Wizards, aliens, and starships : physics and math in fantasy and science fiction

Resource Information

The work Wizards, aliens, and starships : physics and math in fantasy and science fiction represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of San Diego Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Wizards, aliens, and starships : physics and math in fantasy and science fiction

Title remainder

physics and math in fantasy and science fiction

Statement of responsibility

Charles L. Adler

Creator

• Adler, Charles L

Subject

• Criticism, interpretation, etc
• Electronic book
• Electronic books
• Englisch
• Fantastische Literatur
• Fantasy literature
• Fantasy literature -- History and criticism
• MATHEMATICS -- General
• Mathematics
• Mathematics -- Miscellanea
• Mathematics in literature
• Mathematics in literature
• Mathematik
• Physics
• BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY -- Literary
• Physics in literature
• Physics in literature
• Physik
• SCIENCE -- Physics
• Science fiction
• Science fiction -- History and criticism
• Science-Fiction-Literatur
• Technologie
• Trivia and miscellanea
• Physics -- Miscellanea

Genre

• Electronic book
• Electronic books
• Miscellanea
• Trivia and miscellanea
• Criticism, interpretation, etc

Language

eng

Summary

"From teleportation and space elevators to alien contact and interstellar travel, science fiction and fantasy writers have come up with some brilliant and innovative ideas. Yet how plausible are these ideas--for instance, could Mr. Weasley's flying car in Harry Potter really exist? Which concepts might actually happen--and which ones wouldn't work at all? Wizards, Aliens, and Starships delves into the most extraordinary details in science fiction and fantasy--such as time warps, shape changing, rocket launches, and illumination by floating candle--and shows readers the physics and math behind the phenomena. With simple mathematical models, and in most cases using no more than high school algebra, Charles Adler ranges across a plethora of remarkable imaginings, from the works of Ursula K. Le Guin to Star Trek and Avatar, to explore what might become reality. Adler explains why fantasy in the Harry Potter and Dresden Files novels cannot adhere strictly to scientific laws, and when magic might make scientific sense in the muggle world. He examines space travel and wonders why it isn't cheaper and more common today. Adler also discusses exoplanets and how the search for alien life has shifted from radio communications to space-based telescopes. He concludes by investigating the future survival of humanity and other intelligent races. Throughout, he cites an abundance of science fiction and fantasy authors, and includes concise descriptions of stories as well as a glossary of science terms. Wizards, Aliens, and Starships will speak to anyone wanting to know about the correct--and incorrect--science of science fiction and fantasy"--

Assigning source

Provided by publisher

Cataloging source

N$T

Index

index present

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

• dictionaries
• bibliography