I’m not a massive reader of Science Fiction, but I have recently had a bit of a craving for something a bit outside the grounded, everyday world. But I’m not looking for anything too out-there or advanced (no thousands of years in the future and space travel and the like). I’m thinking something, not necessarily dystopian, but something set in a society resembling our own, but with technology just a little bit more advanced and impressive.
I recently watched the Netflix show ‘Maniac’, and was disappointed, to be honest. The best parts were those where the characters were actually in the real world, walking the streets, interacting with technology that, honestly, aren’t that far-fetched. But instead the show focuses on a drug that means we spend more of the show in different fantasy worlds and settings/genres that are nothing like what the show promises to be. In the earlier episodes, the concept of things like the ‘ad-buddies’, people who follow you spouting adverts as a way for you to pay when strapped for cash, was so bleakly funny to me, and and I can totally see how our own society could reach that point. So I guess satire of that sort would be very welcome.
So, sci-fi that isn’t quite fantasy, that can offer a commentary or even satire on modern society, but still offers a bit of escapism. Again, it doesn’t have to be total dystopia, but I’m still open to that. And I’m okay with stretching the bounds of ‘near-future’ too: if a book was written in the 80s, say, and we’re already past the year it’s set, that’s still totally fine!
Thanks, look forward to hearing suggestions!
by Armentieres