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Science Fiction Meets Climate Crisis
Posted March 14, 2008 11:00AM
Social science fiction requires a great deal of creativity at the same time that it draws upon an observant understanding of the world today. Social science fiction attempts to theorize the possibilities of human societies and the big innovations that can change the world. The helicopter, the internet, virtual reality, robots, telephones, space travel, the dangerous majesty that is industry, communism, democracy, justice, all of these topics and inventions were the foundation for many science fiction novels.
Many people would argue that science fiction is one of the more entertaining ways to learn about science, sociology and predictions for the future of the planet. Science with a plot line; can entertainment get more educational?
While we are talking about prognostications of the future, the first thing to consider is climate change. What will it do to the world? How will humanity change as the world ecology tries to adapt to the new chemical composition of the planet that is created by industry? A trilogy of books written by the author Kim Stanley Robinson delves into some of these questions. The three books are titled "Forty Days of Rain," "Fifty Degrees Below" and "Sixty Days and Counting." Mr. Robinson creates a story set in the near future and contains characters who are embroiled in the frontlines of the combat against climate change. You will find a mixture of analysis, literary associations, intrigue, politics, a world on the verge of collapse and in the midst of this web of intricately interwoven themes lies hope.
If you would like to try reading a narrative story that contains many commentaries on the environment, then definitely check out these books.
If you are interested in social science fiction in general, you should definitely check out some of the classics from authors such as Robert A. Heinlein, Bruce Sterling ("Schismatrix" is a favorite of this blog author), Mary Shelling, Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells and William Gibson.
As always, thanks for joining us in THE GREEN Blog. Make sure to leave a comment or two if you get the inclination, we would love to hear from you.
Many people would argue that science fiction is one of the more entertaining ways to learn about science, sociology and predictions for the future of the planet. Science with a plot line; can entertainment get more educational?
While we are talking about prognostications of the future, the first thing to consider is climate change. What will it do to the world? How will humanity change as the world ecology tries to adapt to the new chemical composition of the planet that is created by industry? A trilogy of books written by the author Kim Stanley Robinson delves into some of these questions. The three books are titled "Forty Days of Rain," "Fifty Degrees Below" and "Sixty Days and Counting." Mr. Robinson creates a story set in the near future and contains characters who are embroiled in the frontlines of the combat against climate change. You will find a mixture of analysis, literary associations, intrigue, politics, a world on the verge of collapse and in the midst of this web of intricately interwoven themes lies hope.
If you would like to try reading a narrative story that contains many commentaries on the environment, then definitely check out these books.
If you are interested in social science fiction in general, you should definitely check out some of the classics from authors such as Robert A. Heinlein, Bruce Sterling ("Schismatrix" is a favorite of this blog author), Mary Shelling, Isaac Asimov, H.G. Wells and William Gibson.
As always, thanks for joining us in THE GREEN Blog. Make sure to leave a comment or two if you get the inclination, we would love to hear from you.


March 21, 2008 02:15PM
March 22, 2008 07:59PM