The Reality of Science Fiction

MAN IS THE REAL ALIEN.
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I reread a few classic short stories this week, one by an American and one by a Frenchman. In each story, man was this dissatisfied creature who couldn't find himself whether on Earth or Mars or Minerva. He tainted everything he touched.

Through science fiction as a genre, this avenue of thought is prevalent. It's the best of social criticism, albeit a veiled philosophy--

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      CAUTION!  MAN IS CAPABLE OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

It's a disturbing but simple pattern. Humans introduce music or a virus or a bomb and a civilization is forever changed. Consider Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, a seminal apocalyptic work from 1959. Yes, it deals with the effects of a nuclear war on the small town of Fort Repose, Florida, but it began with an inciting accident in Syria. Post-war life shows the natural and realistic breakdown of society amid its plucky and frequently criminal citizens.

The genre is a simple yet provoking tool. The stories may explore new places and settings but really they depict man's true nature and often the consequence of choice. I have many favorites including Orson Scott Card's series and Isaac Asimov's short stories, but I most frequently recommend the list below:

1. The Martian Chronicles, Ray Bradbury (1950) A short story collection that chronicles the colonization of Mars, it depicts mankind fleeing from a troubled and eventually atomically devastated Earth. The primary conflict lies between aboriginal Martians and the new colonists.
2. Journey to the Center of the Earth, Jules Verne (1864) German professor Von Hardwigg believes there are volcanic tubes going toward the center of the Earth. He, his nephew Axel, and their guide Hans encounter many adventures, including prehistoric animals and natural hazards.
3. Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury (1953) Books are illegal, firemen burn them, and no one is allowed to think on their own. Bradbury draws attention to the things that control us and reminds us that we may not be as free as we think.
4. The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells (1897) Describes an invasion of late Victorian England by Martians using tripod fighting machines equipped with advanced weaponry. The Tor Classics edition is perfect.
5. A Canticle for Leibowitz, Walter M. Miller, Jr. (1959) Set in a Roman Catholic monastery in the desert of the southwestern United States after a devastating nuclear war, the story spans thousands of years as civilization rebuilds itself. It's a long-haul read that's deep in scope.

Share your favorite short or long science fiction reads in the comments section, especially why you love a particular story!