Ursula K. Le Guin: A Rant About "Technology" (2005)
Author Ursula K. Le Guin argues against the narrow definition of 'technology' often used in science fiction criticism. She asserts that technology encompasses any human interface with the material world, including basic tools and societal structures, rather than just high-tech machinery.
Why it matters
It challenges the literary categorization of science fiction and broadens the understanding of how technology is integrated into human culture.
In an interesting and favorable notice of Changing Planes (which you can find elsewhere on the site, in Spanish and English), the Argentinean reviewer asserts that since Le Guin isn’t a hard science fiction writer, “technology is carefully avoided.” I stuck a footnote onto this in my translation of the article , and here is the footnote expanded — because this business is really getting my goat.
‘Hard’ SF is all about technology, and ‘soft’ SF doesn’t have any technology, right? And my books don’t have technology in them, because I am only interested in psychology and emotions and squashy stuff like that, right?
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