Science Fiction

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This magazine is aimed at fans and creators of sci-fi and related media of all kinds. It includes all content related to the sci-fi genre and only content related to the sci-fi genre. The goal is to build a community for everyone who enjoys science fiction and related topics. This includes the obvious books, movies, and TV shows, but also original writing, the discussion of writing SF, futuristic art and designs, and the science and technologies that inspire the sci-fi genre. **Team Top 20**

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The Sci-Fi Writer Who Invented Conspiracy Theory (www.theatlantic.com)

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In 1950, a U.S. Army psyops officer named Paul Linebarger used a pseudonym to publish a science-fiction story titled “Scanners Live in Vain” in a pulp magazine. It was about a man named Martel who works for the “deep state” in the far future as a mysterious “scanner,” or starship pilot, and whose mind is manipulated by evil bureaucrats. After a new technology called a “cranching wire” restores his true senses, he recognizes that his bosses within the government order a hit on anyone who challenges their control of space travel and the economy. Martel ultimately joins an insurrectionary movement aimed at overthrowing the regime.

Editor's Note - so happy to see Annalee Newitz writing for the Atlantic!

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[–] Diplomjodler3 3 points 6 months ago

That's not how I remember the story but I haven't read it in a long time. Time for a re-read. Cordwainer Smith is one of my favourite sci-fi authors of all time though, and yes his views will definitely grate with a lot of people these days.