Nanotechnology in fiction
Encyclopedia
The use of nanotechnology in fiction has attracted scholarly attention. The first use of the distinguishing concepts of nanotechnology was "There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom
", a talk given by physicist Richard Feynman
in 1959. K. Eric Drexler
's 1987 book Engines of Creation
introduced the general public to the concept of nanotechnology. Since then, nanotechnology has been used frequently in a diverse range of fiction, often as a justification for unusual or far-fetched occurrences featured in speculative fiction
.
wrote The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea
, which included the concept of text that can be seen only through a microscope at 5,000,000 times magnification..
In his 1956 short story "The Next Tenants
", Arthur C. Clarke
describes tiny machines that operate on a microscale
(millionth of a meter). While these machines are not nanoscale
(billionth of a meter), they are the first fictional example of the concepts now associated with nanotechnology. Robert Silverberg's
1969 short story "How It Was when the Past Went Away" describes nanotechnology being used in the construction of stereo loudspeakers, with a thousand speakers per inch..
Michael Crichton
's novel Prey
was one of the earliest nanotechnology-themed books to reach a mainstream audience and is a cautionary tale about the possible risks of developing nanotechnology. In Prey, a swarm of molecule-sized nanorobots develop intelligence and become a large scale threat.
Neal Stephenson's
novel "The Diamond Age
" is set in a world where nanotechnology is common. For example, nanotechnological warfare, nano-fabrication at the molecular scale and self-assembling islands all exist.
J. C. Lansing's series "The Anki" rebuilds the our entire world using nanobots given by an Ancient Sumerian God Enlil. Using this technology the author rewrites what magic is to science. The series will span from the next evolutionary step of humanity, to the possible end. The first book in the series; "The Book of Kur", tell us the struggles and changes of Steve (the main character)
There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom
There's Plenty of Room at the Bottom is the title of a lecture given by physicist Richard Feynman at an American Physical Society meeting at Caltech on December 29, 1959...
", a talk given by physicist Richard Feynman
Richard Feynman
Richard Phillips Feynman was an American physicist known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as in particle physics...
in 1959. K. Eric Drexler
K. Eric Drexler
Dr. Kim Eric Drexler is an American engineer best known for popularizing the potential of molecular nanotechnology , from the 1970s and 1980s.His 1991 doctoral thesis at MIT was revised and published as...
's 1987 book Engines of Creation
Engines of Creation
Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of Nanotechnology is a 1986 molecular nanotechnology book written by K. Eric Drexler with a foreword by Marvin Minsky. An updated version was released in 2007...
introduced the general public to the concept of nanotechnology. Since then, nanotechnology has been used frequently in a diverse range of fiction, often as a justification for unusual or far-fetched occurrences featured in speculative fiction
Speculative fiction
Speculative fiction is an umbrella term encompassing the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural fiction, superhero fiction, utopian and dystopian fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction, and alternate history in literature as well as...
.
Notable examples
In 1881 the Russian writer Nikolai LeskovNikolai Leskov
Nikolai Semyonovich Leskov was a Russian journalist, novelist and short story writer, who also wrote under the pseudonym M. Stebnitsky. Praised for his unique writing style and innovative experiments in form, held in high esteem by Leo Tolstoy, Anton Chekhov and Maxim Gorky among others, Leskov is...
wrote The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea
The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea
"The Tale of Cross-eyed Lefty from Tula and the Steel Flea" , The Tale of the Crosseyed Lefthander from Tula and the Steal Flea or simply Levsha , sometimes called The Lefthander, Lefty, The Steel Flea or The Left-handed Craftsman is a well-known 1881 skaz by Nikolai Leskov...
, which included the concept of text that can be seen only through a microscope at 5,000,000 times magnification..
In his 1956 short story "The Next Tenants
The Next Tenants
The Next Tenants is a science fiction short story by Arthur C. Clarke first published in 1956 and included in several collections of Clarke's writings, including Tales from Planet Earth....
", Arthur C. Clarke
Arthur C. Clarke
Sir Arthur Charles Clarke, CBE, FRAS was a British science fiction author, inventor, and futurist, famous for his short stories and novels, among them 2001: A Space Odyssey, and as a host and commentator in the British television series Mysterious World. For many years, Robert A. Heinlein,...
describes tiny machines that operate on a microscale
Micrometre
A micrometer , is by definition 1×10-6 of a meter .In plain English, it means one-millionth of a meter . Its unit symbol in the International System of Units is μm...
(millionth of a meter). While these machines are not nanoscale
Nanometre
A nanometre is a unit of length in the metric system, equal to one billionth of a metre. The name combines the SI prefix nano- with the parent unit name metre .The nanometre is often used to express dimensions on the atomic scale: the diameter...
(billionth of a meter), they are the first fictional example of the concepts now associated with nanotechnology. Robert Silverberg's
Robert Silverberg
Robert Silverberg is an American author, best known for writing science fiction. He is a multiple nominee of the Hugo Award and a winner of the Nebula Award.-Early years:...
1969 short story "How It Was when the Past Went Away" describes nanotechnology being used in the construction of stereo loudspeakers, with a thousand speakers per inch..
Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
's novel Prey
Prey (novel)
Prey is a novel by Michael Crichton based on a nano-robotic threat to human-kind, first published in hardcover in November 2002 and as a paperback in November 2003 by HarperCollins...
was one of the earliest nanotechnology-themed books to reach a mainstream audience and is a cautionary tale about the possible risks of developing nanotechnology. In Prey, a swarm of molecule-sized nanorobots develop intelligence and become a large scale threat.
Neal Stephenson's
Neal Stephenson
Neal Town Stephenson is an American writer known for his works of speculative fiction.Difficult to categorize, his novels have been variously referred to as science fiction, historical fiction, cyberpunk, and postcyberpunk...
novel "The Diamond Age
The Diamond Age
The Diamond Age: Or, A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer is a postcyberpunk novel by Neal Stephenson. It is to some extent a science fiction bildungsroman, focused on a young girl named Nell, and set in a future world in which nanotechnology affects all aspects of life. The novel deals with themes of...
" is set in a world where nanotechnology is common. For example, nanotechnological warfare, nano-fabrication at the molecular scale and self-assembling islands all exist.
J. C. Lansing's series "The Anki" rebuilds the our entire world using nanobots given by an Ancient Sumerian God Enlil. Using this technology the author rewrites what magic is to science. The series will span from the next evolutionary step of humanity, to the possible end. The first book in the series; "The Book of Kur", tell us the struggles and changes of Steve (the main character)