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The Cold Equations: Extraterrestrial Liberty in Science Fiction

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Book cover The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth

Part of the book series: Space and Society ((SPSO))

Abstract

This chapter is about explorations of extraterrestrial liberty in science fiction. Depictions of colonies beyond the Earth, either in space or on other worlds, date back at least as far as Hale’s ‘The Brick Moon’ (1869). Many such works have explored the social and anthropological implications of off-Earth colonies, and as such have anticipated in fictional form much of the discussion elsewhere in this volume. These works of fiction, the result of more than a century’s constructive speculation, serve as thought experiments on the subject. And by focussing on human characters, fiction may breathe fire into abstract theories of politics and society.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. British Interplanetary Society, 27–29 South Lambeth Road, SW8 1SZ, London, UK

    Stephen Baxter

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  1. Stephen Baxter
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Correspondence to Stephen Baxter .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Charles S. Cockell

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Baxter, S. (2015). The Cold Equations: Extraterrestrial Liberty in Science Fiction. In: Cockell, C. (eds) The Meaning of Liberty Beyond Earth. Space and Society. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09567-7_2

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