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There are some fictional worlds that come to mind that present a positive future (I'm not particularly well versed in it, but isn't that the whole appeal of the

There are some fictional worlds that come to mind that present a positive future (I'm not particularly well versed in it, but isn't that the whole appeal of the Star Trek universe?) What I think it boils down to, though, is that dystopias offer more narrative possibilities and stylistic choices for writers/filmmakers than do utopias. Utopian societies just aren't that fun to fictionalize, even though they're more fun to live in. There's a reason why more people Dante's Inferno than the Paradiso.

stinkytaco 12y ago
But it's not an either/or proposition. There are sci-fi works that are just in the future without being overtly dystopian or utopian. Asimov's Foundation Series and the Ender/Bean books, for example. Literature is dominated with dystopia now not just because of narrative possibilities, but because it sells and perhaps speaks to a contemporary world view many of us share. I can't speculate too much on why dystopia is popular, but it's just clearly not just because it's easier to write.