
China Mieville, a renowned author of science fiction and fantasy, has spoken out about the limitations of storytelling in bringing about social change. In a recent interview with TechCrunch’s Anthony Ha, Mieville expressed his skepticism about the idea that art can directly influence people’s behavior or opinions.
Mieville emphasized that “artists are often very in thrall to a kind of artistic exceptionalism” and that he believes there is no story that can be told to persuade someone to change their ways. He went on to say that “I don’t think we can do that,” implying that it is futile to expect art to have such an impact.
The author, who has written numerous award-winning novels including Perdido Street Station, also touched upon the topic of social media, stating that he believes it is having a detrimental effect on society. He revealed that he avoids using social media due to his concerns about its impact on people’s mental and physical health.
When asked about his upcoming book, Mieville hinted at the enormity of the project, stating that he has been working on it for 20 years.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/30/author-china-mieville-says-we-shouldnt-blame-science-fiction-for-its-bad-readers/