BCA Semester 2 – English II – Unit 1: Science Fiction Stories (10Hrs)

How do you distinguish hard science fiction from Space Opera? Explain on the basis of texts you have read.

How does the writer present the picture of dystopia in the story 'Billenium'?

Who do you think is superior- 'man' or 'machine'? Argue on the basis of Brian W. Aldiss' story 'But Who Can Replace Man?'.

OR

How has William Gibson presented the dystopian elements of future crime, ambition, love, and loss in the story Burning Chrome'? What does this story tell about human obsession with technology?

Describe the conflict among the machines in the story "Who Can Replace a Man?" What does the story claim by showing the machine obeying human order at the end of the story?

The world is facing a major problem of overpopulation today. Point out the issues of overpopulation the story "Billennium" raises.

If "The Land Ironclads" presents the war fought with weapons, "Burning Chrome" presents the war fought with the computer keyboard. Compare and contrast between the wars presented in these two stories.

How do you distinguish a science fiction from other kinds of fiction? Explain basing on the stories given in your textbook.

In the story, "But Who Can Replace A Man", the penner claims to have class three brain. Why do the tractor and the field minder leave the penner behind rejecting his request for help? Why he becomes useless after crashing down to the ground? Explain.

In the story "The Land Ironclads", the young lieutenant believes that there are other things in life better worth having than proficiency in war. However, the war correspondent argues that civilization has science, which has invented rifles and guns used by us. What happens after the guns are fired at the illusion of the lieutenant? Does it mean the war correspondent is more realistic than the lieutenant? Discuss.

or

Discuss "Billennium" by J.G. Ballard as a story of for future where it is not war, but overpopulation that threatens the human race.

Review the story Billennium by J.G. Ballard, or Burning Chrome by William Gibson. Consider plot, characters and the writer’s technological imagination among other elements in your answer.

Compare and contrast the stories Who Can Replace a Man? by Brian Aldiss and The Metal Man by Jack Williamson. Or Discuss Who Can Replace a Man? by Brian Aldiss as a science fiction story. You should consider plot, character and theme in your answer.

Nature is both survivor and killer. Justify this statement with reference to the short story "The Metal Man."

The story "Billennium" is mainly concerned with overpopulation and lack of space in a point in the future. Based on your reading of the story, how will the people of Kathmandu Valley solve the problems of overcrowding and space in the future? Give your answer in about three hundred words.