What Sci-Fi Got Right: Asimov's 1972 Novel & Its Impact on Politics

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Isaac Asimov's 1972 novel, The Gods Themselves, explores the consequences of humanity's discovery of free energy, which ultimately threatens the Sun and Earth's existence. A pivotal moment occurs when Senator Burt emphasizes that the public prioritizes individual comfort over environmental protection, suggesting that voters would resist any mandate to sacrifice their newfound energy source, even if it leads to catastrophic outcomes. This reflects a broader theme in science fiction regarding societal resistance to change, paralleling George Orwell's warnings in 1984 about surveillance and truth manipulation. The discussion highlights the tension between technological advancement and ethical responsibility, illustrating a recurring motif in speculative fiction.
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Science fiction author Isaac Asimov's 1972 novel The Gods Themselves is about mankind having discovered how to get free energy. It's great until some scientists figure out it is going to cause the Sun to go nova and destroy the Earth. Here's what happens when they talk to a senator.

"Let me give you a lesson in practical politics." Senator Burt looked at his wristwatch, leaned back and smiled. "It is a mistake," he said, "to suppose the public wants the environment protected or their lives saved and that they will be grateful to any idealist who will fight for such end.. What the the public wants is their own individual comfort."

Then he tell them that the voters aren't going to give up free energy and if the world is destroyed, well, that's just too bad. Gotta be impressed.
 
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Imagine people being told there’s a new mandate to stop driving for x months. There would be riots everywhere.
 
Organlegging
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So far it is not a really widely accepted practice, but Sci-Fi definitely got the possibility right :frown:
Also, I wonder how much of the resistance against this can be attributed to the early warning.
 
Hornbein said:
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov's 1972 novel The Gods Themselves...
Decades before that, George Orwell penned 1984, and surely his prediction of the surveillance society and Ministry of Truth is more frightening, even if you don't classify his novel as sci-fi.
 

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