The problem with Steinbeck is that he's just incredibly depressing.
Like, what's the takeaway from The Pearl? The game is rigged, you're always going to be trapped in poverty, everyone is out to get you, and even the most token form of resistance will likely get your friends and family killed? Fuck, man. I could use something a bit more inspirational than that.
Maybe Upton Sinclair’s more up your alley, even if his Californian socialist utopia fever dreams in the epilogue of The Jungle make me do this emoji face in real life
I mean, what even is the point of being a socialist if you're not at least a little bit Utopian? Why go through the work if you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel? Yeah, I do like Sinclair more than Steinbeck, if for no other reason than he dreamed a bit bigger. Also a big Kim Stanley Robinson fan for this reason. Ursula LeGuin, too. And if I'm looking to scratch the pure fantasy itch, Brian Sanderson does a good job of promising you a brighter future more often than not.
The problem with Steinbeck is that he's just incredibly depressing.
Like, what's the takeaway from The Pearl? The game is rigged, you're always going to be trapped in poverty, everyone is out to get you, and even the most token form of resistance will likely get your friends and family killed? Fuck, man. I could use something a bit more inspirational than that.
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I mean, what even is the point of being a socialist if you're not at least a little bit Utopian? Why go through the work if you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel? Yeah, I do like Sinclair more than Steinbeck, if for no other reason than he dreamed a bit bigger. Also a big Kim Stanley Robinson fan for this reason. Ursula LeGuin, too. And if I'm looking to scratch the pure fantasy itch, Brian Sanderson does a good job of promising you a brighter future more often than not.