Welcome to the Frederick Puzzler's Corner!
This is a monthly event to encourage puzzle solving in the geocaching community, and all are welcome.
January 2nd is Science Fiction Day.
Science fiction is a genre of writing that goes back as early as the 2nd century AD, when Lucian wrote A True Story using many themes that are still found in modern science fiction, such as travel to other worlds, extraterrestrial life forms, artificial life, and interplanetary warfare. The genre, as a rule, is grounded in actual science, avoiding introducing any supernatural connections, which is what defines the primary difference between science fiction and fantasy.
Johannes Kepler’s Somnium (The Dream), written in the early 17th century, is thought by both Carl Sagan and Isaac Asimov to be the first true work of science fiction. Other well-known works since then include Comical History of the States and Empires of the Moon (Cyrano de Bergerac-1657), Gulliver’s Travels (Jonathan Swift-1726), and Frankenstein (Mary Shelley, 1818).
With the advent of new technologies like electricity, the telegraph, and new forms of transportation, writers in the late 19th century were able to appeal to audiences across a broader spectrum of society. A couple of these writers were H.G. Wells (War of the Worlds-1898, The Time Machine-1895) and Jules Verne (Journey To The Center of the Earth-1864, Around the World in Eighty Days-1873).
In the early 20th century, pulp fiction periodicals helped to introduce and encourage a new generation of American science fiction writers. The 1930’s saw a group of writers come together, calling themselves the Futurians. One of these Futurians was Isaac Asimov. Other well-known names who entered the scene at this time included Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ray Bradbury. About this time, hard science fiction focused on celebrating scientific achievement and progress. In the 1950’s, newer writers were giving more emphasis to the social sciences in their fiction.
Of course, as newer technologies are created, theorized, and dreamed of, science fiction feeds off these ideas. Gene Roddenberry exposed television viewers to scientific progress through his research on inventions and theoretical science, and created futuristic technologies based on this research. Except for the transporter (which I’m still waiting for!), you can see in the real world today many of the “fictional” tools and technologies he created for the Star Trek universe. The flip phones that are now making a little bit of a comeback sure do look like the original communicators from the Enterprise (NX-01) and the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)!
This day was chosen for Science Fiction Day because it is the assumed birth-date of Isaac Asimov in 1920 (the date he himself celebrated).
Recognizing this day is easy by curling up with a good book or watching a sci-fi movie. Don’t forget the directors who have brought some of these stories to convincing life in the theater, like Ridley Scott (“Alien” franchise), Stanley Kubrick (who can forget that black monolith and Hal from “2001: A Space Odyssey”?), Garth Jennings (“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”), Steven Spielberg (“E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”, “Jaws”, “Raiders of the Lost Ark”, “Back to the Future”, “Jurassic Park”, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”, etc.), Robert Zemeckis (“Contact" - written by Carl Sagan, “Back to the Future” series with Spielberg), and George Lucas (“Star Wars” franchise, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Jurassic Park” with Spielberg), among others. I just might pick up a Bradbury book - those were my favorites when I was in school!
And now, for the usual spiel…
This event is open to all cachers, no matter what your statistics say or whether you even like puzzles! So newbies and addicts, socialites and lone wolves, mark you calendar.
If you've got a puzzle or mystery cache that's currently got you stumped and you'd like to pick some brains, this event is for you! Zombies are not welcome here though, so please leave your pets at home - we want everyone to leave with the brains they brought, at minimum.
This event has evolved to a think-tank-type gathering, with everyone collaborating on the latest tantalizing quizzler on their radar. Occasionally there may be a short tutorial on some aspect of puzzle solving, but the learning seems to come from working with one another to solve a teaser. You don't have to work on puzzles to enjoy this, as there are plenty of stories to be heard. However, you'll have plenty of others to commiserate with, or maybe find someone who has already solved a puzzle using a similar technique. We continue to see successes and progress at each gathering.
For the puzzle junkies, bring your puzzle paraphenalia - cache listings, laptop or tablet (Wi-Fi is available), theories, worksheets, (sp)eye glasses, HTML color code charts, Enigma machine, abacus, scratch paper (don’t forget your writing instrument) - you never know who (or what!) will show up, and what kind of help you might encounter. Maybe you’ve recently cracked a tough one and want to see the wheels spinning while others tackle it - that can be loads of fun! Yes, we have regular head-slapping moments!
If you have a topic you'd like to learn more about, or have a specific puzzle you'd like help with, feel free to make note of it in your Will Attend log.
When: Tuesday, January 2, 2018, 6pm - 8pm
Where: Wegman's Market Cafe, 7830 Worman's Mill Road, Frederick, MD
If you also bring your appetite, all costs are your own responsibility.
Field trips not included.
(But it's a good time to plan them!)