ELIZABETH MOON! The Serrano Legacy series is great, I think I now prefer her Vatta’s War series. Such a great female protagonist, very detailed sci-fi world building. Moon is an ex Marine (& a fencer!) & that military experience is evident.
My favourite writer. (Err except for John Birmingham, of course…!!!)
Over the last 50-odd years, the fact that space travel to anywhere survivable is essentially impossible has gradually seeped into our collective consciousness (even if Elon Musk hasn't realised it). Only the old can remember the moon landings, and only the very old can remember Sputnik. Meanwhile the physicists have cut off every plausible avenue to FTL travel.
That understanding turns large sub-genres of SF into fantasy, set in an impossible future rather than an impossible past.
That's the point of fantasy, is it not? Sci Fi nerds like us are too often engineers who like to think it could be possible, one day, maybe. I still love a good space opera though, even if it's not.
Actually I think it's far simpler. It's medicine versus comfort food. Humans always opt for the comfort food even in the path of the rampaging mammoth/Klingon.
Interesting John. Charles Stross approaches similar territory I think from a slightly different angle - it’s a bit tongue in cheek but worth considering:
I think this is as simple as so many people just needing to switch off, bury their head in the sand, pull the blankets over and ... disappear. Unless you are very much a realist and can't stop analysing what's going on, I think fantasy appeals because it provides that escape and comfort for so many.
Spending almost all day being a realist & analysing what's going on is the perfect reason totally into fantasy ( the Discworld for mine ) before trying to sleep!
There's great Sci-Fi that taps the "broken" deep-time themes well, IMO. The Expanse. Against a Dark Background. Dune. Doesn't need to be shiny and militaristic, however utopian and skivvy wearing.
I'm concerned that there's a certain element of the collapse-aware, fantasy-indulging population that is actively accelerating the collapse, by throwing their lot in with those working to discredit expertise and knowledge. Perhaps it's the trained helplessness that we've been encouraged into by excessive complexity and a distracted education system. And populists spruiking simple but wrong "solutions".
Good one, John. This jibes with my recent experience of a Banks culture novel. I've always gone back to his stuff when I'm stressed and it always worked. This time all I could think was that nothing approaching post-scarcity society could ever happen because the world is full of bastards who would not allow it to happen.
You definitely should. I envy you being able to read them for the first time. The spaceships are some of the most fully realised sci-fi characters in the genre. Funny too.
John Michael Greer, author of a number of books on the ongoing decline explores these themes, with a particular focus on how our modern myths shape the future, and how it's not going to be an apocalypse, over on his blog. https://www.ecosophia.net/the-last-years-of-progress/ is a good start given your post.
Talking of bookstores - White Dwarf in Perth is possibly the only or best specialist Science Fiction and Fantasy bookstore in Australia. Often has authors drop in for talks.
Re: figure hugging skivvies - I'm over the joke where people ask me (as a man with a pot belly) when "I'm due". Unoriginal khunts
Your book on procrastination, Mr Alien Sideboob, is not only a delightful read, but also provides me (us) with a practical system that works. I now know how to get more done, and that has in turn provided me with increased beneficial reverberations! In short, I feel better. So, not just thanks, but great thanks.
The Australian Aboriginal people have been telling us this stuff for 250 years. They've had 50000 + years to figure it out. Also, I was wondering why I just reread The Once and Future King and have gravitated more to comedy reads lately. The clue to all this for me was when every rich pig on Earth suddenly wanted to leave the planet. Who knows? Maybe it's just more awareness of the second law of thermodynamics. Politics can't be exempt surely?
Gimme more space operas with kickass female spaceship captains! Ones who are heading to Mars to kill the Space Karen droids.
I can recommend... Something the one with the pure humans vs gen engineered or augmented.
Also anything by Ann Leckie strong female leads. Or feminine appearing warship AIs
No space ships, but: Appleseed (the comic book series, rather than the films).
Love Leckie!
ELIZABETH MOON! The Serrano Legacy series is great, I think I now prefer her Vatta’s War series. Such a great female protagonist, very detailed sci-fi world building. Moon is an ex Marine (& a fencer!) & that military experience is evident.
My favourite writer. (Err except for John Birmingham, of course…!!!)
Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach
Over the last 50-odd years, the fact that space travel to anywhere survivable is essentially impossible has gradually seeped into our collective consciousness (even if Elon Musk hasn't realised it). Only the old can remember the moon landings, and only the very old can remember Sputnik. Meanwhile the physicists have cut off every plausible avenue to FTL travel.
That understanding turns large sub-genres of SF into fantasy, set in an impossible future rather than an impossible past.
Yeah, that's all true. But the unbelievability of SF is matched and even exceeded by that of fantasy.
That's the point of fantasy, is it not? Sci Fi nerds like us are too often engineers who like to think it could be possible, one day, maybe. I still love a good space opera though, even if it's not.
Fantasy, is sometimes just magic science has not caught up with yet.🤗 Like my engineers rebooting Stone Henge, years in the future.
that segue, fraking smooth as F.
I am a professional
Actually I think it's far simpler. It's medicine versus comfort food. Humans always opt for the comfort food even in the path of the rampaging mammoth/Klingon.
I am a sucker for simple explanations, but unfortunately, they don’t fill out 1500 words worth of essay space
Interesting John. Charles Stross approaches similar territory I think from a slightly different angle - it’s a bit tongue in cheek but worth considering:
https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2023/11/dont-create-the-torment-nexus.html#more
Cheers. Always up for some Stross
Fittingly, I bought the procrastination book yesterday when I was procrastinating by checking my email.
This is the way!
I think this is as simple as so many people just needing to switch off, bury their head in the sand, pull the blankets over and ... disappear. Unless you are very much a realist and can't stop analysing what's going on, I think fantasy appeals because it provides that escape and comfort for so many.
Oh that I could escape so easily.
Spending almost all day being a realist & analysing what's going on is the perfect reason totally into fantasy ( the Discworld for mine ) before trying to sleep!
Strong points John - and yet a space book wins the Booker Prize... might the genre be thinning, but also expanding its orbit?
There's great Sci-Fi that taps the "broken" deep-time themes well, IMO. The Expanse. Against a Dark Background. Dune. Doesn't need to be shiny and militaristic, however utopian and skivvy wearing.
I'm concerned that there's a certain element of the collapse-aware, fantasy-indulging population that is actively accelerating the collapse, by throwing their lot in with those working to discredit expertise and knowledge. Perhaps it's the trained helplessness that we've been encouraged into by excessive complexity and a distracted education system. And populists spruiking simple but wrong "solutions".
The Expanse rocks! So damn good.
Good one, John. This jibes with my recent experience of a Banks culture novel. I've always gone back to his stuff when I'm stressed and it always worked. This time all I could think was that nothing approaching post-scarcity society could ever happen because the world is full of bastards who would not allow it to happen.
I love the Culture novels on audio. There is something utterly soothing about them.
Decent and uncancellable man as well. Reminds of Pratchett in many ways.
Oh I'll have to try !'
You definitely should. I envy you being able to read them for the first time. The spaceships are some of the most fully realised sci-fi characters in the genre. Funny too.
I keep meaning to read your book on procrastination, but I'm still chugging through the 'Salvation' series... pew-pew-pew!!!
John Michael Greer, author of a number of books on the ongoing decline explores these themes, with a particular focus on how our modern myths shape the future, and how it's not going to be an apocalypse, over on his blog. https://www.ecosophia.net/the-last-years-of-progress/ is a good start given your post.
Talking of bookstores - White Dwarf in Perth is possibly the only or best specialist Science Fiction and Fantasy bookstore in Australia. Often has authors drop in for talks.
Re: figure hugging skivvies - I'm over the joke where people ask me (as a man with a pot belly) when "I'm due". Unoriginal khunts
Certainly not the only even in Perth, considering Stefan's Books is a couple of blocks away
Your book on procrastination, Mr Alien Sideboob, is not only a delightful read, but also provides me (us) with a practical system that works. I now know how to get more done, and that has in turn provided me with increased beneficial reverberations! In short, I feel better. So, not just thanks, but great thanks.
there was insufficient analysis of the place of the figure hugging skivvy in genre fiction , i feel click-baited
The Australian Aboriginal people have been telling us this stuff for 250 years. They've had 50000 + years to figure it out. Also, I was wondering why I just reread The Once and Future King and have gravitated more to comedy reads lately. The clue to all this for me was when every rich pig on Earth suddenly wanted to leave the planet. Who knows? Maybe it's just more awareness of the second law of thermodynamics. Politics can't be exempt surely?