Photo by RF._.studio
After reading about Scott Harral’s glimpse into the near future as we inhabit the Moon in Moon Luck, I look towards the future and how science fiction inspires us.
In today’s world, thinking critically about the future is more important than ever. Constantly, our minds are bombarded with information about new technologies, emerging trends, and global challenges. It can be very difficult to keep up with all of this change, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed.
Yet, it is important to look towards the future and how it will affect our lives. But, of course, predicting where things are heading can be next to impossible. That’s why we look to science fiction to get an idea of how the world will look like.
Reading stories about the future is one way to make sense of our ever-changing world. Science fiction and other speculative fiction genres help us imagine different possibilities for the future. By reading about different scenarios, we can start to think about what we want the future to look like and how we can help shape it; in a sense, science fiction inspires us in how the future might look like.
How Science Fiction Inspires Us
There are many benefits to reading stories about the future. First, it can help us develop our imagination and creativity. We are forced to think outside of the box when we read about different worlds and possibilities, especially when it concerns recent trends in technology.
Second, reading stories about the future can help us develop our critical thinking skills. When we read about different scenarios, we are forced to think about their implications. This helps us make better decisions about the trajectory of the future.
Third, reading science fiction helps us to learn to be more empathetic. When we read about the lives of others, especially those who will be most affected by the changes, we can start to understand their experiences and perspectives. This helps us build bridges and create a more inclusive future.
Additionally, reading stories about the future can be a lot of fun! Many great works of science fiction and other speculative fiction are entertaining and thought-provoking.
If you are looking for a way to think more critically about the future, please start reading stories about the future. You may be surprised at how much you learn and how much your perspective on the world changes.
Great Reads to Check Out
Here are a few of my favorite books and stories about the future:
- Brave New World is Aldous Huxley’s classic story about the rise of a future global order and the secrets it hides.
- Project Hail Mary is Andy Weir’s fictional account of what may happen when we finally reach other planets.
- The Ministry for the Future is Kim Stanley Robinson’s look at how we might fix the world, especially with regard to climate change.
- The Three-Body Problem is Liu Cixin’s ultra-realistic prediction as to how an encounter with aliens is likely to play out.
- Moon Luck is Scott Harral’s glimpse into the near future as we inhabit the Moon.
These are just a few of the many great works of science fiction and other speculative fiction. I encourage you to explore and find your favorites.
Towards the Future
Science fiction inspires us, and reading stories about the future is an excellent way of looking at the world critically. It can also help us envision a better and more inclusive world, one that is devoid of the ills of today. By reading whatever possibilities there are, especially when we consider recent trends and attitudes, we have the opportunity to take a stand in the present.
We can start to think about what the future may look like to us and what concrete steps we can take to either prevent an outcome or better accommodate its possibility.
In addition to reading books and stories, there are many other ways to learn about the future and where we’re headed, such as watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, and attending lectures and conferences.
The more you know about the possibilities, the better equipped you will be to make informed decisions about your own life and the future of our planet.
The future is full of possibilities, and we must shape it into the future we all want.
The Damsel’s Files 