We need more optimistic science fiction

Summary

As a genre, science fiction has a proud heritage of shaping the future. We find it entertaining to imagine what the world could be like. Science fiction enables us to explore possible futures, and through exploring them, decide for ourselves what future we want to create. For example, the space-race of the 1950's and 60's, was driven by a spirit of optimism and excitement for humanity breaking free of the Earth to explore the solar system and beyond. While the influence of the Cold War cannot be understated, it was science fiction that inspired us. Through science fiction we imagined a future where space travel was possible, and this drove us to make it a reality. We imagined a better future. We wanted it, and we created it. I feel we have lost this. Science fiction has become dominated by dystopian and apocalyptic visions of the future, which for a time was entertaining. For a time, it was fun to imagine climate catastrophes, pandemics, authoritarian governments, economic collapse... I think you can see where I'm going with this. Reality is catching up with fiction. Cautionary tales have become our lived experiences. These worlds, into which we escaped for entertainment, now feel too close to our everyday lives. Consequently, we are less excited by our future, and expect less from it. This is not a new thought. Other people, much smarter than I have made this observation before, and made it better. So I won't labour the point. I want to focus on what we can do next. We are losing our optimism for the future, and I think that science fiction has a responsibility to help bring it back. We do not need to be trapped in feelings of hopelessness. Through science fiction we can escape. Escaping Together Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?. . .If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us...