Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial

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Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today – but the core of science fiction, its essence has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.

Isaac Asimov

12 thoughts on “Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial”

    • He never lacked for ego.
      But in this instance, he is exactly right.

      SF, as the literature of ideas is the literature of STEMers. And if we are to survive global warming, demographic disruption, wars and the chaos to come, it will be through STEMers solving problems. Kids who cut their teeth on Asimov tales of Robots and Susan Calvin grew up to build real robots and code AI’s. And he was far from unique. GEO synchronous orbits are properly named Clarke Orbits and remore manipulators are called Waldoes for good reason.

      https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/waldoes

      Do not underestimate the influence of the writers of his generation on the real world.

      • This is why I’m in sympathy with everyone railing against “woke fiction.” That stuff doesn’t inspire. It turns people off of books, movies, tv shows, video games, whatever.

        Nancy Drew inspired, Montgomery Scott inspired, John Carter inspired living people to do great things. I still remember the article where Nancy Drew was cited by kidnapping victims, because she stayed calm and was resourceful in captivity, the survivors also believed it was possible for them to escape. Mike Okuda who designed the props on Star Trek: The Next Generation said the iPad is what he was going for when he made the PADD the characters were always using.

        How many people grew up watching Penny use her watch to make phone calls on “Inspector Gadget”? I’m confident that’s why we have those Apple watches and whatnot now.

        Still annoyed we don’t have hoverboards and flying cars though. But at least one person is trying to get us to Mars, so there’s that.

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