Future Primitive - Definition and Overview

Future Primitive - The New Ecotopias, Tor Books, 1994, edited by Kim Stanley Robinson, republishes notable short works of utopian fiction and dystopian fiction, incorporating elements of primitivism and of eco-anarchism.

Complete contents:

• an introduction by Robinson, outlining the visionary role of such fiction
• Tomorrow's Song, Gary Snyder (a poem)

Part one: "Statements of desire"

• Bears Discover Fire, Terry Bisson
• In the Abode of the Snows, Pat Murphy
• Boomer Flats, R. A. Lafferty

Part two: "Denial of the body"

• Hogfoot Right and Bird-Hands, Gary Kilworth

Part three: "But what were they really like?"

• House of Bones, Robert Silverberg

Part four: "And might we ever be like that again?"

• 'A Story' by John V. Marsch, Gene Wolfe
• The Bead Woman, Rachel Pollack
• Chocco, Ernest Callenbach
• (excerpt from) The New World (novel), Frederick Turner
• Rangriver Fell, Paul Park
• Mary Margaret Road-Grade, Howard Waldrop

Part five: "Parables"

• Looking Down, Carol Emshwiller
• Newton's Sleep, Ursula K. Le Guin
• Return (story), Robinson Jeffers

Endnotes characterizing the purpose of each story in the anthology Further Reading, on historical origins, scientific considerations, philosophical considerations, 'what is to be done', 'some wild and human places', and other science fiction

See also: apocalyptic science fiction