What I want to discuss is the value of one particular utopia: Ursula K. But enough of stretching an already dubious metaphor. Sure, a falafel wrap is great, but wouldn’t it be so much nicer with some hummus as well? And also, because hummus and falafel are both made out of chickpeas this metaphor emphasises the connected nature of utopia and dystopia. Lacking a proposal, critique is only partial nourishment it becomes the speculative equivalent of having a falafel wrap without hummus. The critique carried out by dystopias is necessary, but it is not sufficient. The how is, of course, a third important question - what forms of resistance could possibly lead a significant change in the current economic and political system, short of climate disaster? Although crucial, neither discussing forms of resistance nor dystopian critique are enough. We also need to pay attention to texts that disrupt our status quo not by exacerbating its weaknesses, but by forcing us to consider what might replace it. But dystopian works are not the only speculative fictions relevant to our current climate. Don’t get me wrong: I love a good dystopian tale. Witness Black Mirror, The Handmaiden’s Tale, the boom of discourse about our era being ‘ basically Orwell’s 1984', and so forth. It seems more politically attuned to paint the various landscapes of doom that the current political situation suggests, than to represent a more uplifting state of affairs.

Why everyone should read The Dispossessedĭystopias are the flavour of the week, month, and year.

The dispossessed book cover