工程研究——跨学科视野中的工程2026，Vol.18Issue(2)：131-142,12.DOI:10.3724/j.issn.1674-4969.20250019
现代科幻文学的工程转向
The Engineering Turn of Modern Science Fiction
摘要
Abstract
With the advancement of technology and the progression of social transformation,science fiction since the 19th century has exhibited a distinctive"engineering turn".On the one hand,engineering activities and engineering products have increasingly become central objects of representation in science fiction,providing both logical foundations and focal points of conflict for narratives.On the other hand,the engineering mindset has permeated the creation of science fiction,giving rise to a new aesthetic paradigm:Engineering aesthetics.The primary objective of this research is to examine how engineering gradually assumed a central position in modern science fiction and to elucidate the conditions under which this transformation took place.By focusing on the increasing visibility of engineering activities,engineering products,and engineering-oriented ways of thinking in literary narratives,the study seeks to provide a clearer account of the role engineering has played in shaping the imaginative structures of modern science fiction. To achieve this goal,the article focuses on two major subgenres that played a crucial role in shaping science fiction's technological imagination:"miracle invention"stories and Utopian/Dystopian literature.These two subgenres provide complementary perspectives on the changing scale,function,and social meaning of technology in literary narratives,allowing the study to trace the emergence and consolidation of engineering thinking within science fiction. A qualitative approach is adopted,combining close textual analysis with historical-cultural contextualization.Through close reading and comparative interpretation of representative works from different periods,the study analyzes narrative structures,technological representations,and character roles to identify long-term shifts in how technology is imagined and narrated.Specifically,the analysis compares early and later examples within the two selected subgenres to highlight shifts in technological scale,complexity,and social orientation.In addition,the study situates these literary changes within broader historical contexts,including the scientific revolution,industrialization,and the social diffusion of engineering knowledge.By correlating transformations in literary representation with changes in social conditions,educational structures,and technological practices,the research explains how engineering-oriented thinking gradually became embedded in science fiction narratives.This comparative and historically grounded method allows the study to reconstruct the internal logic and cultural foundations of the engineering turn in modern science fiction. The results of the analysis demonstrate that the engineering turn manifests itself in two interrelated dimensions.First,engineering activities and products increasingly become central objects of representation.Technological imagination evolves from small-scale,individualized devices toward large-scale,integrated engineering systems that provide narrative foundations and drive conflict and tension.Second,the study identifies the gradual penetration of engineering thinking into the narrative logic of science fiction.This shift is characterized by an emphasis on feasibility,system integration,technical detail,and operational transparency,giving rise to what the article defines as an"engineering aesthetics".Under this aesthetic paradigm,narrative credibility is established through detailed descriptions of construction processes,material choices,and functional coordination,rather than through mystery,supernatural authority,or metaphysical speculation. The findings further indicate that this transformation fundamentally alters the sources of narrative tension and moral implication in science fiction.Conflicts increasingly arise from the inherent complexity,interdependence,and potential failure of engineering systems,rather than from divine punishment,metaphysical forces,or individual transgression.Engineering systems thus replace mystical power as the primary drivers of plot development and narrative risk. In the domain of utopian and dystopian literature,the study reveals a parallel evolution.Early utopian narratives prioritize moral virtue,just governance,and social harmony,with technology playing a marginal role.Over time,science fiction reconceptualizes society itself as a comprehensive engineering project,in which technological systems organize production,daily life,and governance.This process ultimately culminates in dystopian literature,where highly designed and highly controlled social engineering systems become central narrative structures. In conclusion,this study argues that the shift toward engineering constitutes a fundamental transformation in modern science fiction since the Mid-19th century.It operates simultaneously at the level of representation and narrative logic,reflecting broader historical changes such as industrialization,the expansion of engineering education,and engineering's growing social prominence as a mediator between science and everyday life. By demonstrating how engineering became a foundational paradigm in modern science fiction,this research contributes to science fiction studies,literary history,and science-and-technology cultural studies.It enriches existing discussions on the intellectual origins and historical significance of science fiction,highlighting the genre's enduring role in articulating modern technological consciousness and relations between technology and society.关键词
科幻文学/工程转向/工程美学/工程师思维/科学技术与社会Key words
science fiction/engineering turn/engineering aesthetics/engineer's mindset/STS分类
自科综合引用本文复制引用
苏湛,杨楠..现代科幻文学的工程转向[J].工程研究——跨学科视野中的工程,2026,18(2):131-142,12.基金项目
国家社会科学基金中国历史研究院重大历史问题研究专项:近代以来的科技进步与社会变迁研究(22VLS017) （22VLS017）
