*I asked for commentary on the subject of an earlier post here, and I got it.
https://www.wired.com/beyond_the_beyond/2011/08/design-fiction-nasa-inspired-works-of-fiction/
Posted by: zerode1 | 08/23/11 | 5:26 pm
I can see why you might be troubled. It’s the “NASA inspired Works of Fiction” tagline that really stood out for me, in all sorts of ways. There is something weird, and maybe a bit sleazy, about having something like this, and it does feel different than say “Warhammer Inspired” or “Authorized Halo Adventure” or something like that - and it does have to do with the government angle.
It’s weird too in that so much of science fiction in the past 40 years could be labelled “NASA inspired.”
You can see though why they might want to do this: grab some mind share; build up some good will for their brand. NASA’s never been great at playing the publicity game, at least not in recent years. It’s failures seem to always make better copy than its successes.
It made me think of the program that sends writers and artists down to Antarctica - which produces some good work, and some good PR for the programs down there. Stan Robinson’s book Antarctica was neat and smart. But they don’t feel the need to put that big stamp on the cover. I don’t think it is unethical… just a bit weird at first glance. Write what you were going to write anyway - I bet it’ll fit.
Posted by: Jane94 | 08/23/11 | 7:14 pm
As far as your part in it, it all depends on what you write, really, doesn’t it? If you write some pretty puff piece that overhypes the potential good and overlooks the potential bad, that’s unethical. But that’s just not really your style, is it? I love the idea of putting someone like Oscar Valparaiso into NASA and seeing where it went, I can’t imagine your take on NASA not being a great and educational read. NASA might not like where it went, but they can’t really restrict stories about them to what they approve, it’s not like we wouldn’t buy it from you without their seal of approval. The average guy might need their seal of approval to be heard, that’s sort of a different question. But there too, any well-written efforts rejected for not being pro-NASA enough might still get published elsewhere, if only on someone’s blog.
It could be a great vehicle for NASA insiders with important things to say who are not getting listened to to get the real word out under pseudonyms, they are sharp folks, science fiction is all about finding ways to say it without stepping on your nondisclosure agreements and the like. And just for folks with ideas in general to get them heard, some of them won’t be flaky.
For NASA I don’t think it’s unethical, but I love the potential for it to turn out to be more educational than they expect. I love the fact that if it turns out that way and they wake up and actually learn from the criticism and suggestions, it will be just the change they need as an institution. You could probably do that story and be eerily accurate, meta the whole thing for them, it does seem to have potential for just the sort of untended consequences you write so brilliantly about. Also a certain amount of potential self-fulfilling prophecy, but that would be all to the good, I still love my NASA, grew up on Apollo launches and Heinlein, but they need to get less Dilbert, and normal channels ain’t working, where better to try Heinlein-style social engineering?
