Humanity might already be heading toward one of these. Sci-fi has been warning us for decades.
Hey everyone! Andrew here.
So I have been reading some non-fiction lately, which doesn’t happen as often as it should. Last week I picked up “In the Service of the Shogun: The Real Story of William Adams” — the actual historical account of the man who inspired James Clavell’s Shogun. You may know the miniseries. You may know the novel. But the real William Adams? The real story is wilder and, frankly, more disturbing than anything Clavell put on the page.
The sailors who should be in our science fiction
The book is dry. It reads like a historical record because that’s what it is. But what it revealed to me about life at sea in the early 1600s genuinely shocked me, and I have been thinking about it and what it means for the science fiction.
The sailors of Adams’ era weren’t the polished graduates of some naval academy like Starfleet officers. They were not, if I am being brutally honest, very nice people at all. They fought each other constantly — physically — over pay disputes. They caused havoc in every port they landed in. They were as likely to murder the captain as follow his orders.
Voyages were super dangerous. Of the five ships that left on the voyage Adams was part of — the voyage that eventually brought him to Japan — only one ship survived. Of the crew, only 18 made it through. And of those 18, only 3 were well enough to actually stand up and walk. The rest were lost to the sea, to disease, to malnutrition, to violence in port, or to locals who objected to their presence.
Now I ask you: if that’s what oceanic exploration looked like, why do we pretend space exploration is going to be somehow cushier? Space is more hostile to human life than any ocean ever was. The distances are incomprehensible. The margins for error are essentially zero. There is no port to limp into. And yet in most of our science fiction, the crew is largely fine. A red shirt dies here and there to remind us the stakes are real, and then everyone else goes back to their diplomatic missions and their ethical dilemmas and their very reasonable working conditions.
I have been thinking about this in relation to Anthropoid and I realized something uncomfortable: Elion (our protagonist) moves through a world that is basically sanitized. The crew he encounters might be a bit rough around the edges, but they are not rough. Not really. And I think I know why. I have been unconsciously writing a Star Trek universe when I should probably be writing something closer to the reality of what exploration actually looks like. The Doctor Who influence is real too. Everyone is basically decent and the universe rewards curiosity.
Maybe it shouldn’t?
There’s a version of Anthropoid where the ships are crewed by the space equivalent of those 1600s sailors who took the job because the alternatives were worse, not because they were inspired by the dream of discovery. That changes the whole texture of the story.
So I’m putting the question to you: do you prefer your spaceship crews to be the Ivy League analogues — trained, professional, essentially civilized — or would you like to see science fiction get a lot more historically honest about what exploration actually costs and who actually does it?
I think there is scope to be grittier. I think readers might actually want that, even if they don’t know it yet. Tell me I’m wrong.
Writing update
The Bone Singer continues its inexorable march toward a finish line that keeps moving. 150,000+ words and I am still not done, but as always, progress is being made. Big thanks to Rowena for offering to read it for me to let me know whether it is holding together. I am going to take you up on that. I am not stopping. The end is in there somewhere (actually, it isn’t because I haven’t written that part yet…) Sigh.
That’s it for this week!
All the best,
Andrew (ZZ)
Zero-Point Awakening – The Complete Series Books 1-8
It’s hard to break it down without spoilers but I love the way it plays with various genres and blends them together (fantasy, science fiction, military fiction, a really good helping of great comedy).
– Amazon 5 Star Review
Saved by the Terran Human Alliance as a child, Elias Kade grew into one of its deadliest soldiers. But on a mission to purge an alien world, he discovers the targets aren’t monsters—they’re innocent civilians.
After saving twelve thousand lives, Commander Elias Thorne is framed, stripped of rank, and exiled to the crumbling UNS Aegis. But the Syndicate doesn’t leave loose ends behind.
Chasm City offers temptation, danger, and death. Hunted and alone, Beryn and Mava must rely on each other to survive.
The Moon Shadow Riders are out to steal a fortune—and send a message. But when the heist turns deadly, even outlaws may betray each other.
Which sci-fi future feels most likely within the next century? Star Trek Blade Runner The Matrix Dune WALL-E Other (let us know your view by replying)
Survey Result
And now, let’s take a look at last week’s poll results. We asked, “Have you ever seen yourself in a character while reading?“
Here are the results:
- Yes, a little –> 44%
- Not really –> 27%
- Never –> 20%
- Yes, scarily accurate –> 6%
Andrew: 50% of us have seen at least a little of ourselves in a fictional character, with 6% having that slightly unnerving experience of seeing themselves reflected back with uncomfortable precision. And 20% have never experienced this at all. I don’t have a lot to say on this one. I think I am in the “a little” group. I’ve never found a character exactly like me, but I have seen some that have elements that I recognize in myself or in others that have provided food for thought.
Your Thoughts
And thank you, as always, to everyone who reads, votes, replies, and generally keeps this newsletter fresh (and most importantly, fun for me!)
David wrote in to lobby for a newsletter poll about the correct orientation of a toilet paper roll. I have noted this, David. I am not saying it won’t happen. I’m just a bit afraid of the bloodbath that might ensue. You will note that I am also avoiding the question of pineapple on pizza. 😉
As always — thank you to everyone who voted, replied, and kept this conversation going. These responses are genuinely the best part of writing this thing every week. They really are. They make me smile and that’s precious to me. Thank you!
**Please note: All links in this newsletter are affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
ZZ ADAMS
Meguro-Ku Kakinokizaka 2-10-8, Tokyo
Japan
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