Reviews

Economic Science Fictions by

car0's review against another edition

adventurous challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

dillarhonda's review against another edition

Can science fictions affect real-world economics? What can economics illuminate about fictional worlds? Economic Science Fictions, a brilliant new collection edited by William Davies presents a convincing argument that economics and scientific futures are intimately intertwined. Including both academic articles and short fictions, from more obvious examples (#aynrand) to relatively obscure fictional works, the academic articles parse how fictional accounts can provide insight into modern economic theory. The fictional entries however, are the shining moments. Standouts include “Fatberg and the Sinkholes: A Report on the Findings of a Journey into the United Regions of England by PostRational” by Dan Gavshon Brady and James Pockson and the incendiary “Public Money and Democracy” by Jo Lindsay Walton. Each gradually reveals an alternate future in which the economics of our world have been altered radically, though in which the roots of the change are already deeply embedded in our present economies.

fishsauce's review

4.0

The essays are generally good, although a few of the scholars are not great writers and the copy editing left something to be desired. The fiction, with maybe two exceptions, was mostly quite bad. The AUDINT piece was was the worst. It was legitimately painful to read—trite, unconvincing, and very badly written.

stevendedalus's review against another edition

3.0

An interesting idea and a superbly varying blend of perpectives, fiction and non-, it never really lives up to its promise.

The fiction is stilted and the essays are semi-interesting but never really penetrate or achieve great insight. The proposals are inane insights from futurists and a few hints that aren't developed fully.

I wanted to like it but never felt I got much out of it other than its premise to think outside the box and hoping that others are doing that job better.