--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My point has always been that, ever since…" description: "\"My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial Revolution, science fiction has been the most important genre there is.\" — Iain Banks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png" --- # My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial… ![“My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial Revolution, science fiction has been the most important genre there is.” quote by Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png) > “My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial Revolution, science fiction has been the most important genre there is.” [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) ## 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 has become the leading genre because it explores future possibilities shaped by industrial and technological change. **In simple terms:** Sci‑fi leads as it imagines tech‑driven futures. Key Takeaway Read more sci‑fi to understand tech impacts. Themes technology future culture literature Mood inspired thoughtful Type analytical visionary When to use this quote - education - policy planning - creative writing - media analysis Key Concepts speculative fiction industrial impact social critique Questions to Reflect On - How does sci‑fi influence real tech? - What genres predict future trends? A Different Perspective May overlook other genres’ contributions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fiction Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction-important-1484634/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-genre-3635016/) [Industrial revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industrial-revolution/) [Revolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revolution/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Science fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science-fiction/) ## Related quotes > [Chick Lit uses humor to reflect life back to us. It's a very comforting genre, and it's the first time our generation has had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marian-keyes/chick-lit-uses-humor-to-reflect-life-back-to-us-it-s-a-very/) [Marian Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marian-keyes/) > [Shows with good content are important, and not the genre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-sharma/shows-with-good-content-are-important-and-not-the-genre/) [Ashish Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashish-sharma/) > [I think fiction is important because it has the power to transport a reader into another life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-doerr/i-think-fiction-is-important-because-it-has-the-power-to-transport-a/) [Anthony Doerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-doerr/) > [“Fiction is very, very important," he said, his voice is rising. "Storytelling is how people learn. You get people to understand new cultures and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristine-grayson/fiction-is-very-very-important-he-said-his-voice-is-rising/) [Kristine Grayson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristine-grayson/) > [“Ann Patchett about the lack of a fiction Pulitzer winner this year. "Let me underscore the obvious here: Reading fiction is important. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-marshall/ann-patchett-about-the-lack-of-a-fiction-pulitzer-winner-this-year/) [Lynne Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynne-marshall/) > [Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/reading-fiction-is-important-it-is-a-vital-means-of-imagining-a-life-2/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [The novel, as a genre, was once considered a diversion every bit as frivolous as Facebook, but over the years, we've managed to convince…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-coady/the-novel-as-a-genre-was-once-considered-a-diversion-every-bit-as/) [Lynn Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-coady/) > [“For so long considered a second-rate category to other writing genres, Science Fiction should be allotted its true place in literature. The reason Science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-duda/for-so-long-considered-a-second-rate-category-to-other-writing-genres/) [Joseph Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-duda/) > [Science fiction is the most important literature in the history of the world, because it's the history of ideas, the history of our civilization…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/science-fiction-is-the-most-important-literature-in-the-history-of/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I'm a novelist. I think fiction is important or I wouldn't be doing it, but most of it's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-peck/i-m-a-novelist-i-think-fiction-is-important-or-i-wouldn-t-be-doing-it/) [Dale Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-peck/) > [Children's fiction is the most important fiction of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/children-s-fiction-is-the-most-important-fiction-of-all/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Reading fiction is important. It is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/reading-fiction-is-important-it-is-a-vital-means-of-imagining-a-life/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [Fiction is very important to me. It's what I do, it's what I do with my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/fiction-is-very-important-to-me-it-s-what-i-do-it-s-what-i-do-with-my/) [Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/) > [“And since a novel has this correspondence to real life, its values are to some extent those of real life. But it is obvious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/and-since-a-novel-has-this-correspondence-to-real-life-its-values-are/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) > [“Yet it is the masculine values that prevail. Speaking crudely, football and sport are ‘important’; the worship of fashion, the buying of clothes ‘trivial’.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/yet-it-is-the-masculine-values-that-prevail-speaking-crudely-football/) [Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/) ## More by Iain Banks > [I'm not a great believer in awards-of course the fact that I've never won one has nothing to do with it at all!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-not-a-great-believer-in-awards-of-course-the-fact-that-i-ve-never/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“Looking at me, you'd never guess I'd killed three people. It isn't fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/looking-at-me-you-d-never-guess-i-d-killed-three-people-it-isn-t-fair/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [One should never mistake pattern for meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/one-should-never-mistake-pattern-for-meaning/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [I'm a devoted husband. That must strike you as totally deviant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/i-m-a-devoted-husband-that-must-strike-you-as-totally-deviant/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“The flames had passed over those flattened blades and consumed their heather neighbours on either side while they themselves had remained, made proof against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/the-flames-had-passed-over-those-flattened-blades-and-consumed-their/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [All you ever were was a little bit of the universe, thinking to itself. Very specific; this bit, here, right now. All the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/all-you-ever-were-was-a-little-bit-of-the-universe-thinking-to-itself/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“We're not in prison, we're not junkies and we're not Young Tories...it's no small achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/we-re-not-in-prison-we-re-not-junkies-and-we-re-not-young-tories-it-s/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Torture is such a slippery slope; as soon as you allow a society or any legal system to do that, almost instantly you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/torture-is-such-a-slippery-slope-as-soon-as-you-allow-a-society-or/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/two-years-after-i-killed-blyth-i-murdered-my-young-brother-paul-for/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [If you have any helpful suggestions I'd be pleased to hear them. If all you can do is make snide insinuations then it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/if-you-have-any-helpful-suggestions-i-d-be-pleased-to-hear-them-if/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“He hit and fatally injured my innocent and unfortunate uncle whose muttered last words in hospital, before his coma became a full stop, were:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/he-hit-and-fatally-injured-my-innocent-and-unfortunate-uncle-whose/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [A guilty system recognizes no innocents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/a-guilty-system-recognizes-no-innocents/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [“All reality is a game.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/all-reality-is-a-game/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [There has seldom if ever a shortage of eager young males prepared to kill and die to preserve the security, comfort and prejudices of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/there-has-seldom-if-ever-a-shortage-of-eager-young-males-prepared-to/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) > [Escape is a consumer goods like another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/escape-is-a-consumer-goods-like-another/) [Iain Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) [Explore all 123 Iain Banks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/) ## More Fiction quotes > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [The thing about science fiction is that it's totally wide open. But it's wide open in a conditional way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavia-butler/the-thing-about-science-fiction-is-that-it-s-totally-wide-open-but-it/) [Octavia Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavia-butler/) > [I do think that theater is a great venue for science fiction, and not just adaptations but also original work. I also think some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-einhorn/i-do-think-that-theater-is-a-great-venue-for-science-fiction-and-not/) [Edward Einhorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-einhorn/) > [Fiction is a way of exploring possibilities present but undreamt of in the living of a single life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-gordimer/fiction-is-a-way-of-exploring-possibilities-present-but-undreamt-of/) [Nadine Gordimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-gordimer/) > [I love writing fiction and can do it anywhere - I once even missed a flight because I was so engrossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prue-leith/i-love-writing-fiction-and-can-do-it-anywhere-i-once-even-missed-a/) [Prue Leith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prue-leith/) > [“The fiction will seek the real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coheed-and-cambria/the-fiction-will-seek-the-real/) [Coheed and Cambria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coheed-and-cambria/) > [I think that most of us, anyway, read these stories that we know are not "true" because we're hungry for another kind of truth:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/i-think-that-most-of-us-anyway-read-these-stories-that-we-know-are/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [There's always that discussion about fiction about how do you market it - these are books for boys, these are books for girls, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-weatherly/there-s-always-that-discussion-about-fiction-about-how-do-you-market/) [L.A. Weatherly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-weatherly/) > [Inspiration comes from so many sources. Music, other fiction, the non-fiction I read, TV shows, films, news reports, people I know, stories I hear,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trudi-canavan/inspiration-comes-from-so-many-sources-music-other-fiction-the-non/) [Trudi Canavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trudi-canavan/) > [I'm not interested in making a diagnostic novel or a concern. I'm 100 percent committed in fiction to the pleasure principle - that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/i-m-not-interested-in-making-a-diagnostic-novel-or-a-concern-i-m-100/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [“His hands on my waist he gently pulled me n embrace. I could feel his breath on my face our lips were about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-eglinger/his-hands-on-my-waist-he-gently-pulled-me-n-embrace-i-could-feel-his/) [Nicole Eglinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-eglinger/) > [In early drafts, one of the trickiest things for me to do was to realize that the techniques and devices that make readable and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-rooney/in-early-drafts-one-of-the-trickiest-things-for-me-to-do-was-to/) [Kathleen Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-rooney/) > [I don't think it's always a sign of respect for persons (inside or outside of fiction) to pretend to be able to represent, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-lerner/i-don-t-think-it-s-always-a-sign-of-respect-for-persons-inside-or/) [Ben Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-lerner/) > [Metafiction says something. It has to do with taking a large fiction itself and writing within it; that kind of self-reflecting writing that emerges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-coover/metafiction-says-something-it-has-to-do-with-taking-a-large-fiction/) [Robert Coover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-coover/) [Browse all 7,410 Fiction quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial Revolution, science fiction has been the most important genre there is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Iain Banks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since-the-industrial-revolution/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fiction" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since-the-industrial-revolution/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/iain-banks-3752_fiction_my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since_521906.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My point has always been that, ever since the Industrial Revolution, science fiction has been the most…” — Iain Banks", "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": "Iain Banks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-banks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My point has always been that,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since-the-industrial-revolution/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-banks/my-point-has-always-been-that-ever-since-the-industrial-revolution/#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 } } ] } ```