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'''"Naturalistic science fiction"''' ('''NSF''') is a term | '''"Naturalistic science fiction"''' ('''NSF''') is a term created by the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'']] co-creator [[Ronald D. Moore]] to describe that show's esthetic. NSF is meant to be a realistic take on the SF genre, with its roots in drama rather than adventure tales. It eschews science-fiction staples such as one-dimensional characterizations, clear-cut conceptions of good and evil, so-called "[[technobabble]]" (technical-sounding terms that have mostly been made up), and "[[Wikipedia:deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]" approaches (in which a seemingly intractable problem in the plot is solved using a previously-unknown technical capability). In the case of episodic drama like the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'', there is also more of an effort at continuity - the events in one episode have visible effects in subsequent episodes, unlike other science-fiction shows in which episodes are more stand-alone. Naturalistic SF combines elements of [[Wikipedia:Soft science fiction|"soft" science fiction]] (where characterization is of prime importance) and [[Wikipedia:Hard science fiction|"hard" science fiction]] (where plausible technical accuracy is preferred). Fundamentally, it is a drama with sci-fi elements. | ||
NSF is meant to be a realistic take on the SF genre, with its roots in drama rather than adventure tales. It eschews science-fiction staples such as one-dimensional characterizations, clear-cut conceptions of good and evil, so-called "[[technobabble]]" (technical-sounding terms that have mostly been made up), and "[[Wikipedia:deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]" approaches (in which a seemingly intractable problem in the plot is solved using a previously-unknown technical capability). In the case of episodic drama like the re-imagined ''Battlestar Galactica'', there is also more of an effort at continuity - the events in one episode have visible effects in subsequent episodes, unlike other science-fiction shows in which episodes are more stand-alone. Naturalistic SF combines elements of [[Wikipedia:Soft science fiction|"soft" science fiction]] (where characterization is of prime importance) and [[Wikipedia:Hard science fiction|"hard" science fiction]] (where plausible technical accuracy is preferred). Fundamentally, it is a drama with sci-fi elements. | |||
== Ron Moore's Essay on NSF == | == Ron Moore's Essay on NSF == | ||
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== Analysis of NSF Principles in the Show== | == Analysis of NSF Principles in the Show== | ||
===Characters=== | ===Characters=== | ||
For the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|new ''Battlestar Galactica'' series]], naturalistic science fiction means that characters are more three-dimensional | For the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|new ''Battlestar Galactica'' series]], naturalistic science fiction means that characters are more three-dimensional, complete with flaws, neuroses, and even addictions. There is an attempt to stay away from stereotypical archetypes in science fiction or adventure stories such as the "smoking chauvinist," "loyal soldier," "heroic lead," "spiritual commander," ''Spock-type alien'', or "whiz-kid genius." | ||
The characters change over time, showing different facets of their personalities: President [[Laura Roslin]] begins the first season cautious and rule bound; by the second season she has ordered that a high-ranking military member be assassinated | The characters change over time, showing different facets of their personalities: President [[Laura Roslin]] begins the first season cautious and rule bound; by the second season she has ordered that a high-ranking military member be assassinated ([[Resurrection Ship, Part I]]) and attempts to steal an election ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]). The [[Cylon (RDM)|Cylon]]s, who in the beginning are out simply to destroy humanity, later have a change of heart, feeling guilty about the destruction they have brought about, and decide simply to enslave them ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II]]). | ||
As a general rule, the characters of ''Battlestar Galactica'' are not carbon copies of character archetypes found in other TV science fiction. For example, instead of the "lovable, irascible doctor" like Dr. McCoy on ''Star Trek'', Major [[ | As a general rule, the characters of ''Battlestar Galactica'' are not carbon copies of character archetypes found in other TV science fiction. For example, instead of the "lovable, irascible doctor" like Dr. McCoy on ''Star Trek'', Major [[Cottle]] is arrogant and rude to his patients. | ||
====Counterpoints and aired contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and aired contradiction==== | ||
Some characters in ''Battlestar Galactica'' do act like cliched sci-fi characters, though. Starbuck, as the rude and cocky pilot, fills a well-known archetype, similar to [[Wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]]''. Still, there are more facets to her personality than that: from the beginning she is plagued with guilt about her role in the death of [[Zak Adama]], and later her flying skills are perceived to have atrophied as a result of alcoholism and apathy (although Solo is also flawed with sheer recklessness, a passion for gambling, and distrust). Other characters occasionally fill in stereotypical sci-fi character staples; for example, Adama is reminiscent of the general gruff military officer staple, and the Cylons are (albeit superficially) similar to other fictional robot races, such as the machines from ''[[Wikipedia: | Some characters in ''Battlestar Galactica'' do act like cliched sci-fi characters, though. Starbuck, as the rude and cocky pilot, fills a well-known archetype, similar to [[Wikipedia:Han Solo|Han Solo]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Star Wars|Star Wars]]''. Still, there are more facets to her personality than that: from the beginning she is plagued with guilt about her role in the death of [[Zak Adama]], and later her flying skills are perceived to have atrophied as a result of alcoholism and apathy (although Solo is also flawed with sheer recklessness, a passion for gambling, and distrust). Other characters occasionally fill in stereotypical sci-fi character staples; for example, Adama is reminiscent of the general gruff military officer staple, and the Cylons are (albeit superficially) similar to other fictional robot races, such as the machines from ''[[Wikipedia:Terminator|Terminator]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:The Matrix|The Matrix]]'', which are also machines that rebel against their human creators and take on human form. | ||
===Technology=== | ===Technology=== | ||
'''Technology''' is far enough advanced for star travel to be possible (see: [[FTL]] travel) and plausible, yet every other aspect of Colonial technology is humbly realistic. | '''Technology''' is far enough advanced for star travel to be possible (see: [[FTL]] travel) and plausible, yet every other aspect of Colonial technology is humbly realistic. Instead of using technology such as ''[[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek's]]'' transporters, people need to be physically shuttled between ships on smaller craft like [[Raptor|Raptors]]. | ||
Energy weapons such as ''Star Trek''' | Energy weapons such as ''Star Trek's'' phasers and photon torpedoes are replaced with ordinary projectile weapons and Earthly mass-destruction ordnance: guns, bullets and nuclear bombs. Other SF "[[Wikipedia:deus ex machina|deus ex machina]]"-style comparatively fanciful technologies are avoided entirely or replaced with technology more in line with what's seen in modern life on Earth today. When the [[the Fleet (RDM)|Fleet]] runs out of water, ''Galactica'' is forced to search for a planetary body that has water ([[Water]]). Technology looks familiar to the viewer, from the phones to computer screens to the bathrooms. | ||
Much like [[Aaron Doral]] notes in the opening of the [[Miniseries]], form follows function when it comes to the ship designs. ''Galactica'' is designed as a battle cruiser / aircraft carrier in space; the hull is lined with armor plating, strengthened by [[Frame|structural ribbing]] and insulated from external explosions by internal structures such as water tanks ([[Water]]). The command center of the ship, the [[CIC]], is buried deep within the ship and protected from any attacks, unlike ''Star Trek's'' starships, whose bridges are openly exposed at the top-center of the ship on most classes, as few are technically designated for war. | |||
Many Colonial civilian ships are spaceborne variations of ships you may see in the air or at sea in the real-world Earth. ''[[Colonial One]]'' is designed to be a [[Luxury liner|jetliner in space]] and is set up similar to a real world passenger airliner with rows of seats separated into various classes down the fuselage, cramped airplane bathrooms, cargo bays in the ship's underbelly and private cabins for VIPs. | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
A seemingly large violation of this rule is Laura Roslin's sudden cancer cure in "[[Epiphanies]], | A seemingly large violation of this rule is Laura Roslin's sudden cancer cure in "[[Epiphanies]]", and tied in with that, the ability of Cylons and humans to conceive children such as [[Hera]], given the unlikely blend of Cylon physiology to human physiology and the Cylons' continued use of [[silica pathways]] in humanoid Cylons (this is illustrated on copies of [[Aaron Doral]] and [[Leoben Conoy]] at [[Ragnar Anchorage]]). | ||
===No "Deus Ex Machina" Concepts=== | |||
Characters like [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] are annoyed by endless [[technobabble]]. Complex procedures needed to further the plot are often explained in context to the episode in simple and down-to-earth terms, if they're ever explained at all. | Characters like [[Saul Tigh|Colonel Tigh]] are annoyed by endless [[technobabble]]. Complex procedures needed to further the plot are often explained in context to the episode in simple and down-to-earth terms, if they're ever explained at all. | ||
When technology is mentioned, it is typically analogous to something found on the real-world Earth. Terms such as "[[stims]], | When technology is mentioned, it is typically analogous to something found on the real-world Earth. Terms such as "[[Stims|stims]]", "[[Morpha|morpha]]", "[[DRADIS]]" and "[[wireless]]" have somewhat-familiar real-world counterparts. | ||
''Galactica'' and its Fleet have to be creative with the very limited resources in the Fleet. They cannot barter with other civilizations (as there aren't any) or make parts with "replication technology." They have a limited supply of everything: [[Viper (RDM)|fighters]], ammunition, food, water, and people. | ''Galactica'' and its Fleet have to be creative with the very limited resources in the Fleet. They cannot barter with other civilizations (as there aren't any) or make parts with "replication technology." They have a limited supply of everything: [[Viper (RDM)|fighters]], ammunition, food, water, and people. Specialized crew members, such as [[List of Pilots|pilots]] and [[Cottle|doctors]], are in even shorter supply. In "Battlestar Galactica's" world, they don't have a home-base or a parent government: What they are and what they have is literally visible in every episode--and everything is wearing or running out. This is can be seen in the deteriorating conditions of ''Galactica'''s Vipers, which began the [[Miniseries]] in pristine condition, but, through extended use, all now have significant battle damage, burns, scars, scrapes and dents; several have been damaged beyond repair ([[Flight of the Phoenix]]). | ||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
Again, Roslin's cancer cure by [[Gaius Baltar]] suggests a sudden and undesirable use of the deus ex machina tactic to further a plot line (the survival of the child later known as [[ | Again, Roslin's cancer cure by [[Gaius Baltar]] suggests a sudden and undesirable use of the deus ex machina tactic to further a plot line (the survival of the child later known as [[Hera]]). Also, [[Boomer]] is often involved in unlikely scenarios that further the Cylon aspect of her character, the discovery of water and tylium just a few examples of this phenomenon. | ||
===Space is big...and lonely=== | ===Space is big...and lonely=== | ||
There are no "planet-of-the-week" episodes. The Fleet does not encounter a new planet or | |||
There are no "planet-of-the-week" episodes. The Fleet does not encounter a new planet or culture every week as is typically done in episodes of "Star Trek" and "Stargate" (or to a certain aspect the 1978 Original Series). The universe remains so big as to appear almost empty, with the odds of meeting other intelligent beings (excluding, perhaps, remnants of the [[Thirteenth Tribe (RDM)|Thirteenth Tribe]]) practically nil. Many [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Battlestar Galactica]] episodes primarily focus on internal Fleet survival issues ("[[Water]]", "[[Bastille Day]]", and "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]"). | |||
Humanoid or other intelligent life (save that of the Fleet's nemesis, the human-created [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]) does not exist, as almost all of the encountered planets will be mostly uninhabitable and lifeless. | Humanoid or other intelligent life (save that of the Fleet's nemesis, the human-created [[Cylons (RDM)|Cylons]]) does not exist, as almost all of the encountered planets will be mostly uninhabitable and lifeless. | ||
The characters do speak of [[Life Forms of the Twelve Colonies|animals from the now Cylon-occupied Colonies]], and they share most of the names we use in the real-world Earth: for example chickens, dogs, cattle, and cats existed on their worlds. [[Socinus]] notes while on [[Kobol (RDM)|Kobol]] that he is able to listen to the birds in the trees for the first time since the Cylon attack ([[Scattered]]). A dog, [[Jake (New Caprica)|Jake]] is seen on [[New Caprica]] in "[[Occupation]]"; it presumably came with passengers on the Fleet. | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
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===Storytelling and music=== | ===Storytelling and music=== | ||
[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|''Battlestar Galactica'']] avoids the thematic elements found in ''[[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]''. The series has a [[Wikipedia:Documentary film|documentary-style, ''cinema verite'']] visual feel | |||
[[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|''Battlestar Galactica'']] avoids the thematic elements found in ''[[Wikipedia:Star Trek|Star Trek]]''. The series has a [[Wikipedia:Documentary film|documentary-style, ''cinema verite'']] visual feel and tribal music that stands in contrast to the more standard orchestral overtures used in ''Star Trek'', ''Star Wars'', and the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|original]] ''Battlestar Galactica''. | |||
====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ====Counterpoints and Aired Contradiction==== | ||
Arguably, several ceremonies conducted on the show were appropriate times for traditional Western martial overtures or marches | Arguably, several ceremonies conducted on the show were appropriate times for traditional Western martial overtures or marches ([[Miniseries]], "[[Act of Contrition]]", "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]"), and they could have been used based on the parallels between the [[Colonial Fleet]] and modern armed forces; given this, their exclusion may be a loss of authenticity for some. | ||
== | == External Links == | ||
*[[Wikipedia:Hard Science Fiction|Hard Science Fiction]] | |||
[[Category:A to Z]] | [[Category:A to Z]] | ||