Art by one of my favorite artists, South African “Faroutsider.”

Some really interesting articles have appeared over the past few weeks dealing with dystopian literature.

Wired has a bit of a spirited debate:

Against: http://www.wired.com/2014/08/stop-writing-dystopian-sci-fiits-making-us-all-fear-technology/

In favor: http://www.wired.com/2014/08/no-dystopian-sci-fi-isnt-bad-for-society-we-actually-need-it-more-than-ever/

While, the London Guardian is worried: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/sep/01/ya-dystopias-children-free-market-hunger-games-the-giver-divergent

What I strongly disagree with is the notion that dystopian fiction is either right or left.  As a genre, it’s just interesting, and it can be as anti-corporate as it is anti-statist.  What’s left and what’s right?  

Placing it in a left-right category as the Guardian writes does not only diminishes the genre, it diminishes the intelligence of the genre’s audience.