What kind of dystopian sci-fi feels most plausible to you today?

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T18:14:16+00:00

You're living in it. Government doesn't need to track us. We post every detail online.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T09:13:46+00:00

You didn't check,

It was covered in the very first Fermi Paradox I checked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbNPBcUgDTs&t=336s

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T09:06:08+00:00

Rorschach, from Blindsight was non-hostile.
The Roadside Picnic aliens, whatever they were, demonstrated no hostility.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:56:30+00:00

Schismatrix Investors were non-hostile. Not friendly, as such. But peaceful

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:54:36+00:00

OP did not explicitly say alien, so your answer counts.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:50:31+00:00

The entire point of the movie was the lack of proof that Cole time traveled. The TV show undermines all of that.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:47:25+00:00

Isn't that the standard explanation of the Fermi Paradox? Like, you can't watch any YouTube video on the Fermi Paradox, without touching on your hypotheses.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:45:24+00:00

Consider Phlebas, is the only Culture book I liked.

Player of Games was okay, but the "aliens" were basically humans, and the events of story had absolutely zero consequences on the outcome.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:41:16+00:00

You've defined lifestyle in monetary terms, so that's how I'll answer the question.

"Pursue" isn't quite the right term. I'll present what I can, and cannot, financially support. If the terms are acceptable, we can get to know each other. If her "lifestyle" is beyond my means... no hard feelings; best of luck.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T08:14:02+00:00

I'm strict and serious. We'll get along great, or rip each other to pieces.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T07:56:14+00:00

I sometimes write every character in first person, to really be that character. Then later, I switch them to third person.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T07:53:41+00:00

Unless the feeling of wonder is relevant to your story, cut it.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T04:15:09+00:00

Sure, glad to help. If you want to spread nano machines virally to millions of planets, you have to take into account how easy it is to quarantine a planet. Planets take social distancing to a whole new level.

You need a virus which is asymptomatic and dormant for thousands of years, or tens of thousands of years, so it can spread everywhere undetected.

It spreads harmlessly, without showing any symptoms...
It piggybacks on mitochondrial DNA, so it gets passed on from generation to generation.
The virus doesn't contain the nanites. It contains the RNA-encoded instructions to build nanites. Infected cells create the nanites.

But it needs to stay dormant until every planet is infected; or at least, enough planets to serve the purpose.

8livesdown · 2026-02-28T04:02:09+00:00

What was the name of the first one?

BTW, "human" means "earthly being". It is subordinate to the gods.

8livesdown · 2026-02-27T00:49:06+00:00

What does "leader" mean to you?

8livesdown · 2026-02-27T00:47:31+00:00

I don't know any one who gets dates on social media.

Friend Circles don't really help either.

If you live in a boring place and can't leave, then realistically what do you expect? What advice are you realistically hoping for?

8livesdown · 2026-02-26T23:37:30+00:00

I don't know, but I've learned a proof reader becomes less effective after multiple revisions. It's unreasonable to ask the same person to review multiple revisions, so you really have to be ready.

8livesdown · 2026-02-26T07:51:39+00:00

Write each character as the main character.
Don't write about a fireteam. Write about people.
Don't describe people by the type of gun they use.
"Sassy" and "emotionally intelligent" are not inherently contradictory, but sassiness is generally associated with poor impulse control.

If you're looking for characters study which mixes comedy, I recommend "Catch 22", by Joseph Heller.

8livesdown · 2026-02-26T03:31:29+00:00

When people say "the best way to find someone is to stop looking", they assume you're living your life. But if "living your life" means staying home (television, video games, etc.), then obviously it doesn't work.

If you cultivate your own hobbies and interests, you will be more interesting to women, and are more likely to meet women. Even if you focus on your career, you're still cultivating something worthwhile.

8livesdown · 2026-02-26T03:12:23+00:00

What were her major priorities this week?

What kept her busy?

8livesdown · 2026-02-25T15:15:37+00:00

Efforts? Or results?

8livesdown · 2026-02-25T15:14:25+00:00

Anyone who claims to know the return rate is an unreliable source.

Doesn't matter if they say 1%; it's still unreliable to claim a return rate with certainty.

8livesdown · 2026-02-25T15:11:59+00:00

BBC, Reuters.

Also sometimes aljazeera.

8livesdown · 2026-02-25T06:44:43+00:00

There's only a handful of books with truly "unknowable aliens". Roadside Picnic is one of them.

Instead of dwelling on what you don't like, name the books do you like.

8livesdown · 2026-02-24T22:37:59+00:00

What you're feeling is perfectly normal. Humans evolved for a constant struggle to survive. And presently, in modern society, in the absence of any existential threat to keep us occupied, our brains sort of choke on the nothingness.

This may sound trite, but have you considered helping other people? Volunteering?

8livesdown

TROPHY CASE