Summer of Science Fiction #ScienceFiction #AmWriting #SummerReading

Approximately every ten years, I have an existential crisis. I will turn half a century old soon, and the current catastrophic philosophical questions on my mind are about whether humanity in general is hopeless or if, perhaps, there enough decent people to turn the sad state of things around to build a better system. What would that system look like? Would we build something that we thought was the perfect solution, only for it to be a true dystopian nightmare where choice is taken away and callousness is ingrained into every single aspect of the society, like in Lois Lowry’s The Giver?

As I get older, I don’t have as much faith in progress or in humanity in general, but I can never seem to give up hope for, not only progress, but hope that people can continue to find ways to find joy. A few years ago, I started writing horror and science fiction short flash fiction stories. I turned some of my major questions into “what if” scenarios. Like, how would greedy people try to seize power after a disaster hit? How would people fight back? What would the aftermath look like and how would life and the possibility of love, begin to flourish again?

This summer, while I write, and procrastinate, and take on the daunting task of moving house, I am also going to read as many science fiction stories as possible.

Here’s a few summer reading suggestions:

For a speculative look at how the environment and social structure can be affected by scarcity and disaster, check out-

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

For a look at people finding love in the midst of the fight to just survive another day after zombie-style viruses wreak havoc on the world, check out-

Say You’ll Stay (Flowers from Ashes series) by Anna Calloway

Caitlyn Can’t Die (Serial Survivors series Collection) by Liz Hambleton

For a gentle, magical YA story with lovely imagery, read-

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst features a teenager who discovers her inner strength and career passion while working for the summer at her great aunt’s supernatural Inn

 

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