I might have offered up for consideration H.G. Well's novella The Time Machine. The erroneous assumptions and subsequent revelations of The Time Traveler are couched in political ideologies, setting up the cliff hanger question that is the conclusion of the book...Knowing both the past and future, to where in time did he disappear?
James Corey's Expanse series does an extremely good job of using politics as a backdrop for the main story line. Also "Day Of The Triffids" deserves an honorable mention. Basically destroy society and look at how various forms of government might pop up to fill the vacuum
Good list, some I have not read, yet. So, thanks for those. I'd recommend Octavia Butler's "Parable" duology. They are very relevant to today's political topography. Maybe, not as broad or far-sighted as many on your list, but prescient, none the less.
I would recommend Ernst Callenbach’s 1975 novel “Ecotopia”. Western America has split off from the rest and formed an anarchist/agricultural/non polluting country called Ecotopia. After 50 years of isolation they open their borders to just one Eastern American reporter (our narrator). I loved this book. And who hasn’t had wet eyes at the end of it?
There was an American novel by Sinclair Lewis called "It Can't Happen Here", published in 1935. The story concerns an aggressive, crude, loud-mouthed rabble-rouser who runs for president of the United States. Claiming to represent the little guy and promising to make America prosperous again, he wins the election. After becoming president, he quickly sets about turning the United States into a fascist dictatorship. The book is still in print. As a commentary on the fragility of democracy, it has been described as "eerily prescient".
I think I agree that almost all SF is political in one way or another. Maybe not the Amazing Stories style space operas, but most serious SF has a political aspect. But some more overt examples: Iain Bank's Culture novels deal with a range of different political systems, juxtaposed against the Culture. Most of Sherri S. Tepper's books deal with gender politics, but the one that stands out is Gibbon's Decline and Fall. Everything by Joanna Russ. And The Peripheral and it's sequels by William Gibson.
Hey! Just chanced upon your channel. Great video. I’ve read a number of these, but had not even heard of a couple of them. I read We earlier this year and found it a little difficult. I then read When the Sleeper Wakes by Wells because I heard it influenced We, but didn’t love it 🤷♂️
Hey thanks for commenting! Hope u find more you like! We was one of the OGs but i havent really enioyed my time with the few H G Wells books ive read. I want to give him another try but there are so many other books I want to read more…. Its a problem!
Another good writer for political science fiction is Ken MacLeod. I immediately think of his Fall Revolution series, Star Fraction, Stone Canal, Cassini Division, and The Sky Road. Cassini Division is in some ways a response to Starship Troopers. So was Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero.
Oooh!!! 😲 thanks for saying this. I have started fraction on my shelf right now…. I want to get to cassini division but gotta read the other books first.
Hi. Congratulations on your channel, production, and recommendations. I agree with @JamesDAmadan that Ken McLeod´s Fall Revolution Series is just great. Following this first impression of mine, I waited until the complete Corporation Wars was out to start reading it, expecting the same degree of satisfaction, but at that moment, I could not get on to reading book 2 (which I´ve read is the best of the series) after I finished book 1. Maybe later, I will continue with the series. Another favorite of mine was Ministry of the Future. It made it into my all-time list. I have also read several books from your list, and now I will look out for some of the others you recommended.
Ecotopia, Callenbach. Although not SF, for economic theory try 'The Velvet Monkeywrench', Muire, and 'The Future of Money', Litaer, and I recently read 'Economic Science Fictions' anthology, Edt. William Davies.
Oh shoot, I forgot one: Herland by Charlotte Gilman Perkins, a feminist utopian novel written in 1915, which is about a society of woman reproducing and living without men and creating a nonviolent way of life. I think the society was mostly socialist too. Many interesting ideas. The writing style was very accessible.
Hail Big Sister! Hail Big Sister! *Voyage from Yesteryear* by James P Hogan An interesting comparison to The Dispossessed. I think Hogan knew more about technology and economics than LeGuin. *Daemon & Freedom* by Daniel Suarez
Another excellent list, as expected. 12:30 - SFF does not lack "noble families" of one sort or another - take Elizabeth Moon and both her _Vatta's War/Peace_ _and _Regnant Families_ series, or McMaster Bujold's _Vorkosigan Saga._ The latter, IMO, makes a far better job of exploring sociology of possible future human societies, from pseudo-feudal to fiercely egalitarian to rampantly plutocratic to a weird kind of techno-autocracy. A few additions: You, of course, included _Nineteen Eighty Four,_ but led me remind the viewers of another of author's works which more directly explores the way socialist ideas get corrupted: _Animal Farm._ Let's not forget good old _The Space Merchants_ by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth, a marvelous satyre on the world ruled by advertising agencies. There are some marvelous less obviously political SciFi works among my favourites. E.g, in Martha Wells' _Murderbot_ series anarchist "Preservation Alliance" together with "Pan-system University of Mihara and New Tideland" stick it to corporate plutocracy liberating space colonies under their thumb. Iain Banks is (was, sadly) more openly political in his non-SciFi works, but anarchist, post-scarcity _Culture_ is contrasted in every novel with various kinds of travesties that are all too familiar to the present day denizens of Earth.
Yet again, I am disappointed in your discussion of Heinlein's novels. "Starship Troopers" is perhaps the most apolitical novel that Heinlein wrote. The protagonist's experiences, including all flashbacks, occur within the military, on the way to the recruiting office, or a high school classroom. There is ZERO support for the government and/or culture being "militaristic". In fact, it is specifically stated that military personnel are not permitted to vote and that there is no draft. Both of these missing features are ones that you would expect to find in a "militaristic" culture. As for the requirement of national service as the sole qualification for franchise, this seems minor compared to the required qualifications of being white, male, and a property owner (as in the early U.S.). The fact that the novel does not once discuss the political sphere, or any oppression whatsoever, implies that Heinlein wanted his readers to imagine that the government resembled the political environment that they were used to. (i.e. a liberal democracy.) Several of Heinlein's novels deal with the political sphere, either directly or indirectly. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" deals with political oppression through colonialism and an attempt to create a government after a successful coup. "Stranger in a Strange Land" involves someone trying to survive unwelcome attention by the government. "Citizen of the Galaxy" involves the results of corruption set in a galaxy too spread out to govern. And, of course, "Double Star" is set entirely in the highest levels of a government, with all of the principal characters being either politicians or their aides. Almost all Heinlein novels involve some significant interaction with politics or government, with the notable exception of "Starship Troopers", which NEVER mentions these things (leading one to think the absence was deliberate).
Good call. Moon is a personal fav, being a rational anarchist and all. Stranger, with the Fosterite Church of the New Revelation having slot machines in their lobby and representatives in the government is essentially inevitable in our timeline. I've always liked Heinlein's attention to the competing forces of the power of thinking for oneself vs giving that up for the power of idiocy in the mob. The essential theme of 1984 of course. Politics is after all about power and where you draw the line of coercion. I haven't read Troopers yet, but have always been fascinated by movie - Verhooven is just too good at the action - it can wash over the satire. Like Nirvana's In Bloom, Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks, Ring Around the Rosy, etc.
Excellent point about Starship Troopers... The only discussion on government is about the idea that the franchise is linked to (in this case military) service. Heinlein mentioned in one of his other books the idea that the ability to do math might be a pre-req. You deposit a gold coin (because you had to have skin in the game) and the voting booth gave you a math problem to solve. Solve the problem, you get the coin back and get to vote. Screw up and you can try again... but it will cost. Dune was about the influence and manipulation of religion in politics... another excellent Herbert book on gov was The Dosadi Experiment (and the prequel Whipping Star). The concepts of overly efficient gov being a hazard to its populace, the interesting legal systems of various species et al were fascinating.
Hm- i agree that almost any of Heinlein’s novels could fit here- but Starship troopers fit the best I thought. It is after all a meritocracy, which is a bit more unusal and a great discussion. Plus of course we have ch 8- talking about juvenile delinquency and how to punish people, where they get their motivations not to mention the discussion about how to endorce the laws (even within the military is still politics) with things like public whipping. Given these specific examples and more it fit the list better than say double star, which i loved, but other than the prog being a politician didnt go into politics specifics at all. I would argue its probably the most apolitical IMO. Thanks for watching!
🐶 More Pico required in your tellybox show! 🗳️ I keep seeing “The Centenal Cycle” by Malka Older getting mentioned (Literature Science Alliance channel immediately springs to mind, for example) so I have swooped on a set for my shelves 🛒 I want to get to McDonald’s “Luna” series in my upcoming SciFi December, but I have so many carryovers from October that I suspect an overload situation will arise… ☢️💥🔥
Great idea! I have read the SF classics on this topic, and a few more recently printed. I did read the Card "Pastwatch" you suggested with reservations. While well written, I thought Card's "solution", wiping out the entire Earth's population thru a past change that likely would not really make any difference (it was going to happen) seemed just a bit extreme! Keith Laumer's "The Monitors" presents this topic with quite a bit of sarcasm and humor, with some pointed and serious social commentary. A E van Vogt's "The World of Null A" preceded "Nineteen Eighty - Four by 4 years, with a very similar message as the later novel. van Vogt's classic "The Weapon Shops of Isher" explores most of this, too. "Anarchaos" by Donald E. Westlake takes a very serious look at anarchy and philosophy and how they can combine for good or evil. The protagonist is a flat out violent criminal, his brother is the opposite, but maintains contact with him. The brother travels to planet "Anarchaos" for a job and disappears. Hard brother goes looking for him, he is very educated, and you hear his thoughts and analysis throughout. Parker in space.
Oh wow, 'great list of reccs here! Not heard of most of these- I've got to add to my list, thanks! Also agree with u about pastwatch- not perfect or even in my top 30 but def not the disaster everyone made it out to be
The best political sci-fi series is *Legend of the Galactic Heroes* and there is no comparison. I don't even know what #2 would be because LOGH so far ahead of the pack, so you might just want to count whatever that would be as #3 instead.
you can ALWAYS tell a person's bias - when they say "whether you agree with X or not" - means that you disagree - especially if you never give the same warning about other very controversial authors or books
An older classic that might fit: Frederik Pohl's The Space Merchants, a satiric look at consumerism and advertising through a corporate hegemony. A newer trilogy/series: Red Rising by Pierce Brown, which, of course, looks at a rigid social hierarchy under the rule of oligarchs/elites and how to bring about a revolution under such a regime.
A plot/trope I love, whether it's fantasy or sci-fi, is when there's a fight or rebellion or revolution against an oppressive regime. I don't love it when the protagonist is a teenager and they are able to overthrow an authoritarian state all by themselves or with a few other teenage friends. That's just stupid.
Great fun list. Read ten of your choices, reading the Robinson book at the moment. See also: Ira Levin ‘The Perfect Day’, S M Stirling the Draka novels (very bleak vision of militaristic fascist alt history)
I think S Andrew Swann's Hostile Takeover trilogy is on an anarcho-capitalist world. Reynolds' Elysium Fire has some kind of neural connection voting system. Who are you imitating in the thumbnail?
I really love the Luna books, great shout out. I might suggest Salt by Adam Roberts which, like The Dispossessed, compares two political systems through two counterpointing narrators. Also has shades of Dune from an environment perspective. For shady politicians we could include Generation Ship or Seveneves. As you say, lots of sci fi has a political element. PS, I was like, when is Whitney going to mention Red Mars?? 🔴😂👍🚀👽📚🎬
I got through Deluge by Stephen Markley. You might like it, but it has some huge infodumps. This one POV has multiple columns like a newspaper. Lots of climate change science. One POV is autistic/super genius.
Three branch theories of government are wrong. Bureaucracy that issues and retains official records precedes all government and provides the foundational direction to the other three.
_A Half-Built Garden_ does a good job comparing and contrasting Anarchy, Capitalism and Representative Democracy as the Earth tries to rebuild after a climate catastrophe.
Ponds at spring seasoning for all kinds of deaths for survival foods wow they stay hungry all day times even night helps so ink and paperwork for books messages' very low opinion of how when where actually takes place.
I can't remember the title maybe you or one of your followers will remember, it's a short story where a computer goes through the data and picks one person to vote.
Great list!👍👍👍🤖🚀📚🐲The expanse's political back-drop; earth uses universal basic income, mars is very totalitarian almost "fascist" state/culture, the belt more "clan-based"...ruled/exploited in a colonial situation by companies and other governments.
You are lying to us! You say there are no personal political views in this video, yet just a couple seconds later you ask us to vote for Pico. Unsubscribed!!! In all seriousness, very nice video. I was familiar with a good number of these books and had some of them on my reading list already but discovered some new interesting ones as well! 😀
Pico deserves your vote!! 😜 its an objective opinion! Haha. Thanks for watching, there are so many more i didnt put in the list becausr i havent read then yet…. So let me know if u have any reccd!
I might have offered up for consideration H.G. Well's novella The Time Machine. The erroneous assumptions and subsequent revelations of The Time Traveler are couched in political ideologies, setting up the cliff hanger question that is the conclusion of the book...Knowing both the past and future, to where in time did he disappear?
🤔🧐🤨😝🤓
I have great appreciation for not only your programming, but your editing! It really adds to the experience.
Thank you! 😊 i did have someone help me edit this video this time! Glad its working g
James Corey's Expanse series does an extremely good job of using politics as a backdrop for the main story line. Also "Day Of The Triffids" deserves an honorable mention. Basically destroy society and look at how various forms of government might pop up to fill the vacuum
Ooh expanse is good!!
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress. A classic from beginning to end.
🔥 true!! Except only 1 book per author and i had to do starship troopers….
Good list, some I have not read, yet. So, thanks for those. I'd recommend Octavia Butler's "Parable" duology. They are very relevant to today's political topography. Maybe, not as broad or far-sighted as many on your list, but prescient, none the less.
Ooh good rec! I love Octavia Butler!
Incredible list of books. Some are just plain important to read. This video is perfectly timed and I absolutely loved it. Great job Whitney
Thanks for ur support dale!!
Too Like The Lightning by Ada Palmer.
Ooh good one!!
Sooooo gooood
Secret Sauce, you are THE BOSS!!! Thank you for that superlative list. Keep up the good work. (And your dog is simply adorable as well!)
Awwww! Thanks! 😊 hope u found some great books!
Pico is adorable! ❤ Also, thanks for all your sci-fi recommendations. Since I found your channel my sci-fi TBR has grown a lot 😁
Awww- im so glad 😀 hope you find some you really enjoy 😊
Hey! I’m really enjoying what you’re posting!
Thank you!! 😊 hope i can keep it up!
I would recommend Ernst Callenbach’s 1975 novel “Ecotopia”. Western America has split off from the rest and formed an anarchist/agricultural/non polluting country called Ecotopia. After 50 years of isolation they open their borders to just one Eastern American reporter (our narrator).
I loved this book. And who hasn’t had wet eyes at the end of it?
Oooh thanks for the recc this sounds up my alley
Vonnegut's Player Piano. Automated technocratic capitalism at its finest
🔥
What a beautiful novel "The Dispossessed". Maybe Ursula Le Guin's political manifesto.
True dat
Mind blowing
There was an American novel by Sinclair Lewis called "It Can't Happen Here", published in 1935. The story concerns an aggressive, crude, loud-mouthed rabble-rouser who runs for president of the United States. Claiming to represent the little guy and promising to make America prosperous again, he wins the election. After becoming president, he quickly sets about turning the United States into a fascist dictatorship. The book is still in print. As a commentary on the fragility of democracy, it has been described as "eerily prescient".
Good info!! Sounds similar to octavia butler’s book that said same campaign…. Interesting
Malka's democracy sounds like the Florentine democracy- where everything was subject to voting...
Yes i think it was inspired by but has modern take!
Notable omissions:
The anarchist novel "Enemy of the State" by F. Paul Wilson.
The several socialist novels of the Joe Mauser series by Mack Reynolds
Not heard of this one…. Thanks
Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan saga is quite political.
Beta Colony’s sexual ethics, uterine replicators, etc…
🔥 i am slowly making my way thru… i have mirror dance somewhere i need to read
I think I agree that almost all SF is political in one way or another. Maybe not the Amazing Stories style space operas, but most serious SF has a political aspect. But some more overt examples:
Iain Bank's Culture novels deal with a range of different political systems, juxtaposed against the Culture.
Most of Sherri S. Tepper's books deal with gender politics, but the one that stands out is Gibbon's Decline and Fall.
Everything by Joanna Russ.
And The Peripheral and it's sequels by William Gibson.
Thesr are some GREAT examples and choices!!! Thank you for putting them here…. Hey everyone read these!!
Arkady Martine's Texcaalan books are interesting in how they touch on diplomacy, transmission of knowledge, and linguistics/translation.
🔥 yes!!! Agreed!!!
Walkaway was a great novel, it made think a lot about how society can work under a different system
Agreed! Very different than lots of others. Thanks for watching.
Brave New World by Huxley should be required reading for any SF enthusiast or aspiring SF writer.
Very interesting video and lot of books for me to add to my tbr.
Hope you enjoy them!
Hey! Just chanced upon your channel. Great video. I’ve read a number of these, but had not even heard of a couple of them. I read We earlier this year and found it a little difficult. I then read When the Sleeper Wakes by Wells because I heard it influenced We, but didn’t love it 🤷♂️
Hey thanks for commenting! Hope u find more you like! We was one of the OGs but i havent really enioyed my time with the few H G Wells books ive read. I want to give him another try but there are so many other books I want to read more…. Its a problem!
Put the Centennial Cycle and Walkaway on my never-ending list. Got to read most of the classics already.
Awesome! Centennial cycle is really something else…. There are many more that I havent gotten to yet either!
Another good writer for political science fiction is Ken MacLeod. I immediately think of his Fall Revolution series, Star Fraction, Stone Canal, Cassini Division, and The Sky Road. Cassini Division is in some ways a response to Starship Troopers. So was Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero.
Oooh!!! 😲 thanks for saying this. I have started fraction on my shelf right now…. I want to get to cassini division but gotta read the other books first.
Hi. Congratulations on your channel, production, and recommendations. I agree with @JamesDAmadan that Ken McLeod´s Fall Revolution Series is just great. Following this first impression of mine, I waited until the complete Corporation Wars was out to start reading it, expecting the same degree of satisfaction, but at that moment, I could not get on to reading book 2 (which I´ve read is the best of the series) after I finished book 1. Maybe later, I will continue with the series.
Another favorite of mine was Ministry of the Future. It made it into my all-time list.
I have also read several books from your list, and now I will look out for some of the others you recommended.
Ecotopia, Callenbach. Although not SF, for economic theory try 'The Velvet Monkeywrench', Muire, and 'The Future of Money', Litaer, and I recently read 'Economic Science Fictions' anthology, Edt. William Davies.
👍🏻 thank u!
The Ministry for the Future should be a blueprint for what we do next, IMHO.
Hahahah what a future! At least he acknowledged it would be harder than everyone thought
Oh shoot, I forgot one: Herland by Charlotte Gilman Perkins, a feminist utopian novel written in 1915, which is about a society of woman reproducing and living without men and creating a nonviolent way of life. I think the society was mostly socialist too. Many interesting ideas. The writing style was very accessible.
Never heard of this one
Utopias can be boring to read. What was interesting about this one is that it did not turn into a dystopic nightmare.
Hail Big Sister! Hail Big Sister!
*Voyage from Yesteryear* by James P Hogan
An interesting comparison to The Dispossessed. I think Hogan knew more about technology and economics than LeGuin.
*Daemon & Freedom* by Daniel Suarez
Oooh i didnt know about hogan!! Thank u!
@secretsauceofstorycraft
Of course, LeGuin was the better writer.
Men suffer from the Asimov syndrome.
The Dispossessed is a great book. It will alter the way you think about governments and life itself
🔥 yrsdd
Another excellent list, as expected.
12:30 - SFF does not lack "noble families" of one sort or another - take Elizabeth Moon and both her _Vatta's War/Peace_ _and _Regnant Families_ series, or McMaster Bujold's _Vorkosigan Saga._ The latter, IMO, makes a far better job of exploring sociology of possible future human societies, from pseudo-feudal to fiercely egalitarian to rampantly plutocratic to a weird kind of techno-autocracy.
A few additions:
You, of course, included _Nineteen Eighty Four,_ but led me remind the viewers of another of author's works which more directly explores the way socialist ideas get corrupted: _Animal Farm._
Let's not forget good old _The Space Merchants_ by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth, a marvelous satyre on the world ruled by advertising agencies.
There are some marvelous less obviously political SciFi works among my favourites. E.g, in Martha Wells' _Murderbot_ series anarchist "Preservation Alliance" together with "Pan-system University of Mihara and New Tideland" stick it to corporate plutocracy liberating space colonies under their thumb. Iain Banks is (was, sadly) more openly political in his non-SciFi works, but anarchist, post-scarcity _Culture_ is contrasted in every novel with various kinds of travesties that are all too familiar to the present day denizens of Earth.
I vote for Pico,our pets sure like to help or at least follow us around.
Pico appreciates your vote 😜 he does follow me everywhere, unless someone else is here then I’m chopped liver
Yet again, I am disappointed in your discussion of Heinlein's novels. "Starship Troopers" is perhaps the most apolitical novel that Heinlein wrote. The protagonist's experiences, including all flashbacks, occur within the military, on the way to the recruiting office, or a high school classroom. There is ZERO support for the government and/or culture being "militaristic". In fact, it is specifically stated that military personnel are not permitted to vote and that there is no draft. Both of these missing features are ones that you would expect to find in a "militaristic" culture. As for the requirement of national service as the sole qualification for franchise, this seems minor compared to the required qualifications of being white, male, and a property owner (as in the early U.S.). The fact that the novel does not once discuss the political sphere, or any oppression whatsoever, implies that Heinlein wanted his readers to imagine that the government resembled the political environment that they were used to. (i.e. a liberal democracy.)
Several of Heinlein's novels deal with the political sphere, either directly or indirectly. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" deals with political oppression through colonialism and an attempt to create a government after a successful coup. "Stranger in a Strange Land" involves someone trying to survive unwelcome attention by the government. "Citizen of the Galaxy" involves the results of corruption set in a galaxy too spread out to govern. And, of course, "Double Star" is set entirely in the highest levels of a government, with all of the principal characters being either politicians or their aides. Almost all Heinlein novels involve some significant interaction with politics or government, with the notable exception of "Starship Troopers", which NEVER mentions these things (leading one to think the absence was deliberate).
Good call. Moon is a personal fav, being a rational anarchist and all. Stranger, with the Fosterite Church of the New Revelation having slot machines in their lobby and representatives in the government is essentially inevitable in our timeline.
I've always liked Heinlein's attention to the competing forces of the power of thinking for oneself vs giving that up for the power of idiocy in the mob. The essential theme of 1984 of course. Politics is after all about power and where you draw the line of coercion.
I haven't read Troopers yet, but have always been fascinated by movie - Verhooven is just too good at the action - it can wash over the satire. Like Nirvana's In Bloom, Foster the People's Pumped Up Kicks, Ring Around the Rosy, etc.
Excellent point about Starship Troopers... The only discussion on government is about the idea that the franchise is linked to (in this case military) service. Heinlein mentioned in one of his other books the idea that the ability to do math might be a pre-req. You deposit a gold coin (because you had to have skin in the game) and the voting booth gave you a math problem to solve. Solve the problem, you get the coin back and get to vote. Screw up and you can try again... but it will cost.
Dune was about the influence and manipulation of religion in politics... another excellent Herbert book on gov was The Dosadi Experiment (and the prequel Whipping Star). The concepts of overly efficient gov being a hazard to its populace, the interesting legal systems of various species et al were fascinating.
Ooh interesting - thanks
Hm- i agree that almost any of Heinlein’s novels could fit here- but Starship troopers fit the best I thought. It is after all a meritocracy, which is a bit more unusal and a great discussion. Plus of course we have ch 8- talking about juvenile delinquency and how to punish people, where they get their motivations not to mention the discussion about how to endorce the laws (even within the military is still politics) with things like public whipping. Given these specific examples and more it fit the list better than say double star, which i loved, but other than the prog being a politician didnt go into politics specifics at all. I would argue its probably the most apolitical IMO.
Thanks for watching!
🐶 More Pico required in your tellybox show! 🗳️
I keep seeing “The Centenal Cycle” by Malka Older getting mentioned (Literature Science Alliance channel immediately springs to mind, for example) so I have swooped on a set for my shelves 🛒 I want to get to McDonald’s “Luna” series in my upcoming SciFi December, but I have so many carryovers from October that I suspect an overload situation will arise… ☢️💥🔥
Infomocracy is good! 😊
Will try to have more pico! Maybe 🤔
I’m trying my hand at this in my WIP
Yay! 😁 let me know how it goes
Pico needs to be President of the Universe! Vote Pres-Pico! :D
I recently read the Marriage Act by Marrs. Set in England it looks at how government control of people and relationships can go wrong.
I have several of Marrs books on my tbr- im glad to hear this one recommended. Ty!
Great idea! I have read the SF classics on this topic, and a few more recently printed. I did read the Card "Pastwatch" you suggested with reservations. While well written, I thought Card's "solution", wiping out the entire Earth's population thru a past change that likely would not really make any difference (it was going to happen) seemed just a bit extreme!
Keith Laumer's "The Monitors" presents this topic with quite a bit of sarcasm and humor, with some pointed and serious social commentary.
A E van Vogt's "The World of Null A" preceded "Nineteen Eighty - Four by 4 years, with a very similar message as the later novel. van Vogt's classic "The Weapon Shops of Isher" explores most of this, too.
"Anarchaos" by Donald E. Westlake takes a very serious look at anarchy and philosophy and how they can combine for good or evil. The protagonist is a flat out violent criminal, his brother is the opposite, but maintains contact with him. The brother travels to planet "Anarchaos" for a job and disappears. Hard brother goes looking for him, he is very educated, and you hear his thoughts and analysis throughout. Parker in space.
Oh wow, 'great list of reccs here! Not heard of most of these- I've got to add to my list, thanks! Also agree with u about pastwatch- not perfect or even in my top 30 but def not the disaster everyone made it out to be
The best political sci-fi series is *Legend of the Galactic Heroes* and there is no comparison. I don't even know what #2 would be because LOGH so far ahead of the pack, so you might just want to count whatever that would be as #3 instead.
Woah big claims!!! Will have to check it out
@@secretsauceofstorycraft, please do! There is also an anime adaptation from 1988 which is extraordinary, and very faithful to the source novels.
fantastic video, thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
you can ALWAYS tell a person's bias - when they say "whether you agree with X or not" - means that you disagree - especially if you never give the same warning about other very controversial authors or books
😜 or it means they have been yelled at on the internet so much due to opinions about it…. Haha either way! Thanks for commenting!
@@secretsauceofstorycraft - it's hard to hide biases - especially from someone who has seen so much of it
Look to the TTRPG "Eclipse Phase" for sci fi and politics under a transhumanist lens.
Oooh thank you!!!😊
Must get around to getting a copy of Jennifer Government.
🔥 i hope u like it!
thanks for this
An older classic that might fit: Frederik Pohl's The Space Merchants, a satiric look at consumerism and advertising through a corporate hegemony. A newer trilogy/series: Red Rising by Pierce Brown, which, of course, looks at a rigid social hierarchy under the rule of oligarchs/elites and how to bring about a revolution under such a regime.
Ooh red rising is a good one….
I had a "toy" poodle from 1983 to 2001. Her name was Mandi. She looked just like Pico.
Awwww!!! Sounds lovely!
A plot/trope I love, whether it's fantasy or sci-fi, is when there's a fight or rebellion or revolution against an oppressive regime. I don't love it when the protagonist is a teenager and they are able to overthrow an authoritarian state all by themselves or with a few other teenage friends. That's just stupid.
Hahaha….. u must love- moon is a harsh mistress
I don't think I read that one.
Would you consider Asimov's Foundation series? I vote for Pico.
I thought about that one… but doesnt really fo into the structure or specifics of govt…. But i enjoyed it!
I would add Ariya Kai the Secret of Colony LIFE by F Z Zach to that awesome list.
🔥 thanks
Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler.
Yessss 😎
Political science fiction without mentioning Iain M Banks or Ken Macleod? Surely not
Look into "The Burning" by James Gunn.
Ooooh thank u !!! ☺️
But, it can get your hopes up a bit too much sometime though. Not Orwell for sure.😆
Hahaha 😆
A World Between by Norman Spinrad
Second person to recommend this one!
Got a fondness for "This Perfect Day" by Ira Leven. I think he wrote Rosemary's Baby?
That and Stepford Wives which is also politi sci fi imo.
Hm never heatd of this perfect day before…
@secretsauceofstorycraft worth a look..
Great fun list. Read ten of your choices, reading the Robinson book at the moment.
See also: Ira Levin ‘The Perfect Day’, S M Stirling the Draka novels (very bleak vision of militaristic fascist alt history)
Ooh havent heard of that one, thank u!
I think S Andrew Swann's Hostile Takeover trilogy is on an anarcho-capitalist world. Reynolds' Elysium Fire has some kind of neural connection voting system. Who are you imitating in the thumbnail?
Nobody specific on the thumbnail-- just general. And thanks for the recc!! So many books!
I really love the Luna books, great shout out. I might suggest Salt by Adam Roberts which, like The Dispossessed, compares two political systems through two counterpointing narrators. Also has shades of Dune from an environment perspective. For shady politicians we could include Generation Ship or Seveneves. As you say, lots of sci fi has a political element. PS, I was like, when is Whitney going to mention Red Mars?? 🔴😂👍🚀👽📚🎬
Hahaha 😆 i knew u were gunna ask about mars trilogy! Good recc tho in salt. Havent gotten to lots of his stuff yet….
Now do the same for fantasy…. Shadows of the Apt!
Hahah thats tooooo many
I got through Deluge by Stephen Markley. You might like it, but it has some huge infodumps. This one POV has multiple columns like a newspaper. Lots of climate change science. One POV is autistic/super genius.
Interesting… I’ll have to check that one out -- u did didnt answer tho-- did u like it?
@@secretsauceofstorycraft I think it was overwritten, but I did like parts of it, and I did finish it, so that says something.
Three branch theories of government are wrong. Bureaucracy that issues and retains official records precedes all government and provides the foundational direction to the other three.
Haha 🤣 sounds like u might write a good book!
@@secretsauceofstorycraft The book is in anthropology. The phases of the moon are the content of the first official records.
_A Half-Built Garden_ does a good job comparing and contrasting Anarchy, Capitalism and Representative Democracy as the Earth tries to rebuild after a climate catastrophe.
Nice one 👍🏻
Yes, Logan's Run !! 😂
Hahaha 😆 good point
Pico for supreme Earth ruler
Yesss 🙌🏻 🔥
_The Tomorrow File,_ Lawrence P. Sanders, is today.
Thank u for the recc!!
@@secretsauceofstorycraft It's a horror story.
The Dispossessed isn't about communism vs capitalism. It's an anarchy vs capitalist.
Thats why i listed them all :) as well as socialism too!
It is a fantastic novel.
@@dsbranch9144 💯
Cue the Soviet Anthem on the background🤩
Ha
Pico for president!
🔥 🙌🏻 🗳️
Ponds at spring seasoning for all kinds of deaths for survival foods wow they stay hungry all day times even night helps so ink and paperwork for books messages' very low opinion of how when where actually takes place.
This doesnt make sense
I can't remember the title maybe you or one of your followers will remember, it's a short story where a computer goes through the data and picks one person to vote.
Oooh!!! I havent heard of this one but sounds intriguing
"Franchise" by Isaac Asimov.
@@pdmuhich Thanks
Past Master by R. A. Lafferty.
Oooh heard of this one…. Will have to try to find this one
Great list!👍👍👍🤖🚀📚🐲The expanse's political back-drop; earth uses universal basic income, mars is very totalitarian almost "fascist" state/culture, the belt more "clan-based"...ruled/exploited in a colonial situation by companies and other governments.
What kind of animal is that? Is it a cat?
Dog. Maltese. He is the best.
You are lying to us! You say there are no personal political views in this video, yet just a couple seconds later you ask us to vote for Pico. Unsubscribed!!!
In all seriousness, very nice video. I was familiar with a good number of these books and had some of them on my reading list already but discovered some new interesting ones as well! 😀
Pico deserves your vote!! 😜 its an objective opinion! Haha. Thanks for watching, there are so many more i didnt put in the list becausr i havent read then yet…. So let me know if u have any reccd!