Visionary Science Fiction
A sub-genre of Science Fiction
Introduction
The literary and artistic works of Tales of The Horizon are created as Visionary Science Fiction, a sub-genre of Science Fiction that blends ideas from scientific, philosophical and visionary perspectives — emphasizing the journey of identity discovery and the agency of the human being. The future of human advancement is not just about more knowledge, or more technology, or a better social well being. It also includes the expansion of our consciousness into higher energy-dimensions of Space and into as-yet unfamiliar realms of universal existence. It is about Humans, and all other sentient beings, becoming more.
What would a Science Fiction Cosmology look like?
We are fortunate to live in an age where we have a rich legacy of science fiction works. If we look at those science fiction stories that consider the big questions of the Universe, our future as humans, and specifically what it is really like ‘out there’, a definite pattern emerges with multiple tropes. With so many ideas to consider, the following provides just a basic foundation on which to build a ‘Visionary Science Fiction Cosmology’:
1.Space Travel. It is possible to travel between stars and galaxies free from the vast distances this entails and from the constraints of ‘the speed of light’. When humans on Earth are ready for it, we will have the means to do so.
2. Extraterrestrials. There is sentient, intelligent life ‘out there’, on many other planets. It is diverse, and it includes both, human and non-human sentient beings. And we on Earth will one day join other galactic human communities.
3.Galactic Civilizations. The diversity of intelligent, sentient beings have organized themselves into a loosely-coupled network of self-governing civilizations for mutual assistance and friendship. There are rogue and freelance ETs also in the stars.
4.Cosmic Evolution. Most galactic civilizations are not just masters of their environment and of Space. They know themselves to be on a journey of identity discovery along Time and Space — a journey for flourishing into their fuller potential that is taking them to realms of existence beyond the material Universe.
5.Energy Science. A deeper understanding of the energy-dimensions of Space provides the basis for our future advancement. We will use energy more than machines for practical applications, such as food production, healing, transportation, communications, cultural expressions, etc.
6.Prime Directive. There is a principle of non-interference that is understood and respected by all self-conscious sentient beings, and which is more than just ethics or some form of higher morality.
Thus a ‘Visionary Science Fiction Cosmology’ speaks, above all, of a journey of identity discovery that every sentient being, individually and collectively, is traveling in order to know more about themselves and their possibilities — a journey that began in the mists of a far past, of which not much is known… a journey that takes us along the experiences provided by Space and by Time, through levels of existence for which our imagination isn’t sufficient… and a journey that is leading us all towards a cosmic destiny.
A Blue Ocean Strategy
Visionary Science Fiction, as a sub-genre of Science Fiction, extends the opportunities for storytelling by adjusting some of the elements of the main genre. Some factors are added or increased while others are removed or decreased. By following these guidelines, new stories could be classified into this sub-genre. There are many science fiction works that already fall into this category, so it is not really totally new. The sub-genre just formalizes and expands the horizon of possible storytelling.
Add
higher dimensions of reality beyond the physical.
higher orders of sentient beings beyond the biological.
Remove
guns, cruelty, and mindless evil.
dystopian futures.
Increase
advanced galactic human beings, cultures, and ways of living.
antagonists with depth of character and story arcs we can relate to.
Decrease
characters with contemporary human psychological unbalances and problems.
advanced technologies in the hands of immature characters.
The Future of Visionary Science Fiction
Science Fiction provides us with a solid foundation for new kinds of storytelling. Visionary ideas have always been part of it. So, Visionary Science Fiction is just a new strategy to open up opportunities for all of us to tell innovative Science Fiction stories. The factors of scientific understanding are expanded and adjusted. It necessitates that all characters reflect a diversity and nobility of heart that is naturally found in all sentient beings, even if it doesn’t appear that way. It follows a parallel growth of the heart and the mind.
It requires stories that go beyond the common boundaries of the genre — yet, isn’t that what the best science fiction stories always do?
Mailing List
Subscribe to our mailing list to learn more about Tales of the Horizon™ and receive future announcements.