Hi Jason - suggested reading from New Yorker magazine.
I read Kim Stanley Robinson's science fiction trilogy on terra-forming mars a short while ago. This profile explores his semi-optimistic/realistic view of the future in his novels, and his fictional depiction in this novels of our approach to solving the climate disaster. Very interesting.
That's a great article, Bob. I've been meaning to dive into some of Robinson's books but it hasn't happened yet. I did read his Antarctica book because he visited while I was working there, and some of his characters were definitely borrowed from people I knew. Anyway, I love that he thinks scientific conferences are one of our species' crowning achievements, and that his fiction successfully dramatizes the behind-the-scenes work of government agencies. That's some serious optimism... And yet, as you note, he's very much a realist.
Your point about fusion being the enabler for unlimited world-killing growth resonates most deeply with me. I feel strongly that we, as a species, need to stop betting on high-tech solutions to problems that grow from our rabid consumption and need for immediate gratification. If we learn to control ourselves, and lead reasonable lives that minimize our impact on the earth, fusion might be a useful tool to supply the energy we require.
Thanks, Bob. All this time we've been pretending that we had unlimited energy with no consequences. So what happens when we actually do...? I agree with you on the rightness of slowing down, but I'm still leaning toward fusion because I think we're less likely to slow the train than try to fix it while moving at top speed.
Hi Jason - suggested reading from New Yorker magazine.
I read Kim Stanley Robinson's science fiction trilogy on terra-forming mars a short while ago. This profile explores his semi-optimistic/realistic view of the future in his novels, and his fictional depiction in this novels of our approach to solving the climate disaster. Very interesting.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/01/31/can-science-fiction-wake-us-up-to-our-climate-reality-kim-stanley-robinson
That's a great article, Bob. I've been meaning to dive into some of Robinson's books but it hasn't happened yet. I did read his Antarctica book because he visited while I was working there, and some of his characters were definitely borrowed from people I knew. Anyway, I love that he thinks scientific conferences are one of our species' crowning achievements, and that his fiction successfully dramatizes the behind-the-scenes work of government agencies. That's some serious optimism... And yet, as you note, he's very much a realist.
Thanks for this.
This is one of my favorite articles you've written. Very informative. Thank you!
Thanks, Chilloa. I wasn't as sure about the writing of this piece, so I'm happy to hear you liked it.
Hi Jason, great read.
Your point about fusion being the enabler for unlimited world-killing growth resonates most deeply with me. I feel strongly that we, as a species, need to stop betting on high-tech solutions to problems that grow from our rabid consumption and need for immediate gratification. If we learn to control ourselves, and lead reasonable lives that minimize our impact on the earth, fusion might be a useful tool to supply the energy we require.
Thanks, Bob. All this time we've been pretending that we had unlimited energy with no consequences. So what happens when we actually do...? I agree with you on the rightness of slowing down, but I'm still leaning toward fusion because I think we're less likely to slow the train than try to fix it while moving at top speed.
Insightful! Hope your article is read around this beautiful planet.
Thanks, Rose. I hope so too, but I'll probably need to create a social media presence to make it happen. Still thinking about that...