Water
We’re living in times when water matters. The poles are melting, faster than expected, raising sea levels faster than was ever believed possible. People protest they are no longer allowed to build too close to the coast. The current protests about the plan for the Murray-Darling river system shows how difficult water issues are now and will be even more so in the future.
There is not enough fresh water, glaciers are melting bringing down floods, but the glaciers are not being replaced. Water is being divvied up by countries around the globe, not always happily. There will be wars about who owns water.
Rivers are dying because we are using all the water. ‘Water rights’ are being bought up from farmers so that rivers can flow again. Or are the water rights really being sold to agribusinesses who will control our food in the future?
We search for water on the Moon, on Mars, on every planet, hoping there will be enough to sustain life.
Did science fiction writers foresee these problems with water? What did water signify to them? Is water a theme or a metaphor in sci if, or both?
Water on Earth
Water, water everywhere: Waterworld showed a flooded Earth were everyone lived on rafts. With a vague memory of dry land, the Mariner struggles to save himself and give his ‘family’ a new life. Very few of us believe the whole planet will flood, but the idea was interesting.
More in line with what is happening is the idea that the government or large companies will take control of the water.
The Girl from Tomorrow as an Australian teenage series that presumed the misuse of water in our time would lead to dreadful water shortages in the future, and a military state to control everybody. The criminals Draco and Silverthorn steal water from the present to make a fortune for themselves in the future, destroying the far future as a result. Everything has to be set right, and the characters determine to be environmental activists to help the future be better.
Tank Girl has the Water and Power Company keeping strict control of water, stopping renegades like Tank Girl taking it.
Flash Gordon the series portrays Ming controlling the water on Mongo, then stealing it from Earth when he begins to run out.
The main idea seems to be that water shortages will lead to militaristic governments and companies controlling the water and the population.
How do we cope on other planets?
Arrakis is the most famous ‘other planet’ in this genre. In Dune Frank Herbert invented a planet that had very little water. On Arrakis the people wear ‘still suits’ to recycle every drop of water. Even at death people must return their water to their clan. An indoor garden is the greatest luxury you can have on Arrakis. When the ecology of Arrakis was changed to be wetter, this was a disaster and had to be reversed.
In Star Trek Voyager The Ocampa planet had underground supplies of water which it traded with the Kazon. Janeway is able to impress the Kazon by replicating water and beaming it in containers to the surface, then letting it run away when they won’t co-operate.
Stargate Universe has an episode Water where characters search for water on a likely planet, finding some that has creatures in it. At least water is acknowledged as a basis of life fundamental to survival.
In Earth 2 the groups has to find water that is safe to drink, trusting the Terrians to lead them to the right source.
Stargate Fire and Water has Daniel held in a laboratory underwater where he can’t escape.
Lexx has planet water refusing to share with water with planet fire, causing a war.
Finding safe water on other planets will be testing for humans. If there are other races competing for water there will be danger.
What about Underwater Cities?
Sci fi is fond of cities underwater with pretty domes and lights shining through the murk. No-one has built one yet, and seaQuest shows how difficult they could be.
Star Wars: Phantom Menace (film) The Gungans have an underwater city, which is quite dangerous to reach. Full of glass and lights with no information on how they grow food.
The Abyss (film) has an alien city in the depths of the ocean, with no realistic details.
City Beneath the Sea (film) has a race of water breathing humanoids called aquanoids.
The Neptune Factor (film) shows the rescue of people from an underwater lab.
Xardion (game) has Oceansphere.
Seastalker ( game) has the city Aquadome.
AquaNox (game) has the city Neopolis which is a battleground .
Blackstar (series) has the underwater kingdom of Aquaria.
The Fin(comic) had the underwater kingdom of Neptunia
Red Dwarf Nanarchy (series) showed Ocean World, with its Despair Squid.
seaQuest DSV (series) shows a number of underwater installations, most of which are imperfect.
Summing Up
Water gives life and with that it gives incredible power.
The lack of water can destroy a group, or lead to the dominance of a bullying leadership.
Uneven distribution of water can lead to war.
Living underwater is difficult and dangerous.
The ecology of this planet and others has to be respected. Altering an ecology successfully is difficult.
We may not be the only races needing water.
Intelligent creatures could develop gills to live underwater.
Water greedy gardens are a luxury, but we should have some.
Safe water is precious.
Next: It’s what’s in the water that matters.
