Novum

Often when someone in class asks, "Why is this story SF?" the answer we give him/her is the "novum" of the story: the extrapolatory technical device, concept, process, location, etc. that the story's author has invented for this story. It's the "new thing" that characterizes so many SF stories and makes them seem futuristic and cool. It's a concept coined by SF writer/critic Darko Suvin. For your blog, consider the concept of the novum. While many readers enjoy it purely for the shiny novelty value of a new thing, how can we as literary scholars discuss the novum in terms of the work we do? Why is it a valuable device? Why does SF use it? Think about the elements that make up the meaning in a story: - characters - plot - conflict - language/style - the reader - genre expectations specific to SF How does the novum create, enact, enhance, or enable any of those elements of the story? Why does SF use/need the novum? Use specific examples from our stories where applicable.

One of our assigned class readings this week was "Baby, You Were Great!" by Kate Wilhelm. In this short story the novum is a device that John Lewisohn created. It is a helmet that the user wears, with eight connection spots to the skull, and it allows the user to feel everything the other person (the one they are viewing) is feeling. In the case of "Baby, You Were Great!", it's pornographic and sexual stimulation. I think the novum is a valuable device in SF, because it places a totally out there device, thing, person, etc. into the lives of the characters and causes the reader to incorporate life with that novum into their imagination. In other words, it causes the reader to think more outside of the box. Literary scholars can discuss the novum in terms of their work because, especially in SF, the novum is often what the story is all about. While every story has a plot, often including love triangles, missions, and always something blocking those objectives, the novum is often the means the main plot or goal is attained through. SF needs a novum not only because it distinguishes a work as SF, but also to cause the main conflict. In "Baby, You Were Great!" the "emotion" machine ended up being John's only connection to Anne, Anne's inescapable nightmare, and Herb's moneymaking machine! All three of which caused the main characters conflicts with each other.

Personally, I like the literary device of the novum because it's usually awesome! In the stories we've read so far, while I wouldn't want the feeling device from "Baby, You Were Great!" or the machine that evaluates your performance from "Dead Space for the Unexpected" in my life, they are still incredibly interesting and cause me to think about what my future would be like with technology that advanced and incorporated into daily life. Already technology has taken over larger chunks of our lives than ever before. It can be scary at times.

:D