Mike Van Horn
Nov 5, 2023

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Fascinating! LeGuin is one of my favorite storytellers. I've read most of her books. So I had to watch your video. It was well worth watching, but it never addressed the challenge raised by the title, The Dangerous Philosophy of Ursula LeGuin. Does that make it clickbait? I'll forgive you.

Her stories are full of thought-provoking ideas that have influenced my own sci fi stories, but I don't "believe" any of them. They're just input. In fact, I often argue against ideas she raises, and that improves my stories.

One thing I take away from your video is this equation:

idealism + technology + capitalist innovation + community = fair and enjoyable society.

Another take-away is this:

All utopias are dystopian because they rely on coercion to maintain existence.

I might have to write a story about these.

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Mike Van Horn

I have 3 identities: 1. Science fiction writer. 2. Small business advisor. My sci fi is a hell of a lot more fun! 3. Lonely politics — not right, not left.