NON-FICTION
This is a book written by a
well-known SF writer, but is a presentation of modern science. The intent
is to explore the edges of established science in order to give science fiction
writers a framework for being essentially consistent with science while
extrapolating beyond what is certain. Sheffield does not assume the
readers (SF writers or otherwise) already have a strong foundation in the
well-defined areas of science. Therefore, much of the book is laying out
the "heartlands" of science in order to give the basis and context
for the "borderlands of science".
There is an impressive amount
of material in the book covering various fields. If rated by the sheer
weight of scientific concepts and numbers, it scores high. However, the
"feel" and "experience" of the book was not what I
expected. It was not as entertaining as a "science for SF
readers" book such as "The Physics Of Star Trek" by Lawrence
Krauss. Even comparing it to science popularizations by scientists like
Paul Davies, I did not find it as enjoyable. Because of the quantity of
information and presentation, it leans somewhat towards being like a superior
textbook. But it is probably more accurately considered a science
popularization. Perhaps, my reaction is partly the result of expecting a
"science for SF people" book by an SF writer to have more style and
sense of wonder. Or it may simply be that I don't think I've ever read
another popularization that attempted to cram so many science disciplines into
a single volume, especially to this depth.
It may be a good
single-volume source for those willing to read a book of this nature. It
covers a bit of everything -- quantum physics, relativity, cosmology, origins
of life, aging, the solar system, chemistry, exoplanets, spacecraft propulsion,
SETI, computers, military technology, etc. There is also a chapter that
presents some theories on a variety of subjects that have been proposed by
noted scientists but which are not currently accepted by the scientific
community.
At least for some SF writers,
it will probably work better as a reference book. If you're writing a
book involving chemistry, you read the chapter on chemistry. If that
doesn't give you enough information for your needs, you then move on to a book
dedicated to chemistry.
The Physics
of Star Trek is more limited in the scope of science disciplines it
handles, The Science Of Star Wars is somewhere in
between as far as science fields discussed. Both spend more of the book
referring to past SF and science issues in those stories. Borderlands
mostly refers to past SF to say a scientific idea or story element was used in
this or that book, without much analysis of science presented in the context of
particular past SF stories. It's more concerned with setting a basis for
future SF.
____________________________________
For more extensive reading on
science matters relevant to SF see the following pages at this site.
(Note, the following links don't cover as diverse areas of science as Sheffield's book does):
List
of books by author
List
of books (and some sites) by subject.
.