Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other…
““Fiction is dangerous because it lets you into other people's heads. It shows you that the world doesn't have to be like the one you live in." At the first nationally recognized science fiction convention in China in 2007, Gaiman took a party official aside and said, "While not actually illegal, science fiction is regarded as dangerous and subversive in China. Why did you say yes to a science-fiction convention?" The party official answered, "In China, we're really good at making things people bring to us, but we don't invent, we don't innovate." When Chinese party officials visited Google, Apple and Microsoft, they asked what the executives read as children. The official continued: "They all said, 'We read science fiction. The world doesn't have to be the way it is right now. We can change it.' " "That," said Gaiman, "is the big dangerous thing.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Fiction expands perspective by immersing readers in alternative viewpoints, challenging the belief that the current world is inevitable.
In simple terms: Stories let us imagine different realities.
Key Takeaway
Read diverse fiction to broaden thinking.
Themes
imagination
perspective
change
culture
politics
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
inspirational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- creative industries
- personal growth
Key Concepts
subversive
innovation
worldbuilding
Questions to Reflect On
- How can fiction inspire real change?
- What responsibilities do creators have?
A Different Perspective
Stories may oversimplify complex issues.