Urbana University News: A Science Fiction Interview With Professor Tom Smith

A Science Fiction Interview With Professor Tom Smith

By Shane Black

Professor Tom Smith, Associate Professor of English, is UU’s science fiction expert. However, he is retiring after the spring 2016 semester after 25 years at UU. Because of his imminent retirement, it would be nice to know what his science fiction recommendations are.

If you were lucky enough to take Prof. Smith’s science fiction course, you would have been given a 15-page document showing around 400 science fiction novel and short story recommendations. However, even Professor Smith acknowledges that there is a lot material and it could be overwhelming for those unfamiliar with the genre.

For beginners and those wanting to get immerse themselves in the genre, Professor Smith recommends starting with The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume One, 1929–1964. He referred to “Nightfall” by Isaac Asimov as a “quintessential read.” Along with “Nightfall,” the Anthology series has an amazing collection of stories such as “A Martian Odyssey” by Stanley G. Weinbaum and “The Cold Equations” by Tom Godwin, a story that was featured in his last science fiction course.

Prof. Smith recommends starting with this anthology.

When asked about why he felt so strongly about science fiction, Professor Smith replied: “one of the things that I like [about science fiction] is that it suggests that we can make the future better place than what we currently have—improve upon the things we need to improve.” He also claimed that the genre could often be prophetic in its vision of the future. “We can almost see the future with science fiction. [Science fiction] inspires people to do things they’ve seen in the books as it imagines—predicts—the future.

Professor Smith has many suggestions when it comes to science fiction, but here are some of his top picks for anyone wanting to read the best novels of the genre:

• Anathem by Neal Stephenson is one of the best novels Smith has ever read. 
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick.
• Engines of God by Jack McDevitt. Smith claims that this series is “extremely well-done.”
• Forever War by Joe Haldeman.
• Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is “a must read about compliance and obedience.”
• Neuromancer by William Gibson.

There is a lot of contemporary science fiction also. For those wanting to completely immerse themselves in the field, Professor Smith suggests looking at some of the literary websites and other resources. He recommends websites such as Blackgate, for community involvement, and NetGalley, to read works before they are published. Magazines such as Locus Magazine and Asimov’s Science Fiction will allow readers to keep up with the most recent science fiction.

Professor Smith encourages everyone to give science fiction a chance. “Even the bad stuff has a nugget worth checking out,” he said.