That was great. On the subject of science fiction I came across this interesting quote from science fiction writer Annalee Newitz and I wanted to know what you think: “I prefer not to admire problems. But it’s tempting. Especially when you’re dealing with huge systemic problems like climate change or racism, it’s very tempting to sit back and stare at all the multi- layered toxicity and give up. I mean there are a lot of science fiction like that, where there’s bleak nihilistic vibe and humanity lives in a trashcan. It’s a way of saying there will be no future.”
Interesting! I'm struck by how much recent young adult fiction, for example, is dystopian--particularly the popular stuff. I wonder if that's related to the (understandable) gloom over climate change? Personally, I like reading about bleak futures and always have done. 'Literary' fiction is often bleak so in a sense, why should science fiction be any different? If you're writing about the human condition at all, perhaps it's a little irrational to be cheerful! Still, I think science fiction was often optimistic back in its heyday in the early to mid-twentieth century. And when I started submitting stories to magazines in the 90s, many of them had submission guidelines saying something along the lines of "we're bored of pessimism, please write more hopeful endings". So perhaps our expectations are different for science fiction (historically, much of it was written by people who take a relatively benign view of science and technology including a fair few scientists).
That was great. On the subject of science fiction I came across this interesting quote from science fiction writer Annalee Newitz and I wanted to know what you think: “I prefer not to admire problems. But it’s tempting. Especially when you’re dealing with huge systemic problems like climate change or racism, it’s very tempting to sit back and stare at all the multi- layered toxicity and give up. I mean there are a lot of science fiction like that, where there’s bleak nihilistic vibe and humanity lives in a trashcan. It’s a way of saying there will be no future.”
Interesting! I'm struck by how much recent young adult fiction, for example, is dystopian--particularly the popular stuff. I wonder if that's related to the (understandable) gloom over climate change? Personally, I like reading about bleak futures and always have done. 'Literary' fiction is often bleak so in a sense, why should science fiction be any different? If you're writing about the human condition at all, perhaps it's a little irrational to be cheerful! Still, I think science fiction was often optimistic back in its heyday in the early to mid-twentieth century. And when I started submitting stories to magazines in the 90s, many of them had submission guidelines saying something along the lines of "we're bored of pessimism, please write more hopeful endings". So perhaps our expectations are different for science fiction (historically, much of it was written by people who take a relatively benign view of science and technology including a fair few scientists).