--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the…" description: "\"“I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the California State University at Fullerton put it best when he said that the true protagonist of an sf story or novel ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg" --- # I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the California State… ![“I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the California State University at Fullerton put it best when he said that the true protagonist of an sf story or novel is an idea and not a person. If it is *good* sf the idea is new, it is stimulating, and, probably most important of all, it sets off a…” quote by Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg) > ““I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the California State University at Fullerton put it best when he said that the true protagonist of an sf story or novel is an idea and not a person. If it is \*good\* sf the idea is new, it is stimulating, and, probably most important of all, it sets off a chain-reaction of ramification-ideas in the mind of the reader; it so-to-speak unlocks the reader’s mind so that the mind, like the author’s, begins to create. Thus sf is creative and it inspires creativity, which mainstream fiction by-and-large does not do. We who read sf (I am speaking as a reader now, not a writer) read it because we love to experience this chain-reaction of ideas being set off in our minds by something we read, something with a new idea in it; hence the very best since fiction ultimately winds up being a collaboration between author and reader, in which both create and enjoy doing it: joy is the essential and final ingredient of science fiction, the joy of discovery of newness.”” [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science fiction's power lies in presenting novel ideas that trigger a cascade of thoughts, turning reading into a collaborative creative act between author and reader. **In simple terms:** SF sparks ideas that make readers think and create. Key Takeaway Ideas, not characters, drive SF's impact. Themes creativity idea generation reader engagement science fiction collaboration Mood enthusiastic inspired curious Type philosophical literary criticism genre reflection When to use this quote - reading a speculative novel - brainstorming future tech - discussing plot twists - teaching creative writing Key Concepts cognitive activation conceptual chaining Practical Applications - use SF to inspire innovative thinking - design workshops that map idea chains Questions to Reflect On - How does an idea become more compelling than a protagonist? - What mechanisms make a story's concept contagious? A Different Perspective Not all SF ideas are novel; some rely on clichés that may stifle rather than stimulate imagination. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [“the true protagonist of an sf story or novel is an idea not a person. If it is good sf the idea is new,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philik-k-dick-dr-willis-mcnelly/the-true-protagonist-of-an-sf-story-or-novel-is-an-idea-not-a-person/) philik k dick dr. willis McNelly > [The future depicted in a good SF story ought to be in fact possible, or at least plausible. That means that the writer should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-pohl/the-future-depicted-in-a-good-sf-story-ought-to-be-in-fact-possible/) [Frederik Pohl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-pohl/) > [I was twelve when I read my first sf magazine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-was-twelve-when-i-read-my-first-sf-magazine/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Many a fine SF story uses science or technology merely as backdrop. Many a fine SF story presumes a technological breakthrough and explores its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/many-a-fine-sf-story-uses-science-or-technology-merely-as-backdrop/) [Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/) > [To write good SF today...you must push further and harder, reach deeper into your own mind until you break through into the strange and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gardner-dozois/to-write-good-sf-today-you-must-push-further-and-harder-reach-deeper/) Gardner Dozois > [“SF's NO GOOD! They bellow 'til we're deaf But =this= is good Well, then, it's not SF!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingsley-amis/sf-s-no-good-they-bellow-til-we-re-deaf-but-this-is-good-well-then-it/) [Kingsley Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingsley-amis/) > [Anything can happen in SF. And the fact that nothing ever does happen in SF is only due to the poverty of our imaginations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/anything-can-happen-in-sf-and-the-fact-that-nothing-ever-does-happen/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Loads of children read books about dinosaurs, underwater monsters, dragons, witches, aliens, and robots. Essentially, the people who read SF, fantasy and horror haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/china-mi-ville/loads-of-children-read-books-about-dinosaurs-underwater-monsters/) [China Mieville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/china-mi-ville/) > [I do not read SF as much as I used to. It's too much like a busman's holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-l-chalker/i-do-not-read-sf-as-much-as-i-used-to-it-s-too-much-like-a-busman-s/) [Jack L. 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I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) Edward Einhorn > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) ## More by Philip K. Dick > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Even if all life on our planet is destroyed, there must be other life somewhere which we know nothing of. It is impossible that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/even-if-all-life-on-our-planet-is-destroyed-there-must-be-other-life/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“That is not how you do it; you do not solve one problem with another, greater problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/that-is-not-how-you-do-it-you-do-not-solve-one-problem-with-another/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [For each person there is a sentence—a series of words—which has the power to destroy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/for-each-person-there-is-a-sentence-a-series-of-words-which-has-the/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [I want to write about people I love, and put them into a fictional world spun out of my own mind, not the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-want-to-write-about-people-i-love-and-put-them-into-a-fictional/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [Why does a man cry? he wondered. Not like a woman; not for that. Not for sentiment. A man cries over the loss of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/why-does-a-man-cry-he-wondered-not-like-a-woman-not-for-that-not-for/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The day came. The wrath descended. Sin, guilt, and retribution? The manic psychoses of those entities we referred to as states, institutions, systems -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-day-came-the-wrath-descended-sin-guilt-and-retribution-the-manic/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [The church of my choice is the free, open world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/the-church-of-my-choice-is-the-free-open-world/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“I see,' Rick said. He felt numb. Completely. Throughout his entire body.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-see-rick-said-he-felt-numb-completely-throughout-his-entire-body/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“What is identity? he asked himself. Where does the act end? Nobody knows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-is-identity-he-asked-himself-where-does-the-act-end-nobody-knows/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [You're killing yourself with cynicism. Your idols got taken away from you one by one and now you have nothing to give your love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/you-re-killing-yourself-with-cynicism-your-idols-got-taken-away-from/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [What scared me the most was when my father would put on the gasmask. His face would disappear... This was not a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/what-scared-me-the-most-was-when-my-father-would-put-on-the-gasmask/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“A man is an angel that has become deranged, Joe Fernwright thought. Once they – all of them – had been genuine angels, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/a-man-is-an-angel-that-has-become-deranged-joe-fernwright-thought/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [“When do I see a photograph, when a reflection?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/when-do-i-see-a-photograph-when-a-reflection/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) > [My major preoccupation is the question, 'What is reality?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/my-major-preoccupation-is-the-question-what-is-reality/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Explore all 489 Philip K. Dick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! 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Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the California State University at Fullerton put it best when he said that the true protagonist of an sf story or novel is an idea and not a person. If it is *good* sf the idea is new, it is stimulating, and, probably most important of all, it sets off a chain-reaction of ramification-ideas in the mind of the reader; it so-to-speak unlocks the reader’s mind so that the mind, like the author’s, begins to create. Thus sf is creative and it inspires creativity, which mainstream fiction by-and-large does not do. We who read sf (I am speaking as a reader now, not a writer) read it because we love to experience this chain-reaction of ideas being set off in our minds by something we read, something with a new idea in it; hence the very best since fiction ultimately winds up being a collaboration between author and reader, in which both create and enjoy doing it: joy is the essential and final ingredient of science fiction, the joy of discovery of newness.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip K. Dick" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-california-state-university-at/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-california-state-university-at/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0f/philip-k-dick-502_books_i-think-dr-willis-mcnelly-at-the-califor_105747.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think Dr. Willis McNelly at the California State University at Fullerton put it best when he said that the…” — Philip K. 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