Critical Reflections On Modern Technology

H.G.Wells has made a great contribution to the development of science fiction.His SF writing and thinking have influenced a lot of SF writers of young generations,of which the most influential are his critical reflections on modern technology.By adopting"influence study" methodology,and by close reading texts,the present thesis intends to provide textual evidence to demonstrate how Wells' critical reflections on modern technology have affected Brian Aldiss' SF writing,thereby provoking thoughts about the efforts the two serious and responsible SF writers have made to achieve human improvement and social progress through their creation of science fiction.The thesis consists of four chapters.The first chapter offers an introduction to the two writers and their works,the scholarly context,and the thesis,methodology and significance of the study.The second chapter expounds the affinity between technology and science fiction,the two trends of technology in science fiction,and the criticism of modern technology in science fiction.The third chapter investigates Wells' critical reflections on modern technology and their specific influences on Aldiss' SF writing in the three aspects respectively regarding humankind,society and environment:The first aspect concerns Wells' critical reflections on modern technology's impact on human beings and their influences on Aldiss.Under the influence of Wells' skepticism regarding the blessing of modern technology,Aldiss raises doubts that modern technology can bring human welfare and explores the uselessness and loneliness human beings feel in a technology-dominated world in his science fiction.The second aspect deals with Wells' critical reflections on modern technology's impact on society and their influences on Aldiss.Following Wells in his uncertainty about modern technology as a positive force,Aldiss envisages a bleak world in the future where social condition becomes even worse because of modern technology in his science fiction.The third aspect addresses Wells' critical reflections on modern technology's impact on environment and their influences on Aldiss.As one of Wells'successor,Aldiss continues Wells' concern about environmental problems mostly caused by modern technology and infuses certain environmental matters into his science fiction.The last chapter summarizes that Aldiss investigates critical reflections on modern technology further,deeper and more particularly in his science fiction when he draws inspiration from Wells' thinking and writing,and concludes that the two authors' science fiction,both serving more as serious warnings,not just show the efforts Wells and Aldiss have made to improve human welfare and develop human society,but also make themselves science fiction classics.Additionally,this thesis proposes possible future research prospects of Wells' influences on Aldiss.