How many of you like to curl up with a good science fiction (SF) novel? And have you noticed Friends popping up in the pages? It has been brought to our attention that Quakers appear in such literature with more frequency than many other faith characters. If you are an SF aficionado then the names of Joan Slonczewski, Olaf Stapledon, Piers Anthony and David Morse will have occurred to you.
Intrigued, we looked up a literary research website (adherents.com) and found there was some truth in this assertion. 'There are more significant works of science fiction about Quakers, or with significant reference to Quakers, than there are to many much larger denominations, such as Presbyterians, Methodists or Lutherans,' claims the site, which has a Religion in Literature database.
Is this to infer that Quakers have exceptionally creative fantasy lives? There is a more intellectual explanation of course. They have many cultural distinctions distinguishing them from other protestant denominations, says the site politely. 'They are more pro-science than other faith groups. Quakers have a strong literary tradition and no theological proscriptions against writing science fiction.' Pacifism also appeals to SF writers, apparently.
We had a peep at one or two of the titles. Molly Gloss's The Dazzle of Day starts 100 years hence, with Quakers abandoning an ailing earth and searching for another home in a self-sustaining spaceship (it would have to be, wouldn’t it?) Judith Moffett's Penterra is considered the most prominently Quaker (describing a Quaker-colonised world) although not the best introduction to the Religious Society of Friends. That appears to be reserved for The Iron Bridge by David E Morse.

Labels: science fiction