Jewel universe in MIB

[Jeffbert]

I am interested in whether there is a precedent for the jewel-sized universe depicted in MEN IN BLACK existing in earlier science fiction literature or film/TV.

[Metryq]

I think that's a concept from cosmology—infinite regression. Are the galaxies mere atoms in a higher universe, and are the atoms of our universe the wavefront of smaller universes? Sounds more like metaphysics than hard science to me.

[Jeffbert]

Thanks, Metryq; now that you mention it, I think I saw something about that, in a series on the universe some time ago. But I wonder about literature, rather than cosmology.

[steve12553]

I've read or seen the concept before, but I couldn't tell you where. And it was a long time ago.

[Interference]

I remember a Flash Gordon story, drawn by Gil Kane, where he had been reduced to sub-atom size and found himself on a planet - and monsters.

E.C. (comics) undoubtedly explored the proposition more than once.

The Atom series, I think, did something similar.

I suspect, though I only have a vague recollection, that this was included in the premise behind Micronauts.

I remember having the discussion with the family after (my) first viewing of The Incredible Shrinking Man - at what point would he stop shrinking - so the idea can't have been entirely original.

It's an idea with absolutely no scientific basis, of course (he says smugly, but without proof), as the short-hand descriptions we were given at school of electrons and protons orbiting a nucleus, like moons of a planet, were necessarily over-simplifications of their actual nature of layered energy fields (I hope the real scientists will tidy up my necessarily over-simplified stab at a description )

I think that, now we're becoming more familiar with the huge possibilities offered by our own solar system, by the galaxy in which it resides, by the neighbourhood our galaxy occupies and the Universe it's all encapsulated by, the possibility of sub-atomic life might be explored properly, but it's unlikely, even in fiction, to resemble the structure of space as we see it.

[Starbeast]

Originally Posted by Jeffbert

I am interested in whether there is a precedent for the jewel-sized universe depicted in MEN IN BLACK existing in earlier science fiction literature or film/TV.

It was a galaxy.

There have been a few old comic book stories that featured tiny galaxies (1960's & 1970's), I can't remember the titles. I'm sure there have been novels and short stories in the far past (1940's & 1950's).

You might want to check early Pulp Magazines.

[Jeffbert]

Thanks for the input, guys; the reason I ask is that such a concept was a major plot element in ASTROBOY's Treasures of Zolomon that Osamu Tezuka drew between 05/1967 & 1967/12. As he was known for borrowing or as one author calls it, 'quoting' from other sources, I suspected this, too, might have been 1.

I am working on a book about ASTROBOY, though I doubt it will ever be published.

[Starbeast]

Originally Posted by Jeffbert

I am working on a book about ASTROBOY, though I doubt it will ever be published.

I hope your "Astroboy" book does get published, good luck Jeffbert.

Wow, I still remember watching those old cartoons on a small B&W TV when I was a kid. I was thrilled that a movie was recently made for Astroboy. I saw the film months ago and I wasn't disappointed, it was very well done. I was surprised to hear Nicolas Cage and Donald Sutherland's voices in the animated flick too.

Are you going to include an episode guide in the book?

[Jeffbert]

I really do not know about including one at this time, as I hope this will be the 1st in a series. Here, I really want to focus on making Western audiences aware of the many versions that had been made. Any episode guide would be far from complete as there is just too much to include in the 1st book. I intend to focus on themes that recur throughout Tezuka's stories, and a look at several stories that have been featured in most versions, such as GREATEST ROBOT, that was the basis for Urwasawa's 8 volume manga, PLUTO. I have DVD sets of every series made, including a live-action serial that ran in 1958.

I also noted how as noted earlier, Tezuka borrowed plots & plot elements from various sources, but it appears that some film makers were inspired by the 1963 B&W ASTROBOY series (BTW, this contains only 104 of 193 episodes; I have the Japanese DVDs & the English ones, also.); though it is difficult to establish just who actually originated certain plot elements. I guess my book would attempt to present the series as relevant to Western literature, etc., in hopes that this will pique readers' interest.