Why Does SciFi Matter?

Is sci-fi just escapism, or a mirror for the world we're building? We make the case for why science fiction matters, and why it's for everyone. In our first episode, Rob and Caitlin dig into what science fiction does that no other genre can, from Project Hail Mary to Le Guin, Octavia Butler, and Margaret Atwood. We also get into why sci-fi feels intimidating and where the sci-fi curious should start. Chapters 00:00 Is sci-fi just escapism? 02:40 Why sci-fi matters: the mirror effect 04:35 Near-future sci-fi and Omelas 08:28 Parable of the Sower and The Handmaid's Tale 12:01 An on-ramp for the sci-fi curious 13:43 Why sci-fi feels intimidating 17:44 You already love sci-fi (Jurassic Park & blockbusters) 20:12 Meet Rob and Caitlin Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Il02FICl-KE Every book and term we mention: https://scifihighfive.com/episodes/why-does-scifi-matter Get our weekly newsletter: https://scifihighfive.com/subscribe