A Sci-Fi Writer Keeps His Eye on ‘Spaceship Earth’
17:26 minutes
“Earth is the cradle of humanity, but one cannot live in a cradle forever.” That phrase, penned by the Russian rocket scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, is often invoked by those who believe humanity is destined for the stars. But just how realistic is the interstellar dream? In his new novel, Aurora, sci-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson shines the microscope on interstellar colonization and concludes that Earth may be the only place where humans will ever be happy and healthy. As he tells Ira, “There is no Planet B.” Read an excerpt here.
Segment Guests
Kim Stanley Robinson
Kim Stanley Robinson is a New York Times bestseller and winner of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards. He is the author of more than 20 books, including New York 2140 and The Ministry for the Future. He lives in Davis, California.
Meet the Producer
About Annie Minoff
@annieminoffAnnie Minoff is a producer for The Journal from Gimlet Media and the Wall Street Journal, and a former co-host and producer of Undiscovered. She also plays the banjo.