(can't reply now as i'm still on deadline working on my piece and about to be on the road for vac. for a couple days).

on the real, though, i agree with most of your analysis. and esp on the importance of sf. have you ever read "Dune" by Frank Herbert (actually, the trilogy and then some).

he wrote that in the 60's, and he had sooo many things in that it was incredible. messianic leadership. people vs. machines. hyper-capitalism and class stratification on a planetary level. drug culture/expanded awareness. gender roles. all of that in a way that was so real and immediate, intricately detailed and plausible.

of course he was extrapolating out multiple millenia, but the underlying issues he dealt with were still human, recognizable and relevant.

peace & blessings,

x