--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let us say that science fiction is a kind…" description: "\"“Let us say that science fiction is a kind of conceptual disorientation of the familiar.”\" — Adam Roberts" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg" --- # Let us say that science fiction is a kind of conceptual… ![“Let us say that science fiction is a kind of conceptual disorientation of the familiar.” quote by Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg) > ““Let us say that science fiction is a kind of conceptual disorientation of the familiar.”” [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Science fiction intentionally unsettles familiar ideas to provoke new ways of thinking about reality. **In simple terms:** Sci‑fi distorts the familiar to spark fresh perspectives. Key Takeaway Embrace the strange to expand imagination. Themes creativity perspective innovation Mood provocative thought‑provoking Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - teaching - design thinking - problem solving Key Concepts conceptual disorientation cognitive shift Questions to Reflect On - How does disorientation foster insight? - When does it hinder communication? A Different Perspective It may alienate audiences not ready for radical re‑interpretations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Disorientation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorientation/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [There are trappings of science fiction which I kind of embrace, but there are also cliches which I run from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-twohy/there-are-trappings-of-science-fiction-which-i-kind-of-embrace-but/) [David Twohy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-twohy/) > [I'm given a lot of credit with opening the doors for Christian fiction. It was kind of a difficult field when I got into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-peretti/i-m-given-a-lot-of-credit-with-opening-the-doors-for-christian/) [Frank Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-peretti/) > [I think, for sure, 'Saturday Night Fever' and 'Pulp Fiction' were kind of bookends for - or the pillars of - my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/i-think-for-sure-saturday-night-fever-and-pulp-fiction-were-kind-of/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/fiction-is-a-kind-of-compassion-generating-machine-that-saves-us-from-2/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I can be very snobby about fiction, especially contemporary fiction. I can be kind of overly demanding, I think. But this is, I think,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/i-can-be-very-snobby-about-fiction-especially-contemporary-fiction-i/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [“I need fiction, I am an addict. This is not a figure of speech. I don’t quite read a novel a day, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-spufford/i-need-fiction-i-am-an-addict-this-is-not-a-figure-of-speech-i-don-t/) [Francis Spufford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-spufford/) > [ Science fiction \[is\] the kind of writing that prepares us for the necessary mutations brought about in society from an ever changing technological world… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/science-fiction-is-the-kind-of-writing-that-prepares-us-for-the/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [“Fiction is most effective when its themes are unspoken. 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Some kind of truth emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muriel-spark/fiction-to-me-is-a-kind-of-parable-you-have-got-to-make-up-your-mind/) [Muriel Spark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muriel-spark/) > [Even when I think of writing fiction, it's being kind of a liar, a storyteller, a weaver, and there's that sense of how much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwidge-danticat/even-when-i-think-of-writing-fiction-it-s-being-kind-of-a-liar-a/) [Edwidge Danticat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwidge-danticat/) > [Science fiction is a kind of archaeology of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/science-fiction-is-a-kind-of-archaeology-of-the-future/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [“Fiction is a kind of compassion-generating machine that saves us from sloth. Is life kind or cruel? Yes, Literature answers. Are people good or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/fiction-is-a-kind-of-compassion-generating-machine-that-saves-us-from/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [“The trouble with mimetic fiction isn’t that you can tell what’s going to happen (I defy anyone to guess what’s going to happen in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-walton/the-trouble-with-mimetic-fiction-isn-t-that-you-can-tell-what-s-going/) [Jo Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-walton/) > [Once you get that instinct for the fictiveness, the fictionality of fiction, it kind of sets you free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salman-rushdie/once-you-get-that-instinct-for-the-fictiveness-the-fictionality-of/) [Salman Rushdie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salman-rushdie/) > [If you think of a work of fiction as a kind of scale model of the world, then the positive valences - where things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/if-you-think-of-a-work-of-fiction-as-a-kind-of-scale-model-of-the/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) ## More by Adam Roberts > [“and I said it is the nature of love to be infinite and in such an ocean any fear and jealousy is washed away”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/and-i-said-it-is-the-nature-of-love-to-be-infinite-and-in-such-an/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“Reality, in truth is … what is the word? Reality is ironic .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/reality-in-truth-is-what-is-the-word-reality-is-ironic/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“I never liked the news; it pretends to be all different, every day, when in fact it is all the same.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/i-never-liked-the-news-it-pretends-to-be-all-different-every-day-when/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“I have a problem,’ said Nikolai Nikolaivitch Asterinov, getting to his feet. ‘I have a problem, that I wish to share with this, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/i-have-a-problem-said-nikolai-nikolaivitch-asterinov-getting-to-his/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“And after night comes day, or more night, depending on the particular time-frame you choose to apply to your perspective.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/and-after-night-comes-day-or-more-night-depending-on-the-particular/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“A realist writer might break his protagonist's leg, or kill his fiancee; but a science fiction writer will immolate whole planets, and whilst doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/a-realist-writer-might-break-his-protagonist-s-leg-or-kill-his/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“The madness of faith is a very different thing from the madness of Enlightenment Reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/the-madness-of-faith-is-a-very-different-thing-from-the-madness-of/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“for fear is all the blind future harrying us and when the scales drop away the fear goes too”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/for-fear-is-all-the-blind-future-harrying-us-and-when-the-scales-drop/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“ 'A fine story', said Asterinov … 'Six months in prison, that tale,' said Sergei. 'Was it the witch?', I asked 'I never know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/a-fine-story-said-asterinov-six-months-in-prison-that-tale-said/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“Do you know where the past and the present intersect?" Jac asked him. "Where?" "In your mind, only. It's the only point. Otherwise, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/do-you-know-where-the-past-and-the-present-intersect-jac-asked-him/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“We used to think God made us in His image, and that meant we were special, until science told us we just evolved that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/we-used-to-think-god-made-us-in-his-image-and-that-meant-we-were/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) > [“Not where he eats, but where he is eaten’?” He laughed again. “Racine has his moments, sure, but you can’t beat Shakespeare for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/not-where-he-eats-but-where-he-is-eaten-he-laughed-again-racine-has/) [Adam Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) [Explore all 13 Adam Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/) ## More Disorientation quotes > [It feels like everything's been decided in advance that I'm following a path somebody else has already mapped out for me. It doesn't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/it-feels-like-everything-s-been-decided-in-advance-that-i-m-following/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Even when change is elective, it will disorient you. You may go through anxiety. You will miss aspects of your former life. It doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/even-when-change-is-elective-it-will-disorient-you-you-may-go-through/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) > [The past is a stronger influence in the South. But I think everywhere you have this sense that the world changes faster than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-frazier/the-past-is-a-stronger-influence-in-the-south-but-i-think-everywhere/) [Charles Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-frazier/) > [“In fact, I would suggest that what each moment produces is the inherently ambiguous affect of affective disorientation in general—what we might think of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sianne-ngai/in-fact-i-would-suggest-that-what-each-moment-produces-is-the/) [Sianne Ngai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sianne-ngai/) > [“I felt the disorientation of a generous offer that in no way lines up with anything you want to do: like a promotion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/i-felt-the-disorientation-of-a-generous-offer-that-in-no-way-lines-up/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [Transition is the natural process of disorientation and reorientation that marks the turning points in the path of growth...transitions are key times in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bridges/transition-is-the-natural-process-of-disorientation-and-reorientation/) [William Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bridges/) > [“The only thing all the intended disorientation had accomplished was to familiarize her with the building. Idiots.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/the-only-thing-all-the-intended-disorientation-had-accomplished-was/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [A long flight. Jetlag. Immigration. Customs. And then finally, that first step into a new place, that moment of exhilaration and disorientation, each feeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-forman/a-long-flight-jetlag-immigration-customs-and-then-finally-that-first/) [Gayle Forman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-forman/) > [Future shock is the disorientation that affects an individual, a corporation, or a country when he or it is overwhelmed by change and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/future-shock-is-the-disorientation-that-affects-an-individual-a/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [Every orientation presupposes a disorientation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-magnus-enzensberger/every-orientation-presupposes-a-disorientation/) [Hans Magnus Enzensberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-magnus-enzensberger/) > [One of my inspirations, Harry Houdini, remains an icon of the art because he defied our primal fears. His demonstrations in the early 20th…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-angel/one-of-my-inspirations-harry-houdini-remains-an-icon-of-the-art/) [Criss Angel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-angel/) > [Future shock is the dizzying disorientation brought on by the premature arrival of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-toffler/future-shock-is-the-dizzying-disorientation-brought-on-by-the/) [Alvin Toffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-toffler/) > [“Most of the truly remarkable experiences I've had in theatre have filled me with uncertainty and disorientation”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bogart/most-of-the-truly-remarkable-experiences-i-ve-had-in-theatre-have/) [Anne Bogart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bogart/) > [I know what the problem is, of course. The disorientation, the distraction, the difficulty focusing - all classic Phase One signs of deliria. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/i-know-what-the-problem-is-of-course-the-disorientation-the/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [“With the sensation that he was passing through the Looking-Glass, Max stared at his father as if he had never seen him before—simultaneously impressed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-luckman/with-the-sensation-that-he-was-passing-through-the-looking-glass-max/) [Sol Luckman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-luckman/) [Browse all 35 Disorientation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disorientation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Let us say that science fiction is a kind of conceptual disorientation of the familiar.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Roberts" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kind-of-conceptual/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Disorientation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kind-of-conceptual/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/197/adam-roberts-35099_disorientation_let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kin_558566.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Let us say that science fiction is a kind of conceptual disorientation of the familiar.” — Adam Roberts", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Roberts", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-roberts/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Let us say that science fiction...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kind-of-conceptual/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-roberts/let-us-say-that-science-fiction-is-a-kind-of-conceptual/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```