Sometimes they did Space Wizards and sometimes they did Politics and sometimes they did both.
But the harder they leaned into actual Science Fiction the more they inevitably tackled the socio-economic ramifications of those technologies and discoveries. Legal Theories like The Prime Directive and social experiments like The Kobayashi Maru training exercise and the very depiction of aliens - the ultra-logical Vulcans who constantly resist their base emotional instincts, the war-loving Klingons, the xenophobic Romulans, the problem of domesticating an invasive species like the Tribbles - all convey political attitudes and ideologies.
This is inescapable. You can’t create good apolitical Sci-Fi. Presenting the idea of a futuristic society without exploring the consequences of your modernizations is cowardly and boring.
Your assertion that any sci-fi at all isn’t political is a particularly bold one.
But it’s a fascinating thought, so I’m going on an unrequested quest:
Here’s my attempt at “let’s name a hard science fiction that isn’t making a political statement”.
Perhaps…
“Frankenstein” is about grave robbing and biology horror and in no way an analogy for mistreatment of neurodivergent individuals.
“20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” is about a cool submarine and not about an ultra rich man’s extreme rejection of modern societal norms bending the world of those around him.
“The Martian” was about the cold hard science of a man surviving on Mars, and not all about humanity briefly overcoming our national rivalries to do the human thing and being one person home safely.
“The Robot” is just about a time traveling robot, and not a sad prediction of mankind’s likelihood to erradicate ourselves leaving only our automation to remember us by.
“Bicentenial Man” is about robotics advances and has nothing to do with marginalized people fighting to have their human rights acknowledged.
“The Expanse” is just about how dangerous space is, and not at all about how humanity tends to break off into adversarial groups.
“Snow piercer” is about a cool train in the cold.
Okay, now I’m not even trying anymore, lol. (Snow piercer is blatantly deeply political, no matter how much I love the cool science train.)
I’m coming up short, arguing myself out of my best ideas, so far.
Hang on, I’ve got two:
“Around the world in 80 days” is arguably at least slightly more about globe trotting and less about putting up with a rich employer’s bullshit.
“Journey to the Center of the Earth” is mostly about cool caves and dinosaurs?!
I should reread these two, but I don’t remember many political messages.
(Edit. I bet someone is going to point out the political messages I missed in 80 Days and Journey. Considering how political I remember 20,000 Leagues being, I wonder if I just misremember the other two…)
No, they alternated.
Sometimes they did proper scifi.
Sometimes they did politics.
I’m in it for the scifi mself.
Sometimes they did Space Wizards and sometimes they did Politics and sometimes they did both.
But the harder they leaned into actual Science Fiction the more they inevitably tackled the socio-economic ramifications of those technologies and discoveries. Legal Theories like The Prime Directive and social experiments like The Kobayashi Maru training exercise and the very depiction of aliens - the ultra-logical Vulcans who constantly resist their base emotional instincts, the war-loving Klingons, the xenophobic Romulans, the problem of domesticating an invasive species like the Tribbles - all convey political attitudes and ideologies.
This is inescapable. You can’t create good apolitical Sci-Fi. Presenting the idea of a futuristic society without exploring the consequences of your modernizations is cowardly and boring.
Your assertion that any sci-fi at all isn’t political is a particularly bold one.
But it’s a fascinating thought, so I’m going on an unrequested quest:
Here’s my attempt at “let’s name a hard science fiction that isn’t making a political statement”.
Perhaps…
Okay, now I’m not even trying anymore, lol. (Snow piercer is blatantly deeply political, no matter how much I love the cool science train.)
I’m coming up short, arguing myself out of my best ideas, so far.
Hang on, I’ve got two:
I should reread these two, but I don’t remember many political messages.
(Edit. I bet someone is going to point out the political messages I missed in 80 Days and Journey. Considering how political I remember 20,000 Leagues being, I wonder if I just misremember the other two…)
At The Earth’s Core is about how you can’t mesmerize british people, and big mac boxes can breathe fire. I’m not sure if that’s political or not.
You’re a gross person