Should politicians read more science fiction? – with SF author Adrian Tchaikovsky episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 13, 2025 · 34 MIN

Should politicians read more science fiction? – with SF author Adrian Tchaikovsky

from The Bunker – News without the nonsense · host Podmasters

In a world where politicians and oligarchs make wild plans, we often hear the cry “They’re reading too much science fiction.” But instead, should our leaders read MORE about alternate futures and the unforeseen consequences of technology? Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky – of Children of Time and Dogs of War fame – tells Andrew Harrison why science fiction’s job is more complex than just predicting the future… how it can explain egotists like Musk… and the science fiction he thinks Starmer should read. • Adrian Tchaikovsky’s new book Shroud is available for pre-order. Adrian’s choices for Keir Starmer: • After Atlas by Emma Newman • The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi • Ministry For The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson • Support us on Patreon for early episodes and more • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.   Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In a world where politicians and oligarchs make wild plans, we often hear the cry “They’re reading too much science fiction.” But instead, should our leaders read MORE about alternate futures and the unforeseen consequences of technology? Clarke Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky – of Children of Time and Dogs of War fame – tells Andrew Harrison why science fiction’s job is more complex than just predicting the future… how it can explain egotists like Musk… and the science fiction he thinks Starmer should read. • Adrian Tchaikovsky’s new book Shroud is available for pre-order. Adrian’s choices for Keir Starmer: • After Atlas by Emma Newman • The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi • Ministry For The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson • Support us on Patreon for early episodes and more • We are sponsored by Indeed. Go to Indeed.com/bunker for £100 sponsored credit.   Written and presented by Andrew Harrison. Audio production by Robin Leeburn. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Managing Editor Jacob Jarvis. Group Editor Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production www.podmasters.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NOW PLAYING

Should politicians read more science fiction? – with SF author Adrian Tchaikovsky

0:00 34:15

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Bunker – News without the nonsense?

This episode is 34 minutes long.

When was this The Bunker – News without the nonsense episode published?

This episode was published on February 13, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In a world where politicians and oligarchs make wild plans, we often hear the cry “They’re reading too much science fiction.” But instead, should our leaders read MORE about alternate futures and the unforeseen consequences of technology? Clarke...

Can I download this The Bunker – News without the nonsense episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!