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I like the take that science fiction and fantasy is just a better form of fiction because you could take literally any fiction story about a mopey 30 year old who has to take care of their sick parent and a science fiction story has the potential to write an equally compelling story except this time there's a killer robot on the loose or they're on Mars or something.
All good stories are human stories, even science fiction. There's nothing inherently better about setting your story in the "real world".
"Human stories" are depressing and boring as fuck. I've already dealt enough with people dying of illnesses and being in shitty relationships and all that bullshit in my own life. I don't need to be reminded of it by reading or watching a dramatized version. Put that shit in a metaphor the characters can solve their problems by blowing up.
The only reason people set books in the real world is to try to appeal to the sensibilities of reactionary realists. http://soulism.net
Interesting concept. It's going to take me a while to get through this, but I look forward to trying. Thanks for sharing
Apparent tl;dr:
Soulism, also known as anarcho-antirealism, is a branch of anarchist thought that views reality and natural laws as unjust hierarchies needing justification through good work and the ability to be dismantled. Soulists extend this principle to reality itself, believing that our experiences, or consensus reality, are sculpted by society and cultural biases, rather than objective truth. By rejecting the objective existence of reality, soulists argue that we can reshape our perceptions to align with kindness, empathy, and respect for marginalized identities. This extends to supporting mental, racial, gender, and other diversities, while using the concept of "magic" as a means of influencing and understanding our perceptions of the world. In doing so, soulists aim to destroy the concept of an objectively true reality, promoting a more empathetic and inclusive societal framework.
Fascinating! Sounds like something I'd read about in Disco Elysium, honestly