The story “The Cold Equations” written by Tom Godwin was published in Astounding Science Fiction in 1954. This was an early piece of science fiction genre where many of familiar icons today were deriving from. These icons of the artifact are the markers embedding in the story that signals it is a science fiction story. Some of the science fictional icons in this story are the use of the space cruiser, specifically the Emergency Dispatch Ship, a characteristic hero and the law.
The underlying principle of all science fiction is that the law is all and everything, the law of nature is strict and must be followed at all times. They are inexorable and unconcerned about morality and feeling or compassion or if it was just a mistake as well as unable to altered by politics or wishes. It can be seen through across other texts especially time travel related or space exploration. In “The Cold Equation”, the law of nature and the rigid law of Interstellar Regulations could not demand the unquestioning obedience if they could be modified to suit the individual or special circumstances like in Marilyn case. The Emergency Dispatch Ship is calculated to carry an exact amount of fuel to get the pilot…show more content… His expertise is often displayed in the knowledge of engineering or science and “The Cold Equations” is one of the few science fiction stories that makes it clear. In society, there will be always someone who try to find some ways to bend the law like the pilot of EDS Barton with existing of margins of error that creates the drama. But when it comes right down to it, for most people you either ‘shut up or color’ or you die. Godwin was making the point that real life doesn't work like fiction - sometimes a good guy's best efforts aren't enough. Because in most of science fiction stories, Barton would have turned the situation around by inventing a new device or coming with a solution to save the