Ridley Scott's Prophets of Science Fiction | 1 - 8 | Discovery.ZigCOM

Art and science used to be treated as opposite and conflicting fields of study. Lately, both realms have shown more willingness to admit they're linked.

Now a wonderfully geeky TV series looks at that nexus in a way that should make both sides proud.

"The Prophets of Science Fiction," co-produced by Ridley Scott ("Blade Runner," "Alien"), charts the creative genius of science fiction authors alongside the believe-it-or-not breakthroughs of modern science.

Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" suggested organ transplants and cardiac defibrilllators; Philip K. Dick's stories foretold robotics; Jules Verne put a man on the moon in Victorian times; Arthur C. Clarke anticipated iPads and videophones.

Stranger than truth! And illustrated with graphic-novel images, film clips, dramatic re-creations as well as plain old documentary-style talking heads, "The Prophets of Science Fiction" treads smart, untapped territory.

"For years I have been fascinated with the connection between creative inspiration and scientific progress," said Scott, who appears as host, bookending each episode.

"The Prophets of Science Fiction," debuting Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Science (a digital network in the Discovery fold), aims to be "the definitive exploration of science fiction's ability to spark real-world genius."

In the first hour, Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is the jumping-off point to talk about electricity as "a key component of life," with experts tossing in neurological data, rat-brain experiments, artificial intelligence and genetic engineering alongside literary observations by Shelley biographers and masters of the text.

Traditional documentary footage is mixed with period re-creations (there's sad Shelley scribbling in her bedroom); scientists discuss tissue transplant alongside a healthy dose of film history.

The spark of genius may get too much credit at times (imagination is one thing, inventing the iPad is another). But Scott is certainly a good choice to lead this discussion.

The dreams of George Lucas, H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein are dissected, too, and shown to be the stuff of real scientific discovery. Clearly the intersection of the storyteller's art and the scientific method is ripe for exploration.

Literary types will find the series as engaging as those more invested in lab rats.