Most of today’s literary fiction avoids major political issues and instead focuses on psychological angst and interpersonal dynamics. The stories with the strongest political themes frequently appear in the science fiction genre – a surprise to those who trivialize the genre as frivolous, or merely escapist.
Kim Stanley Robinson, author of the epic Mars Trilogy, is known for applying scientific thinking to politics in his fictional worlds. Robinson’s stories are often centered around political struggles and governmental structures that allow the reader to question their unexamined beliefs about capitalism and democracy. Writing for The New Yorker, essayist and cartoonist Tim Kreider argues convincingly that Robinson is one of the greatest political novelists of our time.
Curious? Read the full article at The New Yorker.
Image courtesy of Arielle Fragassi, used under a Creative Commons license. Thanks Arielle!