en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_futurologists
3 corrections found
writer who produced the novels behind Blade Runner and Minority Report
Blade Runner is based on a Philip K. Dick novel, but Minority Report is based on his short story "The Minority Report," not a novel.
Full reasoning
This claim is incorrect because it calls both source works novels.
Blade Runner is based on Philip K. Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The BFI's overview of the film explicitly identifies that novel as the source material.
But Minority Report is not based on a novel by Dick. Philip K. Dick's own bibliography page lists "THE MINORITY REPORT (1956)" among his short stories, and a Philip K. Dick site notes that it is about 17,000 words and can be considered a novelette rather than a short story—still not a novel.
So the accurate description is that Dick wrote the novel behind Blade Runner and the short story/novelette behind Minority Report.
3 sources
- Blade Runner: anatomy of a classic | BFI
Dick's 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?... The film's basic plot structure is surprisingly faithful to the book.
- SHORT STORIES
THE SHORT STORIES OF PHILIP K. DICK ... THE MINORITY REPORT (1956)
- THE MINORITY REPORT
At almost 17,000 words "The Minority Report" can be considered a novelette rather than a short story.
fiction writer who invented the word robot
Karel Čapek introduced the word "robot" in R.U.R., but sources credit the coinage itself to his brother Josef Čapek.
Full reasoning
This wording is inaccurate. Karel Čapek's 1921 play R.U.R. is the work that introduced the word robot to a wide audience, but Karel himself later credited the actual invention of the word to his brother Josef Čapek.
The official Karel Čapek site says that the world first encountered the word in R.U.R., but also states: "It is known that the word robot was created by Karel's brother Josef". Guinness World Records likewise says the word was introduced by Karel Čapek in R.U.R., and that it was "suggested to Čapek by his brother Josef".
So the accurate formulation is that Karel Čapek popularized or introduced the word in his play, while Josef Čapek is credited with coining it.
2 sources
- Karel Čapek | Čapek
"R.U.R." is Čapek's utopian drama where the world encountered the word "robot" for the first time... It is known that the word robot was created by Karel's brother Josef.
- First public reference to robots | Guinness World Records
The word "robot" was introduced into the language by novelist and playwright Karel Čapek... The word, suggested to Čapek by his brother Josef, derives from the Czech word "robota".
novelist known for Mars Trilogy, 2312 (novel), Aurora (novel), and the forthcoming 'New York, 2140'
"New York 2140" is not forthcoming; it was published on March 14, 2017.
Full reasoning
This claim is outdated and therefore incorrect. New York 2140 has already been published.
Hachette Book Group's page for the book lists "On Sale Mar 14, 2017". A Kim Stanley Robinson reference site likewise states that "New York 2140" is a Kim Stanley Robinson novel published on March 14 2017.
Because the book was published in 2017, describing it as "forthcoming" is false.
2 sources
- New York 2140 by Kim Stanley Robinson | Hachette Book Group
On Sale Mar 14, 2017 ... New York 2140
- New York 2140 | KimStanleyRobinson.info
"New York 2140" is a Kim Stanley Robinson novel published on March 14 2017 (hardcover, ebook, audiobook) in the USA, Canada and Australia.