While reading fiction, fantasy and especially science-fiction, one is quite likely to come across technology which could only be possible on the printed page.  Or could it? 

I’d like to present a number of "fictional" theories and objects which have very close relationships to real science.  

The conversation between science and the imagination is a very important one.  Despite our tendency to separate the sciences from the arts, these two disciplines can do much to aid and further each other’s causes.  New scientific discoveries spark the imagination of intrigued novelists, and scientists often reach for imaginative goals when researching and testing new theories.

The fiction novel discussed will be Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons, the fantasy novel(s) will be Frank Herbert’s Dune series, and the science-fiction novel will be Larry Niven’s Ringworld.  


So be warned, the next time you pick up some pleasure reading, you may actually learn something!