The Sci-Fi Zeitgeist Has Shifted – What Authors Need to Know
whatshot 9 snips
Feb 26, 2025
Sci-fi is evolving, and so are its audiences. Climate change themes are losing traction, while AI and global politics rise in significance. Writers are urged to adapt their narratives to reflect contemporary issues like economic instability and international conflict. As history shows, financial collapse can redefine societies, shifting the lens through which we view war. Embracing the complexities of today's geopolitical landscape can lead to richer, more engaging stories in the genre.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Stop Writing About Climate Change
Stop writing sci-fi about climate change.
Readers are weary of climate-coded narratives due to shifting priorities and a distrust of experts.
insights INSIGHT
Population Collapse, Not Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a tired trope; Earth faces a population collapse.
Many developed nations are shrinking, creating new sci-fi possibilities.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Sci-Fi Story Formula
Combine near-future politics, ancient history, and far-future settings in sci-fi.
This resonates with readers by grounding fantastical elements in relatable contexts.
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Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
1177 B.C.
The Year Civilization Collapsed
Eric H Cline
In this book, Eric H. Cline examines the sudden and catastrophic collapse of the Late Bronze Age civilizations around 1177 B.C. He discusses how the victory of Pharaoh Ramses III over the Sea Peoples weakened Egypt and led to the decline of surrounding civilizations. Cline argues that the collapse was not caused by a single factor, but by a combination of invasions, revolts, earthquakes, drought, and the disruption of international trade routes. The book highlights the interdependence of these civilizations and how this interdependence hastened their dramatic collapse, ushering in a dark age that lasted centuries.
Two Seconds Too Late
Two Seconds Too Late
Danny Petri
Science fiction is changing, and so are its readers. The cultural landscape that shaped the last 40 years of sci-fi is shifting, including thoughts about wokeness, AI, WWIII, population, and more. If you're still writing about overused and cliched sci-fi themes, you're missing the mark. In this week's episode of Novel Marketing, we explore:
Why climate-change narratives are losing their grip on sci-fi readers
How population change can impact the next big sci-fi stories
The new role of AI in the sci-fi genre
How today's global conflicts hint at the future of war in sci-fi
Understanding these shifts will help you write more compelling stories that stand out in a genre desperate for fresh perspectives. Listen in or read the blog version to dive into the essentials of writing a sci-fi novel amidst evolving themes like population collapse and AI advancements.
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