> SF in general tends to rely on the "whig view of history": technological development and social progress moving forwards. This is what I think was so origina

> SF in general tends to rely on the "whig view of history": technological development and social progress moving forwards. This is what I think was so original about The Handmaid's Tale--a possible iteration of our own culture and technology that moved backwards-sideways instead of forward. (Disclaimer: we read this years ago in school, and I haven't had a chance to see the recent adaptation.)