What if you arrived on Mars seeking a new life, only to discover you were already in unpayable debt for the journey?

In Part Two of my conversation with science-fiction author and researcher Allen Stroud, we explore the darker possibilities of humanity's expansion into space, drawing on his Fractal series and latest novel, Anti-State. Could settling Mars bring freedom and opportunity, or would we simply export Earth's inequalities, corporate exploitation and political struggles? We discuss debt-driven economies, state overreach, political rebellion, and the ethics of discovering extraterrestrial life. Does humanity have the right to reshape other worlds, or do we have a responsibility to protect them?

We also discuss how AI, information warfare and conspiracy theories are reshaping our understanding of reality. Could AI create entire online communities where you're the only human? Can we still distinguish truth from fiction in an increasingly manipulated information landscape? Along the way, we explore predatory publishing, the vulnerability of authors to scams, and Allen's approach to writing morally complex characters.

Books of his we discuss: Anti-State (The Fractal Series)

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What if an AI could end a war—but only by lying to everyone involved? And what if science-fiction writers were helping governments prepare for futures like this?

In this episode of Alternate Futures, I talk with a Coventry University lecturer-researcher, BSFA director, composer, science-fiction author, game writer and researcher Allen Stroud about the connections between storytelling, video games and real-world futures research. From building the universe of Elite Dangerous to working on Phoenix Point and Baldur's Gate 3, Allen shares his experiences creating believable fictional worlds and explains why great worldbuilding isn't just about what writers reveal—it's also about what they leave to the imagination. We explore the creative process, the importance of learning from failure, and why some of the best ideas begin as bad ones.

We also discuss what happens when science fiction moves beyond entertainment and into government strategy as Allen shares his experience with the UK's Ministry of Defence on the Creative Futures project, where science-fiction writers help researchers and policymakers explore possible futures and the human consequences of their decisions. We consider why storytelling can reveal things that statistics cannot, whether science-fiction authors really predict the future, and what happens when an AI achieves its objectives through deception. And Allen shares his approach to composing music for fictional worlds, the challenges of balancing creativity with everyday life, and why imagination might be one of our most valuable tools for navigating an uncertain future.

Books of his we discuss: Anti-State (The Fractal Series)

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What if climate change made you a refugee in your own country?

In this episode of Alternate Futures, I talk with author and literary historian Jenni Daiches about her near-future dystopian novel They Know Where They’re Going, set in a drought-stricken Britain in 2041. We discuss climate change, water scarcity and the unequal ways environmental disruption might affect different parts of society, as well as Jenni’s decision to imagine an independent Scotland whose relative abundance of water has transformed its relationship with England.

We also discuss what it means to be displaced, how welcoming can a country remain when resources become scarce and increasing numbers of people want to cross its borders, energy and water security, renewable power, devolution and how Britain might look politically and environmentally in the decades ahead.

Books of her we discuss: They Know Where They're Going

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