Sci-Fi Odyssey: A Tour Through the Great Works of Speculative Fiction – Emily St.John Mandel

Come join David White for the next installment of a salon series dedicated to exploring the themes, ideas, and world-building of science fiction.

We will be venturing into the world of Station Eleven and exploring what it means to be human in a world where civilization has collapsed. We will discuss the relevance to arts when other parts of civilization have been stripped away, how our current culture/civilization shapes our relationships, and what any of us would do in response to a civilization collapse.

Station Eleven explores the changes to the world in the face of terrible pandemic. Topics will include what is worth curating for future generations, the social and psychological cost of pandemics, and the intersection of Shakespeare with modern life.

Civilization collapse serves as an interesting backdrop to understanding the importance of life and relationships. The Traveling symphony in many ways captures the essential relationships that form a community and emphasize that survival alone is not enough for human existence. We will also explore how massive technological shocks both positive and negative affect different generations as well as how much of modern society is invisible/abstracted away.

Suggested Reading/Watching:

• Station Eleven – Emily St.John Mandel
• Station Eleven TV series

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