The presentation examines the link between libertarian thought and the realms of science fiction and fantasy.
A few days ago, I had the privilege of delivering the keynote at the Libertarian Futurist Society’s annual Prometheus Awards ceremony. My speech explored the theme of “Libertarianism and Science Fiction.” It discusses why libertarian ideas appear far more frequently in science fiction and fantasy than in other literary genres, why this prevalence matters, and a few takeaways libertarians might draw from it. I also bestowed the Prometheus Hall of Fame Award on Aldous Huxley’s landmark work, Brave New World. The accolade was accepted by a representative of the Huxley estate and two of the author’s grandchildren.
See here for a more comprehensive description of the awards and the various winners.
I revisited the topics touched upon in the talk in greater depth in a 2011 article titled “Libertarianism and Science Fiction.” The talk, in some respects, updates that analysis; yet there remains much more to say. When time allows, I hope to return to this theme. I have previously written several other articles and book chapters examining political themes in science fiction and fantasy, most recently here.
Below is the video of the awards ceremony. My talk runs from about 1:30 to 14:40.
