Comments on: Optimism in Science Fiction http://www.garethlpowell.com/optimism-in-science-fiction/ The online presence of British science fiction author Gareth L Powell Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:49:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Gareth L Powell http://www.garethlpowell.com/optimism-in-science-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Gareth L Powell Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:06:06 +0000 http://www.garethlpowell.com/?p=714#comment-314 Kathryn Cramer also has an interesting discussion (in which she makes some good points) on this topic over at Tor: http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=6397 Kathryn Cramer also has an interesting discussion (in which she makes some good points) on this topic over at Tor: http://www.tor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=blog&id=6397

]]> By: Jason Stoddard http://www.garethlpowell.com/optimism-in-science-fiction/comment-page-1/#comment-311 Jason Stoddard Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:38:23 +0000 http://www.garethlpowell.com/?p=714#comment-311 And thank you, Gareth, for summing it up: "Sometimes you have to inspire them." Science fiction was once a literature of hope and inspiration. And, as ridiculous and childish as the Golden Age SF seems today, I think it's important to point a spotlight at this one simple fact: it inspired people. It said, "We can do this," rather than "No matter what we do, we're screwed." We need to remember, even in the midst of a financial meltdown, war, global warming, and all the other bugaboos of today, there are 12-year-olds making breakthroughs in solar energy, there are communication and commerce possibilities I could never have dreamed of 20 years ago, and the Chinese are leading us back into space. So yes, balance. Balance . . . and inspiration. And thank you, Gareth, for summing it up: “Sometimes you have to inspire them.” Science fiction was once a literature of hope and inspiration. And, as ridiculous and childish as the Golden Age SF seems today, I think it’s important to point a spotlight at this one simple fact: it inspired people. It said, “We can do this,” rather than “No matter what we do, we’re screwed.”

We need to remember, even in the midst of a financial meltdown, war, global warming, and all the other bugaboos of today, there are 12-year-olds making breakthroughs in solar energy, there are communication and commerce possibilities I could never have dreamed of 20 years ago, and the Chinese are leading us back into space.

So yes, balance. Balance . . . and inspiration.

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