In light of my previous post regarding the recent science fiction movie, Children of Men, it seems to have peeked a more encompassing question regarding our outlook of the future.
Since Pete is a voracious reader, I simply asked him; Have you read anything in science fiction that is not depressing regarding the future of humanity?
Taken from the comment he left on the above mentioned post:
I had to answer: “Not so much.”
Gone are the days of a Utopian future (Star Trek, anyone?). Genre writers in the 50’s (most notably Heinlein) had an interesting streak of optimism in their fiction that is strangely missing in a great deal of fiction now. Of the true sci fi that I’ve read lately (excluding fantasy) only Red Thunder by John Varley has a relatively happy ending.
That’s just it. Most of the popular speculative fiction out there right now, leaves me depressed for our future. Wars, disease, infertility, corporate rule, dark ages, apocalypse. What happened to our happy endings full of hope? I do understand that for a good story, there are crucial elements that make it worth telling. There is usually conflict to make things interesting.
Yet, if you look at the Star Trek Series, while there was the occasional conflict between races, humanity was thriving and exploring new worlds, new life, and new civilizations! Aside from nasty bits with Klingons and Romulans and the occasional asshat who thought he was a God, there wasn’t a moment where even if something happened to the USS Enterprise (version x.?), humanity wouldn’t break down and be conquered forever.
So what is the motivation here? Do we thrive on our misery? Do we enjoy being in this state of fear? Is it the simple fact that our future is already planned to be so miserable that every piece of media in this genre arriving in stores and theaters must prepare us for the inevitable?How do we reverse the trend? Can we and have it be as popular in light of recent world events? Do things just have to get so bad, that we see the proverbial swing of the pendulum in writing? As a society, we finally can’t take anymore woe and start digging for the nugget of hope until it once again becomes the norm? Or are we always going to be doomed to fail as a civilization.
Science fiction was once a hope for technology and harmony amongst the people of this Earth once they set aside their differences and worked together as one. That is the singular ideal of Utopia. It’s a sad statement that those ideals and advancements are dismissed in today’s culture. What once was a driving force, has now become the purveyor of doom and we’re eating it up like good little scared and mistreated citizens.
So I pose the question to you guys; Why is the human race doomed to fail in the vast majority of science fiction available for consumption?
Oh. Wow.
You just put into words why I don’t like to read SF–because it makes me feel miserable. I’m not saying I need a HEA, just that I like some good things to happen throughout the course of the books. I don’t even mind deaths as long as they make sense. But books where nothing good happens… no thank you. That’s a bit too much like the real life I am reading to escape.
Makes for a better story. We’re always fasinated by the destruction and deconstruction.
Yet, there are good books. The Red/Green/Blue mars (which isn’t doomed, it’s just a progression of the multi nationals and the big military countries being bullys)… have hope. Bab5 has hope, in the ashes of our own idiocy.
Even Dune did (8000+ years in the future), on and off. If you think of Jordan’s WoT as sci fi (which I wish he had wrote more of in the flashes to the last age), it’s hot and cold.
My short answer is this: I am a software developer. I work with many geeks. Most of them are cynics. Even beyond the realm of geekdom, education seems to breed cynicism. I would imagine most sci-fi authors are also cynical. If publishers acknowledge geeks read sci-fi and are cynical, they might supress idealistic writting–but I’m just taking shots at the dark there.
Star Trek is entertaining, but the society never felt near as real as the Alien series or Blade Runner. Since I appear to be one of the cynical geeks, I thought I might explain why dystopian settings promote my ability to suspend my disbelief. My reason is this: it’s the norm throughout recorded history, and I can’t see even the faintest trend to the contrary. Even if I gave in to the idea that we are slightly better off now than we were in some previous era, our security is precarious. I’ve read there are at least two vices for every virtue. It seems much easier and more likely that some of these events might plunge us into a darker place than the correct series of virtuous events would bring about enlightenment. I think most sci-fi authors see humanity from a similar vantage. Besides, dystopian settings also provide authors with fertile ground for easy conflicts.
I know I made a lot of “soft statements” in my personal arguments, but prod me long enough and I’ll roll into religious views, which seems a bit off topic. Anyway, them’s my two cents. Enjoyed the post Kate!
I think it’s because it’s easier to take where we are and go downhill, rather than truly see where we could go. James P. Hogan had lots of optimistic futures. John Varley has optimistic futures, too. And they’re one’s I’d like to live in, even if the aliens take Earth away from us!
I also like C. J. Cherryh’s Merchanter universe. Downbelow Station and it’s follow-ons. Even though Earth stagnates a bit, progress and pioneering still go on out in the stars. I really want us to get off the Earth and start going other places.
I like universes that are realistic in that they portray the very worst we have to offer and the very best we have to offer as a species. The darkness and dystopia are part of who we are, but the light and the utopia are, too.
I like balance.
MIles Vorkosigan, anyone?
Don’t believe one optimistic word from any public figure about the economy or humanity in general. They are all part of the problem. Its like a game of Monopoly. In America, the richest 1% now hold 1/2 OF ALL UNITED STATES WEALTH. Unlike ‘lesser’ estimates, this includes all stocks, bonds, cash, and material assets held by America’s richest 1%. Even that filthy pig Oprah acknowledged that it was at about 50% in 2006. Naturally, she put her own ‘humanitarian’ spin on it. Calling attention to her own ‘good will’. WHAT A DISGUSTING HYPOCRITE SLOB. THE RICHEST 1% HAVE LITERALLY MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. Don’t fall for any of their ‘humanitarian’ CRAP. ITS A SHAM. THESE PEOPLE ARE CAUSING THE SAME PROBLEMS THEY PRETEND TO CARE ABOUT. Ask any professor of economics. Money does not grow on trees. The government can’t just print up more on a whim. At any given time, there is a relative limit to the wealth within ANY economy of ANY size. So when too much wealth accumulates at the top, the middle class slip further into debt and the lower class further into poverty. A similar rule applies worldwide. The world’s richest 1% now own over 40% of ALL WORLD WEALTH. This is EVEN AFTER you account for all of this ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS from celebrities and executives. ITS A SHAM. As they get richer and richer, less wealth is left circulating beneath them. This is the single greatest underlying cause for the current US recession. The middle class can no longer afford to sustain their share of the economy….. Their wealth has been gradually transfered to the richest 1%. One way or another, we suffer because of their incredible greed. We are talking about TRILLIONS of dollars. Transfered FROM US TO THEM. Over a period of about 27 years. Thats Reaganomics for you. The wealth does not ‘trickle down’ as we were told it would. It just accumulates at the top. Shrinking the middle class and expanding the lower class. Causing a domino effect of socio-economic problems. But the rich will never stop. They will never settle for a reasonable share of ANYTHING. They will do whatever it takes to get even richer. Leaving even less of the pie for the other 99% of us to share. At the same time, they throw back a few tax deductible crumbs and call themselves ‘humanitarians’. Cashing in on the PR and getting even richer the following year. IT CAN’T WORK THIS WAY. Their bogus efforts to make the world a better place can not possibly succeed. Any ‘humanitarian’ progress made in one area will be lost in another. EVERY SINGLE TIME. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT WORK THIS WAY. This is going to end just like a game of Monopoly. The current US recession will drag on for years and lead into the worst US depression of all time. The richest 1% will live like royalty while the rest of us fight over jobs, food, and gasoline. Crime, poverty, and suicide will skyrocket. So don’t fall for all of this PR CRAP from Hollywood, Pro Sports, and Wall Street PIGS. ITS A SHAM. Remember: They are filthy rich EVEN AFTER their tax deductible contributions. Greedy pigs. Now, we are headed for the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time. SEND A “THANK YOU” NOTE TO YOUR FAVORITE MILLIONAIRE. ITS THEIR FAULT. I’m not discounting other factors like China, sub-prime, or gas prices. But all of those factors combined still pale in comparison to that HUGE transfer of wealth to the rich. Anyway, those other factors are all related and further aggrivated because of GREED. If it weren’t for the OBSCENE distribution of wealth within our country, there never would have been such a market for sub-prime to begin with. Which by the way, was another trick whipped up by greedy bankers and executives. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. The credit industry has been ENDORSED by people like Oprah, Ellen, Dr Phil, and many other celebrities. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. Now, there are commercial ties between nearly every industry and every public figure. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for their ‘good will’ BS. ITS A LIE. If you fall for it, then you’re a fool.. If you see any real difference between the moral character of a celebrity, politician, attorney, or executive, then you’re a fool. WAKE UP PEOPLE. THEIR GOAL IS TO WIN THE GAME. The 1% club will always say or do whatever it takes to get as rich as possible. Without the slightest regard for anything or anyone but themselves. Reaganomics. Their idea. Loans from China.. Their idea. NAFTA. Their idea. Outsourcing. Their idea. Sub-prime. Their idea. The commercial lobbyist. Their idea. The multi-million dollar lawsuit.. Their idea. $200 cell phone bills. Their idea. $200 basketball shoes. Their idea. $30 late fees. Their idea. $30 NSF fees. Their idea. $20 DVDs. Their idea. Subliminal advertising. Their idea. Brainwash plots on TV. Their idea… Prozac, Zanex, Vioxx, and Celebrex. Their idea. The MASSIVE campaign to turn every American into a brainwashed, credit card, pharmaceutical, love-sick, couch potatoe, celebrity junkie. Their idea. All of the above shrink the middle class, concentrate the world’s wealth and resources, and wreak havok on society. All of which have been CREATED AND ENDORSED by celebrities, athletes, executives, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and politicians. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. So don’t fall for any of their ‘good will’ ‘humanitarian’ BS. ITS A SHAM. NOTHING BUT TAX DEDUCTIBLE PR CRAP.. In many cases, the ‘charitable’ contribution is almost entirely offset.. Not to mention the opportunity to plug their name, image, product, and ‘good will’ all at once. IT MAKES THEM RICHER. These filthy pigs even have the nerve to throw a fit and spin up a misleading defense with regard to ‘tax revenue’. ITS A SHAM. THEY SCREWED UP THE EQUATION TO BEGIN WITH. ITS THEIR OWN DAMN FAULT. If the middle and lower classes had a greater share of the pie, they could easily cover a greater share of the federal tax revenue. They are held down in many ways because of greed. Wages remain stagnant for millions because the executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, and entrepreneurs, are paid millions. They over-sell, over-charge, under-pay, outsource, cut jobs, and benefits to increase their bottom line. As their profits rise, so do the stock values. Which are owned primarily by the richest 5%. As more United States wealth rises to the top, the middle and lower classes inevitably suffer. This reduces the potential tax reveue drawn from those brackets. At the same time, it wreaks havok on middle and lower class communities and increases the need for financial aid.. Not to mention the spike in crime because of it. There is a dominoe effect to consider. So when people forgive the rich for all of the above and then praise them for paying a greater share of the FEDERAL income taxes, its like nails on a chalk board. If these filthy pigs want to be over-paid, then they should be over-taxed as well. Remember: The richest 1% STILL own 1/2 of all United States wealth EVEN AFTER taxes, charity, and PR CRAP. A similar rule applies worldwide. There is nothing anyone can say to justify that. Anyway, there is usually a higher state and local burden on the middle class. They get little or nothing without a local tax increase. Otherwise, the red inks flows like a waterfall. Service cuts and lay-offs follow. Again, because of the OBSCENE distribution of bottom line wealth in this country. I can not accept any theory that our economy would suffer in any way with a more reasonable distribution of wealth. Afterall, it was more reasonable 30 years ago. Before Reaganomics came along. Before GREED became such an epidemic. Before we had an army of over-paid executives, celebrities, athletes, attorneys, investors, entrepreneurs, developers, and sold-out politicians to kiss their asses. As a nation, we were in much better shape. Lower crime rate, more widespread prosperity, stable job market, free and clear assets, lower deficit, ect. Our economy as a whole was much more stable and prosperous for the majority. WITHOUT LOANS FROM CHINA. Now, we have a more obscene distribution of bottom line wealth than ever before. We have a sold-out government, crumbling infrastructure, energy crisis, home forclosure epidemic, 13 figure national deficit, and 12 figure annual shortfall. ALL BECAUSE OF GREED. I really don’t blame the 2nd -5th percentiles. No economy could ever function without some reasonable scale of personal wealth and income. But it can’t be allowed to run wild like a mad dog. GREED KILLS. Bottom line: The richest 1% will soon tank the largest economy in the world. It will be like nothing we’ve ever seen before. and thats just the beginning. Greed will eventually tank every major economy in the world. Causing millions to suffer and die. Oprah, Angelina, Brad, Bono, Drew, and Bill are not part of the solution.. They are part of the problem. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE HUMANITARIAN. EXTREME WEALTH HAS MADE WORLD PROSPERITY ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE. WITHOUT WORLD PROSPERITY, THERE WILL NEVER BE WORLD PEACE OR ANYTHING EVEN CLOSE. GREED KILLS. IT WILL BE OUR DOWNFALL. Of course, the rich will throw a fit and call me a madman. Of course, their ignorant fans will do the same. You have to expect that. But I speak the truth. If you don’t believe me, then copy this entry and run it by any professor of economics or socio-economics. Then tell a friend. Call the local radio station. Re-post this entry or put it in your own words. Be one of the first to predict the worst economic and cultural crisis of all time and explain its cause. WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE.
Truxter thinks our current world economic crisis will only get worse, the class divide will continue to grow, and anyone who says otherwise, is a scam artist.
IT’S A SHAM!
The SHAMcake is a lie!!!
(Yeah, it’s still new enough to be funny for me…)
I wonder what would happen if we plugged that into Google. Maybe find out how many times that EXACT rant has been posted in blog after blog.
Uh oh, Kate. You’ve opened the floodgates now. Trolls will start coming out from under the bridge. We may need to reserve the Shovel of Doom, and the Grill of Retribution and Jim Wright’s Troll Mirror.
Real Geek Cred!
Truxter is my hero!!! A troll may he be, but listen up young ones…. he speaks the TRUTH.
I am awaiting the revolution…. i may be old but i can still go down fighting. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT CORPORATE GREED IS THE ONLY TRUE EVIL IN THE WORLD. MORE SCARY THAN THE DEVIL HIMSELF.
What is even sadder is that these corporate creeps have have convinced even us, the working stiffs, that the destruction of Unions and labor laws is really a good thing,.Reagan started all this crap with AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER guys in 1982 . That was the beginning of the end of the middle class and labor movement.
it is surprising how many people think that Unions are an obsolete drag on the economy and how many people have swallowed, hook line and sinker, the whole idea that the health of their corporate masters is much more important than the health and well being of themselves and their OWN families.Most of these people i am talking about here are the ones that have entered the workplace in the last 20 years.
When and where did all of these young workers get indoctrinated into this sham? in school?
From what i understand , credit cards are passed out to students like candy, TEACHING them to acquire debt that their own parents cannnot even qualify for. Then THEY OWN YOU. The debt pushers and dealers give you the first few rocks for free, then when you are hooked. ..you pay and pay and pay and pay and pay with interest rates that are arbitrarily changed at their whim.
okay i am rambling, there are so many other points to address in truxters magnificent manifesto,
cant even think about the wars, the famines, the deaths of millions of world’s citizens .
All because of GREED.
hello
I am a dystopian geek as well, but I find that it is not the bad ending that makes me like dystopian literature, it is the portrayal of a world that no longer works. I find quite a few Anime movies by Hayao Miyazaki have a world that is dystopian but in the end there is hope. I don’t like it when it has a closed ending, an open one is the best; where the main character almost says, “I don’t know what is around the next corner, but I shall fight it.”
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