Became an American Retro Novelist - Chapter 150



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150.

Science fiction, commonly known as SF.

I thought that this SF genre, like the European ‘literature of chivalry’ or the Eastern ‘martial arts’ genre, had its roots and foundation in America.

Beginning with Edgar Allan Poe’s The Untold Adventures of Hans Pal, which is considered the first science fiction work, science fiction has been produced and consumed in the United States in various forms, and has continuously expanded.

One of the most representative examples was superhero movies.

Superhero stories based on scientific imagination were a representative derivative genre of science fiction.

The fact that an ordinary scientist turns into a green monster after being exposed to gamma rays and that something like a super soldier serum exists in the world is proof that it is a derivative genre of science fiction.

Of course, even that was only a very small part of the overall category of SF.

This genre, which is broadly divided into hard SF, which focuses on science and technology itself, and soft SF, which focuses on society changed by science and technology, naturally gained attention as humanity was influenced by modernism.

As many of the superstitions that had ruled mankind for so long disappeared due to the advancement of science, and the void was filled by intellect and human pride, many people became enthusiastic about the science fiction genre that deals with scientific facts or theories.

After Edgar Allan Poe, figures such as Jules Verne of France and Herbert George Wells of England became pioneers, and in 1926, the world’s first science fiction magazine, ‘Amazing Stories’, was published in the United States. The founder of the magazine, Hugo Gernsback, who coined the term ‘science fiction’, was considered the father of modern science fiction.

The Hugo Award, named after Hugo himself, was one of the most prestigious awards in science fiction.

Moreover, most of the prestigious awards related to science fiction have been given to winners in the United States.

Of course, the mere presence of such famous awards does not necessarily mean that the United States is the country with the roots and foundation of science fiction.

As a result, the reason such awards were given is because Americans are serious about science fiction, not because there were awards that people became interested.

So why have Americans become so passionate and interested in science fiction?

I thought the reason came from the spirit that every American has in his heart.

It was the ‘pioneering spirit’.

It’s something that’s been dormant somewhere in the soul of Americans, from the founding of the United States, through the era of the Western Frontier, to the present.

Americans have a strong desire to conquer and possess the unknown, and accordingly, they tend to enjoy adventure and struggle.

For men in particular, it was almost considered essential. They enjoyed games like football, where the North conquers the South, and were always urged to live energetically and live full of energy.

Oh, right. You could say it like this.

If for extroverts the pioneering spirit is American football, for introverts like me the pioneering spirit is science fiction.

Accordingly, most of the works that led to the revival of SF and imprinted the image of SF on the public were ‘space operas’ that explored space with ‘adventure’ and ‘war’ as their main themes.

Works like ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars’ are representative examples.

As such, SF was a genre that Americans, and those influenced by the United States, could not help but like. Just like the mystery genre, it influenced even more diverse works in the future, and its genre power never wavered.

‘Of course, the work I’m trying to write now isn’t that type of science fiction.’

The more I took classes and thought about it, the more certain I became about it.

Given my time constraints and the purpose of this piece, I thought a different form of science fiction would be more appropriate than space opera.

At Stanford University, I take four classes outside of my regular classes.

Basic Physics Lesson 1.

Astrophysics 1 class.

Social Psychology 1 class.

Evolutionary Psychology Lesson 1.

Each class itself was very introductory in nature, so it wasn’t that difficult. Also, rather than trying to achieve some academic grades, the focus was on reviewing and remembering the knowledge I had vaguely known, so there was no reason to even question the level of difficulty.

But one day, while I was listening to the class in that way, I happened to come across a very uncomfortable person.

It was Kate Moore, my bad relationship since high school.

“······?!”

She was among the students, and when she recognized me, her eyes widened.

I was also taken aback. I knew we went to the same university, but I never imagined we would meet so soon.

‘Oh, by the way.’

Kate’s image seemed to have changed dramatically since she went to college.

She let down her braided hair and removed her braces. She also changed her glasses to a rimless design, which is considered stylish for this era. She also changed from wearing just a sweater to wearing a neat white shirt and skirt. It may seem a bit old-fashioned by my standards, but overall, she looked like a well-groomed college student.

Seeing her frozen in an instant, her friends approached her and spoke to her.

“What’s going on, Kate?”

“Are you okay? Why are you suddenly frozen?”

The new friends I had made at college were all handsome white men and women who were dressed up nicely. They tilted their heads and then looked at me, who was looking at Kate.

Although it had only been about two months since I entered university, I was already very well-adapted to the cradle of learning that is university.

In other words, I was wearing a baggy t-shirt and jeans.

I smiled without realizing it.

‘This, this.’

This is a situation that makes my mouth water~~!

Kate Moore, who seems to be very concerned about her image to the outside world, can pretend to know other stylish friends?!

And you’re wearing a baggy T-shirt and jeans covered in burger sauce?!

I thought there was nothing as delicious as this, and I smiled brightly and approached Kate.

“Kate-!”

For her, this situation right now is like ‘The Empire Strikes Back’.

“Ugh······! Oh, hello?”

“How have you been? Is this the first time we’ve seen each other since you graduated from school?”

“Oh, right. Maybe? How have you been?”

“Yeah, totally. Oh, this is my friends? Hello!”

“uh······.”

“Um, hello.”

A slightly embarrassed look. A rare Asian man in this university, dressed in shabby clothes, suddenly approached me and acted friendly, so I wondered what the hell was going on.

I looked back at Kate, trying hard not to show my mischievous feelings.

“You seem a little busy right now, so let’s grab a cup of coffee later when you have time.”

“Uh, okay. I’ll contact you later.”

Kate nodded with a slightly relieved expression.

After I finished greeting my other friends and turned around, I couldn’t help but smile as I listened to her trying to explain who I was and to sort out the situation.

‘Was that a bit too much?’

But even after entering college, seeing Kate wearing a mask in front of others, just like in high school, made me want to joke around.

While I was teasing Kate like that, I went back to the parking lot and reviewed what I had learned in class that day. Then I got in my car and started the engine.

And as I was leaving the parking lot and heading back to the dorm, I saw someone.

‘Did I see something wrong?’

No it wasn’t.

Kate Moore.

He was standing at the entrance to the parking lot where the car was pulling out, having broken away from the group of friends and followed them.

Even with his eyes wide open, he was glaring at the car I was riding in. I had a feeling that if I ignored him and went back to the dorm, he would chase me, making a ‘shin shin shin shin shin shin shin-‘ sound, so I quietly stopped the car.

I grabbed the handle and turned it, and the window went down.

“············.”

“Hey, we’re seeing each other again soon?”

“············.”

“Want to go? Want to go get some coffee······?”

Kate Moore opens the car door wide and gets into the backseat.

‘I was teasing you for nothing.’

This kid, if I touched him any further, he would completely explode.

“Let’s go.”

“Uh, um. Where to?”

“Anywhere. Let’s talk.”

Boohoo.

I started the car without saying a word.

And Kate opened her mouth like she was the CEO of some fancy company.

“Why are you here?”

“······I go to Stanford too?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m asking why you’re on our side when you’re in the literature department.”

“I attended the lecture.”

“······why?”

“Just because you wanted to hear it?”

“Isn’t it a busy time these days when you have to keep up with your major classes while also building your social network?”

“Oh, really?”

“You’re a freshman. It’s a time when everyone is getting to know each other by going to parties here and there. You’re busy with club activities and school life, so I just don’t understand why you’re going out of your way to audit a class first.”

“Do you really have to do that?”

I asked back with a smirk. When I glanced at Kate through the rearview mirror, she looked dumbfounded at my answer.

I don’t know what the ‘social network’ that is so important to her means, but I don’t care about that at all. I’ll make friends anyway, and if I don’t, it doesn’t really matter.

‘What’s the point of a relationship that you’re trying to build?’

Kate sighs and looks out the window.

I opened my mouth with a small smile.

“The image has changed a lot.”

“······What are you talking about?”

“Take off your braces, change your glasses, and take off your sweater.”

“It’s okay if it’s a compliment. It’s just uncomfortable because I have to keep pushing on my stomach.”

“Then wouldn’t one baggy T-shirt be enough?”

“Then people around you will look down on you. You don’t know my pain.”

“You don’t know my pain either.”

“What kind of pain? The pain of creation? ······Ah! Hey! When will the sequel to ‘About T’ come out!”

“If you want spoilers, pay $100.”

Fumbling around.

“I’m joking. Stop it.”

I scolded Kate for blatantly putting her hands in her pockets.

“Are you kidding me? Don’t ask me that. It’s such a difficult situation for a writer.”

“Um, sorry. But I’ve been feeling hopeless lately since the series ended.”

“Aren’t you forming a ‘social network’?”

“I’m not doing it because I like it.”

“Why do you do something you don’t like?”

“Because it’s essential for living. Humans are social animals and need relationships. You can’t deny that, right? It was a topic discussed in social psychology class earlier. Besides, college relationships can be important connections in society, unlike high school relationships······.”

“It feels like the roles have been reversed.”

“what?”

“Humans are social animals. Yes. I agree. That’s why I try to get along well with my college classmates. Next semester, we’ll all go our separate ways depending on what classes we want to take, but the relationships we’ve formed now will still be helpful for our college life. But, if you lose yourself in trying to please others, isn’t that just being a sucker rather than forming a social network?”

“Oh, you’re a fool?”

“Of course, if you think about the you from high school, you wouldn’t have acted like a pushover. Once you get to know each other, you’ll smile brightly and use the good image you’ve built up over time to do whatever you want with the other person. But if you get stressed out during that process, then what’s the point?”

“Oh, oh, no! I didn’t do that even in high school!”

“Hey, Kate.”

I briefly called attention to myself and continued speaking.

“Haven’t we already seen everything there is to see in each other?”

“Oh my god, there’s nothing she can’t say!!”

“······That’s not what I meant.”

As I looked at Kate, her face flushed bright red, wondering what on earth she was imagining, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Is this your true self now? Or is it when you act all smug in front of the kids that you’re your true self?”

Kate, who couldn’t easily answer my question and ended up becoming a dumb person.

I focused on driving again.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.

‘Oh.’

I’m starting to think that this situation might not be a bad idea to use as the central idea of ​​this novel.

A description of ‘society’ and the ‘humans’ living there.

It was a very common subject in science fiction novels.

But what if I expanded on that based on what I’m experiencing now and in the future?

“Anyway, coffee is fine. Just drop me off somewhere appropriate and I’ll go back.”

Katenji Cake was muttering something behind me, but I couldn’t hear it.

‘After all, weren’t there many people like Kate in the future? No, if anything, it’s gotten worse.’

“······Hey, God?”

I circled Stanford Road, lost in thought the whole time.

***

Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles.

Even after Shin left for Stanford, Kitten’s Comic Book Store continued to do business with great success.

In particular, his influence had a significant effect on the store’s behavior, as the president, Keaton, and the comic book store’s ‘master’ Bill began to build a business relationship of their own, which led to a more nerd-friendly (?) approach.

Comic books and board games were arranged by genre to make them easier to find, and items such as drinks, snacks, and hot dogs began to be sold in a more authentic way to cater to nerds’ tastes than before. In particular, Bill, known as “The Seven” at his workplace, introduced the technique of boiling sausages in water and grilling them, which led to the restaurant becoming known as a popular restaurant among nerds.

But lately, there’s been a bit of a gloomy atmosphere hanging over Kittens Comic Book Store.

The reason was simple.

It was because ‘that guy’ wasn’t there.

The Play section inside the store.

Fred opened his mouth, slumped over the table.

“Master······. Is that guy not coming anymore?”

“It’s late. If we keep doing this, we’ll end up becoming grandfathers?”

“I’ll definitely come back. Don’t worry.”

The man who spoke soothingly at the end was none other than ‘that guy’s’ best friend, Doofy Kingston.

After getting a job at the company, he always wore a blue suit. He smiled and carefully colored the eyes of a miniature figure. After painting the white and black irises in reverse, in accordance with the setting of a demon, he put the figure down and raised his head as if missing a god who had gone far away. He muttered.

“Ah, God. Are you happy there?”

“Then I’m sure he’s doing well.”

“Haha, I hope you don’t forget this place.”

“Yeah. When he comes back someday, we’ll just greet him with, ‘Welcome back.’”

The nerds who had completed their resolutions from a long time ago smiled as they recalled their memories with God.

It was just then.

Someone burst open the door and walked into the comic book store, and everyone except Scalp was instantly struck by the hair-raising sensation.

Fred looked out towards the paper section, wondering what was going on, and came back into the road, his face pale and shivering.

“Hey, Master! ‘She’ is here!”

“‘Her’ all of a sudden?! What the heck······!”

“Damn it, it’s been over two months since I last spoke to a woman!”

Nerds gather together and make a fuss to respond to ‘her’ who came into the store.

Alexa shouted as she entered the comic book store with an anxious expression, completely unaware of the fact.

“I need a comic book!”

Everyone was astonished at the event that would change the world.

End

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