I just figured out how to write science fiction at least the kind that starts off with an enigma.
- look at a future science technology. One you make up yourself or someone else makes up
- figure out why it's not possible today (perhaps though it is possible in which case you could patent it)
- look at the drawbacks
- look at the dangers
- Begin of your story where danger becomes reality. (This is like in fringe, X files and Star Trek The next Generation and Doctor Who) Where the opening sequence something strange happens but the reader and characters don't know why because they haven't been told about the technology. They aren't aware of it or that it exists. (it might exist in their setting and the reader can be made aware of it if the characters are aware of the technolgy but he and the characters haven't yet connected the technology and the strange event) I suppose it doesn't have to be some horrific thing either as long as it's sufficiently compelling and strange.
- The rest of the story is about the investigation into what happened and slowly the technology that caused the problem is revealed. I guess this is more a mystery than science fiction.
I'll give you an example.
- A space alien startles a farmer and is shot.
- Upon getting hit by a bullet the alien explodes.
- The creature has the ability to speak telepathically (implanted radio transmitter) which is necessary since it lives in an environment devoid of any air which is necessary for sound to travel.
- What is odd is that it is a being that lives in space (an environment with no atmosphere) and yet he exploded in an atmosphere on earth.
- In the course of the story it is discovered that since there is no air in space space creatures carry a lifetimes supply of oxygen in a device implanted in their lungs. Upon being hit by a bullet the oxygen canister exploded. (it could be that the creatures detonate the canister themselves to prevent us from capturing them)
It may not be academy award material. But this is a conundrum and it's I think enough to keep someone interested enough to keep reading. I came up with the idea since all the other planets and moons and asteroids we know of are hostile to life. However if a person had a way to breath without an atmosphere he could survive on almost all moons, asteroids, comets and dwarf planets we know of. Since there is no air in space though you would need a way to communicate. Just as the oxygen could be implanted so could a device that allows communication by thought. After that you are pretty good to go in space. No need for atmosphere. At that point the moons are even more hospitable than the planets with atmosphere since the atmospheres are usually the wrong temperature. Mars isn't so bad. As cold as it might be the atmosphere is so thin that the temperature would have less effect although the wind can move quickly. On airless worlds temperature is almost a non-issue because space is the ultimate insulator. The only way you can lose heat is for it leave as radiation. Without the requirement for an outside air supply you have less need for a pressurized environment. It's the fact that you need to breath air that you have to pressurize the air inside a spacesuit. If the air you breath is pressurized then your whole suit needs to be pressurized. If the blood were oxygenated directly there would be no need for lungs or breathing The only danger might be a cut. I'm not sure that the blood would coagulate quickly enough. Sorry if the example is overly graphic. It's just about looking at a situation from an angle from which the situation makes no sense other than that it's of great importance. In a mystery the event is a murder. It doesn't have to be something catastrophic. I'm sure it could also be something amazing as long as it's implications are far reaching enough. You still need good characterization though with lots if detail.
