Most of the television I watch and books I read seem to be about dystopian futures, and not because I’m seeking them out for that particular subject matter, but because the theme is ubiquitous in media right now. For those of us who are science fiction readers, we have been marinating in dystopian stories for many years, long before this recent mainstream blitz, so this isn’t a fresh new twist for us.
Dystopian stories can be fascinating, and considering why our culture is drawn to the concept at this particular time is equally intriguing. Feisty survivors can be inspiring, but I for one, need some fresh air.
What recent good books or television series can you recommend that are not based on a world of deprivation or oppression, and take a less cynical view of humanity?
The various incarnations of Star Trek are generally utopian, imagining a future where humanity has created a United Earth here at home, and ventured out among the stars in peaceful cooperation with many other alien races in a United Federation of Planets. Democracy, liberty, prosperity, rule of law - what’s not to like?
Lois McMaster Bujold’s books features a variety worlds that are far from perfect, and yet not dystopian, and in most cases, things are improving. I’d recommend starting with The Warrior’s Apprentice.
I too am interested in less bleak depictions of the future. Of course, the problem you run into, from a literary perspective, is there is no conflict or drama in a future world where everyone is happy and fulfilled. Then the conflict and drama has to stem from interpersonal relations, and in that case why not just set it in modern times and save yourself (the author) from having to create a fictional future world to no purpose?
If you are interested in children’s literature though, I would recommend The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. Forget the sequels - she never meant it to be a series, but the success of the book undoubtedly brought pressure from her publisher to write more of that stuff! – and forget the movie - it got the look of the city right, but completely missed the point of the book. The wonder felt by the children as they finally see the real world for the first time - wonder at the most mundane everyday things, like breezes and trees - is uplifting and inspiring.
The Hungry City Chronicles, by Philip Reeve, is a science fiction series set in the far future when humanity lives on mobile cities that chase each other around the world. I know that the premise sounds goofy, but it’s actually a surprisingly good adventure story. There are four novels in all: Mortal Engines, Predator’s Gold, Infernal Devices, and A Darkling Plain.
I’m actually reading (and loving) her Chalion series, and plan to read her Miles series, following that (I’ve read and enjoyed Cordelia’s Honor.)
ITR champion: On my shelves do sit the first two Philip Reeve Hungry City books, remnants of a time when I still believed I could get my kids to become readers. At your recommendation I’ll sneak those onto my own sf shelves, now that they’re grown.
Arrendajo: I would of course be bored in a world of perfection, but will take a look at City of Ember. I do remember hearing about that when it came out.
Additionally, I’m interested in knowing if there are any works or trends in the very current “cloud of now” that are moving away from apocalyptic or distopian views. I fear we’re reaching a point where we can’t even imagine anything else.
Except by those nuclear and laser space platforms in orbit ready to obliterate the world in the ongoing cold war, as I remember Dr. Floyd wondered several times in the book if Earth was going to be there when he returned from his mission.
The Humanx Commonwealth in many of Alan Dean Foster’s books (my favorite: Icerigger), the less structured human interstellar societies in several of George R.R. Martin’s books and short stories (Dying of the Light, Tuf Voyaging, Sandkings) and Peter F. Hamilton’s novels (The Night’s Dawn Trilogy), and the Empire of Humanity of Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle (King David’s Spaceship, The Mote in God’s Eye) would IMHO all be, to one degree or another, nice places to live.
Oh yeah, I keep forgetting to read these. I loved Player of Games, but then I get confused by so many opinions about which one to read next (Use of Weapons, or Consider Phlebus?) that I just move on to something else. =)
What’s that got to do with anything? The OP asked for sci-fi that wasn’t dystopian. 2001 is not a dystopia, unused nuclear doomsday devices notwithstanding.
Robert Llewellyn, actor from Red Dwarf, host of Scrapheap Challenge, vocal supporter of electric cars, etc, has written many books, and his latest fictional tale is News From Gardenia, a utopian science fiction story which I haven’t read yet.