An ordinary futurist reads her Seattle Times at Brenda Cooper

An ordinary futurist reads her Seattle Times

January 3rd 2010 at 9:52 am

I often get asked what makes me a futurist. Fair question, since I don’t have the formal training many futurists have. Mostly I read, and then I think. I talk to other people. I am not an expert in any one field (except maybe writing science fiction) but being a generalist has it’s uses. Anyway, today’s paper had some great futurist fodder. Here goes:

The best – the must read – is a transcript of Paul Hawken’s commencement address from May of last year to the University of Portland. It’s moving, brilliant, and meaningful. I think I will cut it out so I can read it again in the future. Yes, I read a physical paper. A small quote, just to get you hungry to go read the whole thing: “When asked if I am pessimistic or optimistic about the future my answer is always the same: If you look at the science of what is happening with the earth and aren’t pessimistic, you don’t understand data. But if you meet the people who are working to restore this earth and the lives of the poor, and you aren’t optimistic, you haven’t got a pulse.”

Yesterday I talked about what we could be doing. One was work on education, where I cited the abysmal literacy statistics for women in Afghanistan, and talked about water. In the times today, two articles address these same issues. On the front page there is “Building a Future for Girls Amid War,” by Hal Bernton. A small quote from that article is “‘If we send our children to these schools, then the Taliban, they will come to our homes at night and kill us,’ said a Pashtun elder in an Arghandab village, where a large modern school built with Japanese aid now stands empty.” In the NW Arts & Life section, there is a review of the book “Water: The Epic Struggle for Wealth, Power, and Civilization, by Steven Soloman and reviewed by Alan Moores. Notable short quote? “One in five people worldwide lack access to at least one gallon of safe water to drink per day.”

And then there is the pleasure of the Sunday funnies. Here is a great futurist strip from Sally Forth. Note it’s the January 3rd entry if you go look for this at a later date.

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6 Responses so far

1. Jetse on Jan 3rd, 2010 at 10:42 am

Great post, and a terrific start of the new year!
2. brenda on Jan 3rd, 2010 at 5:02 pm

Thanks, Jetse!

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Books

Wings of Creation by Brenda Cooper

Available November 10th, 2009 from Tor Books.

Reading the Wind by Brenda Cooper

Audio promo:

"Brenda Cooper's newest novel is a feast of character and concept. She depicts the devastation of war on microcosmic and macrocosmic levels, and even more so, the driving motives of young men and women caught in deadly conflict. Cooper is a master explorer of the interaction of society and individuals. She probes the psychology of her genetically enhanced characters with both rare depth and fidelity to scientific plausibility. Moral conundrums drive the plot in this unforgettable narrative. Don't miss this compelling work by a major new talent." - Mary A. Turzillo, An Old-Fashioned Martian Girl.

"Brenda Cooper tells a tale of a powerful brother and sister in a fight for their lives, offering insights along the way into the nature of courage and the hunger for community that burns in every human being. This is a lively book, full of colorful images and a memorable cast of human and animal characters, a worthy successor to The Silver Ship and the Sea." - Louise Marley

Available in July, 2008, from Tor Books.

The Silver Ship and the Sea by Brenda Cooper

Audio promo:

"The first solo novel by Larry Niven's Building Harlequin's Moon (2005) coauthor portrays the thoroughly convincing human colonial society on Fremont, a dangerous planet rife with vicious predators, frequent earthquakes, and falling meteors....Distinctive characterizations, well-limned interrelationships, and the vividly realized Fremont contribute to an exciting coming-of-age story with a strong message about the evils of prejudice." - Sally Estes, Copyright American Library Association.

Mass Market Paperback, July 2008.
Included by Booklist as a "Best Adult Book for Young Adults."

Building Harlequin's Moon by Brenda Cooper and Larry Niven

"Fans of both hard and softer, psychological SF will welcome veteran Niven and newcome Cooper's well-written tale of a 60,000 year layover in space, in which physical challenges of world building are matched by the social challenges of collaboration among disparate groups." - Publisher's Weekly

About

I am a writer, public speaker, and a futurist. I'm interested in how new technologies might change us and our world, particularly for the better, and in global warming. Learn more.

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