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We need more optimistic science fiction

craig-russell.co.uk

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Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#21

Post by abeppu »

> I believe that a lack of alternatives to our current political and economic ideas is a problem for the world right now.

While I agree with this statement, I think imagining alternative political and economic systems is not primarily about science fiction. We could imagine these new forms of society with existing technology. We could imagine a future with technological regress which is political/economic retro-utopia where everyone has adequate food, housing, access to healthcare, education, green-space ... but no screen-based brain-rot, AI, space exploration or other fancy tech.

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#22

Post by userbinator »

abeppu wrote: post #21

> I believe that a lack of alternatives to our current political and economic ideas is a problem for the world right now. While I agree with this statement, I think imagining alternative political and economic systems is not primarily about science fiction. We could imagine these new forms of society with existing technology. We could imagine a future with technological regress which is political/economic retro-utopi…

which is political/economic retro-utopia

Mid-century America?

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#23

Post by lif »

Unpopular take, and note, I am not an expert:

There seems to be an overabundance of sci-fi that is hyperoptimistic with regard to tech advances. The 2nd law of thermodynamics is not understood by most, or waved away as 'overcome thru future science'.

fwiw, here's a few works I've found to be less the above:

book: Kim Stanley Robinson's _Aurora_

short stories: Damon Knight's _Stranger Station_ Larry Nivens' _Inconstant Moon

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#24

Post by Legend2440 »

AIPedant wrote: post #6

On Twitter, Colin Fraser pointed out that Black Mirror was somewhat optimistic in that the horrible evil technology actually works as described[1]. Truly pessimistic science fiction would have - people worshipping an AI God which is demonstrably dumber than a dog - friendly humanoid robots which don't really understand how to walk down a flight of stairs - gravitational warp drives which are purely cosmetic and canno…

Hilariously, a dyson sphere operating at 5% capacity would still generate more power every second than humanity currently generates in 10,000 years.

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#25

Post by pkdpic »

luotuoshangdui wrote: post #2

Good point. Can someone recommend some good optimistic science fiction?

Literally anything written by Liu Cuxin. Not overtly positive all the time but always infused with a deep historical optimism about humanity and the power of science + engineering.

Also I second Ministry for the Future.

Reading the newer translation of We right now also and the first 1/2 or so is weirdly positive. Not what I remembered at all.

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#28

Post by ferguess_k »

I look forward to a world where people no longer need to sacrifice their curiosity to earn bread, clothes and basic housing. UBI would be a good start, but with the resources at hand we should be able to do more.

I look forward to a world where potentials are promptly discovered and put to be nurtured, instead of being wasted or randomly thrown to the society. Every one willing to share what they have learned or made are welcomed.

I look forward to a world that prevention of physical and mental illness is more recognized than treating them, or worse, extracting value from them.

I look forward to a world that citizens do not hesitate to speak out when they identify anything worrying. That is, they feel that they own the world, not be owned as some sort of human resources.

I look forward to a world that technological advance frees people, not keeping them enslaved.

I look forward to a world where monetary profit is not the dominating indicator for success and failure of an organization.

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#29

Post by throwanem »

pkdpic wrote: post #19

Agreed on all counts. Any advice on how so start writing some short amateur scifi from folks who have a writing practice or are at the start of developing one? Udemy classes, youtube tutorials / lectures, books on how to start writing scifi etc?

500 words a day, dead or alive.

Re: We need more optimistic science fiction

#30

Post by blacksmith_tb »

igor47 wrote: post #12
luotuoshangdui wrote: post #2

Good point. Can someone recommend some good optimistic science fiction?

The "Delta V" books by Daniel Suarez. I've been recommending "The Deluge" by Stephen Markeley, which is simultaneously very dark and quite optimistic. "Walkaway" by Cory Doctorow

I liked the _The Deluge_ (great characterization), Doctorow is generally good and _Walkaway_ was great, his _The Lost Cause_[1] is also a fairly hopeful novel.

1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Cause_(novel)

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