In 2020, Is Science Fiction Still an Escape?

Members of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) have lived through the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the Space Race, numerous California wildfires, and more. But how do they view the psychodrama of the current COVID-19 pandemic? 

Ahead of its 86th anniversary this week, we spoke to LASFS President Matthew B. Tepper, a member since 1969, to get his perspective on how to deal when quondam fantasy turns into quotidian reality.

Matthew, these are deeply strange sci-fi plot style times. The philosopher Aristotle gave us the concept of art as catharsis. Would you argue that we need science fiction more than ever to process the pandemic?
MBT: Great art should offer a window onto the human condition, in the way that we as people interact with the universe and one another. Science fiction expands the available playing field, in space and in time, and sometimes robots or aliens may stand in for humans. Our present crisis is one with an unclear resolution, at an unknown future time. Science-fiction authors can speculate on what might happen, and pass that along to the readers. We need reassurance that there can be a better future, but with the caution that things might not always turn out as we hope. 

Do you think that sci-fi—and if so, which books specifically—can also give us a blueprint to co-exist while we’re all masked up, sanitized, and grounded until further notice?
MBT: Isaac Asimov’s 1957 novel The Naked Sun depicts a society, on a planet of descendants of Earth people, who abhor physical proximity and meet only by what we now call telepresence, while their robots—thousands of them for each person—do all the labor. But it’s portrayed as a sick culture, not something you’d want to use as a blueprint.  

Good point. Any more uplifting plots come to mind?
MBT: A happier example is in Vernor Vinge’s 2006 novel Rainbows End where kids, and some elders, attend school remotely. There it’s beneficial, even as the students shoot one another PMs on the sly, the equivalent of passing notes in class. 

On the subject of smart futures: I was lucky enough to interview Ridley Scott and, of course, the subject of Blade Runner came up. Bizarrely, we’re now beyond its 'Los Angeles November 2019' title card. Do you come from the 'Where’s my jet-pack?' school, or are you relieved we’re not living inside Philip K Dick’s dystopia? 
MBT: [Laughs] I usually hear that as "Where’s my flying car?" The problem with creating near-future science fiction is that, if it lasts, you’ll find out just how wrong you were. Or sometimes right: in Space Cadet (1948), Robert A. Heinlein, an LASFS member, has the hero using his portable telephone! The communicators in Star Trek helped to popularize the idea, of course. Phil Dick lived, how shall I say, in his own reality … or realities. 

As LASFS president, can you give us its origin story?
MBT: The publisher of one of the early science-fiction magazines—one of the so-called “pulps” of that era—figured he could boost circulation by starting a Science Fiction League, with fans encouraged to form chapters in their home cities. The Los Angeles Science Fiction League was the fourth of these chapters, and one of only two surviving to this day, the other being the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. At some point, our meetings became weekly, every Thursday come hell or high water, even on Thanksgiving. 

Are you meeting remotely due to current circumstances?
MBT: Yes, we’ve kept that string intact, and moved from physical meetings to Zoom meetings back in March.

Now your own backstory: Aside from being the president of LASFS, which field are/were you in professionally, if that’s not too intrusive?
MBT: Not at all! Having failed to become a famous symphony orchestra conductor, I’ve pursued a career in computers. I do IT work, and some fundraising, for a local nonprofit human rights organization, but I hope to retire in a few years, so I’ll have more time to read.

Talking of reading, I checked out your Goodreads list, which has many deep cuts from the genre. How did your love of sci-fi start?
MBT: I cut my teeth on the fiction and non-fiction of Isaac Asimov, and before long was reading everything I could find, new and old, books and magazines. Two of the magazines I read, Amazing and Fantastic, were published by Ziff-Davis for many years; did you know that? 

I did, mainly because that’s where I found some vintage tales by LASFS member Ray Bradbury. That was a long time before you joined, but do you have any memories of meeting him?
MBT: If you bounced around to all the libraries and bookstores on LA's Westside, as I did as a kid, it was hard not to meet Ray! He was always around somewhere, always genial, always ready to bask in adulation. The last time I saw him was just before his 90th birthday, at a bookstore.

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There must be lots of writers who’ve emerged from LASFS over the years.
MBT: Yes, we’ve had many authors come up from our membership. The best known is Larry Niven, author of Ringworld, and he still attends our Zoom meetings. 

How did you hear about LASFS, and where was your first meeting and what was it like?
MBT: My first meeting in 1969 was at the home of one of the members. I saw a bunch of people from all walks of life who shared my interest in SF, and I felt I had come home.  

LASFS has had several physical homes, right? 
MBT: Yes, we’ve bought and sold three—in Studio City, North Hollywood, and Van Nuys—each larger than the last, and we hope that when the current crisis resolves that we can buy (or lease long-term) a new meeting hall, where we can unpack our library and other belongings.

If any of PCMag readers want to join, how much does it cost to become part of LASFS?
MBT: It’s $10 to apply for membership, which lasts forever: Our motto is, "Death will not release you." That’s why Ray Bradbury is still a member! But we welcome guests, who get to attend up to three meetings before having to join. After that, you only pay dues for the meetings you attend, currently $4 per week.

Sadly you’ll not be able to have the 86th anniversary IRL.
MBT: True. But there’s plenty of time to plan for a big bash for our 90th, and I hope I’ll still be around for the centenary in 2034.

Child-like robot programmed to wince from pain signals is straight out of 'Blade Runner'