This thesis investigates not so much the engineer as a character in fiction but the writer of fiction, the novelist, as a person who can have surprising insights into engineering principles without formal study or training in engineering. The engineer has featured in fiction novels significantly in the last century. The engineer as a protagonist in the novel on many occasions has been created by an author who is not an engineer. The same comment could well be made regarding the writers of science fiction who indeed are not necessarily scientists but write credibly about scientific inventions, usually set in the future. This thesis argues that there is a distinction between writing science fiction and writing about engineering, although the two are often combined in the one novel. This thesis distinguishes science fiction (Sci-Fi) from what is described as En-Fi or engineering fiction. Engineering fiction or En-Fi is based upon real life engineering feats, if one accepts that the definition of engineering is the “application” of science and technology. The specific hypothesis of this thesis is that credible engineering fiction (En- Fi) can be constructed by non-engineer trained authors. To support this hypothesis there is both a review of novels with the engineer as a central character and an examination of novels where engineering concepts used in developing a storyline are outlined in detail. Indeed, to support the above hypothesis a supplementary “En-Fi” novel has been created. This novel, titled, “Amber Reins Fall”, is used as the central device in addition to the literature review to prove that a writer untrained in engineering can write an En-Fi novel that has a high degree of credibility in engineering terms. The construction of this engineering fiction (En-Fi) novel is carried out in detail outlining the various engineering devices used to strengthen the storyline. Examples of engineering such as a light engineering factory of the 1950’s, operational aspects of the Panama Canal and the disposal of nuclear waste in the Australian desert are included in the novel. Three other novels by the author (of this thesis) are included as part of the argument supporting the hypothesis. They also demonstrate the combination of En-Fi and Sci-Fi. In the first novel “Greenwars” (d’ettut 1998) the overriding engineering component is AARDVARK (accelerated animal reasoning, decision making, voicing and reflective kinetics); the interactive voting video and dolphin scooters. The second novel “Pie Square” (d’ettut 2000) has as the major engineering component the interactive video games. The third novel, “Vampire Cities” (d’ettut 2000) has as the major engineering component a conductor’s baton (although this might be construed as science fiction). Two of the actual novels, “Greenwars” and “Pie Square” have been appended as part of the thesis presentation. They both deal with the central character “Adam Teforp”, also featured in “Amber Reins Fall”. “Vampire Cities” has not been appended as this critical character is not part of that novel. The literature review and the construction of ����Amber Reins Fall���� point to the validity of the hypothesis; that is that non-engineers can write convincing engineering orientated novels. Its also asserted that there is sufficient evidence to recognize a genre called En-Fi, different from the science fiction genre. / Master of Engineering (Hons.)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/242542 |
| Date | January 2007 |
| Creators | Stevens, D. R., University of Western Sydney, College of Health and Science, School of Engineering |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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