http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/apr/19/bill-compulsory-science-fiction-west-virginia?CMP=twt_gu

∞ “As long ago as Future Shock (circa 1970), Alvin Toffler was calling for exposing young people to science fiction as ‘a sovereign prophylactic’ against ‘the premature arrival of the future’. Today in an even more rapidly changing world, it is even more important for Toffler’s purpose but also for making the kinds of informed decisions about present issues that will lead to better futures.”

— Professor James Gunn, founder of the Centre for the Study of Science Fiction at Kansas University

And Toffler was correct. Indeed, Science Fiction authors were my primary mentors throughout most of my life… and they helped me to understand two things. The first was that there were, in fact, human beings who were extremely insightful and intelligent about humanity and our foibles. The second was its polarity: the vast majority of common people are living in a strange dream that is often cruelly ignorant.