Reading Group III: Political Science Fiction

Authors writing in the science fiction genre often explore political themes: rise and decline of empire, technological change, individual liberty, revolution, gender politics, and so much more. Politics are a hot topic right now, but by reading science fiction through political lenses, we can view current and potential political practices without necessarily having to deal with our realities. By being displaced from a “real” setting, we can take a different path to approaching political issues via rich subtexts found in science fiction. We will approach these novels as an opportunity to view our current and potential political climates, as well as take a peek into the past What led these authors to view the future the way they did? What hopes did they have? What did they get wrong? What did they get right? And why is science fiction such fertile ground for exploring political landscapes?