positing that each change leads to the creation of a new timeline can be a creative solution, but it requires careful world-building to ensure consistency and believability. This approach can add depth to your narrative, but it demands meticulous attention to detail and logical consistency.

Cloning: Ethical Complications and Scientific Realism

Cloning, on the other hand, offers a more practical and ethically sound narrative device. While it does require considerable ethical considerations, it can be a powerful tool for exploring themes of identity and the nature of consciousness. The cloning of humans isn’t just a matter of replicating genetic material; it involves epigenetic factors, developmental processes, and the development of experience and memory that are currently beyond our technological reach.

The only reason we don’t have artificially cloned humans yet, assuming there isn’t a rogue lab somewhere, is because of ethical concerns over the development of the technology. If we weren’t concerned about the fate and possible suffering of early attempts, we could probably do it today. We clone other mammals relatively routinely.

Understanding the barriers to cloning can help create more compelling and realistic scenarios. For instance, consider the ethical implications of creating a cloned human being, their potential suffering during early development, and the challenges of ensuring their well-being. These elements can enrich your narrative while providing a solid scientific foundation.

Exploring Faster-Than-Light Travel and Communication

Another critical aspect of your sci-fi narrative is the concept of faster-than-light (FTL) travel and communication. In a universe spanning multiple planets or even multiple solar systems, ensuring that characters can move and communicate effectively is crucial. FTL travel is often more complex to depict, but faster-than-light communication can be simplified using technologies like quantum entanglement. Quantum entanglement schemes can create a means of transmitting data instantaneously, regardless of distance.

Faster-than-light communication is actually easier to hand-wave than faster-than-light travel. You can use some kind of quantum entanglement scheme to transmit data but it’s something you either ‘just have’ or you the author really want to make some attempt to understand the quantum mechanics behind it.

Considering the societal consequences of having such technologies is equally important. For example, how might the ability to communicate and travel instantaneously impact economic systems, social structures, and geopolitical alliances? These considerations can add depth to your narrative and provide a more realistic and compelling backdrop for your characters.

Soft Sci-Fi: Focusing on Characters and Actions

If you prefer to focus on the crime or heist aspects of your narrative rather than delving deeply into the scientific components, writing soft sci-fi can be an effective approach. Soft sci-fi emphasizes the characters and their actions over the exact workings of the technology. Like how people use cars and cell phones every day without fully understanding the internal combustion engine or cellular communication, your characters can operate within a technological framework without needing to explain every detail.

I actually enjoy that kind of fiction a lot as long as the societal consequences of having those kinds of technologies have been considered.

This approach allows you to create a more accessible and engaging story while still maintaining a sense of scientific plausibility. By focusing on the social and ethical implications of your technology, you can weave a compelling narrative that resonates with readers on multiple levels.

Conclusion

Writing a science fiction novel that integrates technology and crime is a rich and exciting challenge. By carefully considering the ethical and scientific implications of your ideas, you can create a narrative that is both immersive and thought-provoking. Whether you explore the paradoxes of time travel, the complexities of cloning, or the wonders of faster-than-light communication, your story can benefit from a deep understanding of these concepts. Remember, the key to a successful sci-fi narrative is not just in the existence of the technology but in how it shapes the world and the characters within it.