(Asked this in other sub but only got a few responses so trying here too)
Kind of like how there’s a lot of physicists, chemists, biologists, or engineers who write Science Fiction
Or historians who write Historical Fiction?
*I’m interested in reading any fictional books with “political intrigue”, really any thoughtful examination of politics within the story/series – written by an author who has a background in the field. Political Science, Economists, Sociology, Philosophers, Anthropology etc*
Even if they are just a politician or similar community organiser with no formal education, but reasonable experience that aids their writing.
I was inspired the George RR Martin quote about Aragorn’s tax policies. I could never quite understand how in a world with magic, currency exists. How are people poor if you can conjure resources, eliminating scarcity and thus the impetus for markets in the first place?
So I want to read any scholars in those areas taking these ideas to in the realm of fiction, akin to physicists theorising how we could travel at the speed of light.
by Forsaken-Hearing8629
2 Comments
China Mieville has a PhD in International Law. The Bas-Lag books, as well as his The City & The City are where he really digs into political economy through firion.
Would “Jews, Queers, Germans” by Martin Duberman be the kind of thing you’re looking for? It’s technically a novel, sort of Duberman imagining conversations and interactions between a few key figures in 19th/20th century Germany. The clash of conservative vs. liberal ideals that lead up to that whole World War situation.
“Red Plenty” by Francis Spufford is a novel that tries to explain the rise and fall of soviet economic and mathematical theories, through the eyes of real and fictional people. Walking you through the advances in linear programming, computing, and infrastructure expansion that a LOT of smart people thought would turn out differently.
The “Crown of Stars” series by Kate Elliott is straight-up fantasy. But Elliott puts a truly EXTRAORDINARY amount of effort into researching medieval theology and cosmology/philosophies, it does the best job I’ve seen of showing how integrated the medieval churches were in daily life and politics. It’s incredibly fun if you’re someone who’s interested in medieval religious politics. But it’s not something that’s easy to use as a jumping-off point for research into new topics, since you’d have to track down the real-world names of everything.