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During a recent campaign appearance, Republican presidential candidate John McCain revealed his science fictional side: He gave an entire speech where he pretended the year was 2012 and he'd already been president for four years. Apparently, he'd been getting a lot of things done, like fixing the environment and lowering taxes. More importantly, though, he was participating in a U.S. conservative tradition. He was spinning tales of a future where conservative forces triumph, roll back progressive culture, and make the world a better place. Like conservative congressman Newt Gingrich, who published an alternative history novel, McCain was trying to seduce U.S. voters with his vision of another world. Given the political climate in the U.S. right now, it would seem that conservative science fiction is pretty compelling indeed. Let's take a look at a few of the greatest hits of right-wing scifi from the USA. More »
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If science fiction is really about the present, then it's no surprise that the longstanding tensions between the United States and Middle Eastern countries should make itself known in tales of "desert planets." From Tattoine to Klendathu, planets full of barren dunes are usually not-so-subtle allegorical stand-ins for a stereotyped "Middle East." Let's take a closer look at five science fictional tales from the United States that deal more or less openly with the relationship between that country and the Arab world to find out more. More »
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You may have been wondering why President Bush vetoed bills that would have authorized government funding for stem cell research that could lead to cures for everything from Alzheimers to paralysis. Apparently it's partly due to reading parts of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, a classic 1930s scifi dystopia about a world where the government genetically engineers everyone to be obedient workers. What's hilarious is that Huxley was a leftist, and he would have despised Bush's anti-science policies. More »
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Must-see movies are futuristic classics that shouldn't be missed. Of course, not every must-see is perfect. That's why we've rated them 1-5 on the patented "crunchy goodness" scale. Written by Sherilyn Connelly. More »
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