20 works of upbeat science fiction to brighten your day

1998 Patrick Stewart And Levar Burton Star In The New Movie ‘Star Trek: Insurrection.’ (Photo By Getty Images)

Science fiction doesn’t always have to be a downer. Here are 20 entries into the sci-fi genre that will leave you feeling optimistic about the future.

Lately, it seems as if science fiction is pretty well infected with pessimism. There are plenty of stories out there where societies go to war, individuals are intellectually tortured at their prospects, and antiheroes abound. Visually speaking, it’s all muted shades of gray and brown. Meanwhile, it can start to feel like the joy of the genre is getting sucked out of it all.

That’s pretty alarming, admittedly. Sci-fi has a long history of joyousness, from the rollicking space adventure days of its early 20th century history, to the ever more diverse and boundary-pushing works of today. In fact, there are many works that can act as complex, well-written pick me ups for the sci-fi reader.

It’s important to make a distinction between “rabidly optimistic” and “upbeat.” I find nothing appealing about a piece of work that insists everything is fine, no, really, even if the world is figuratively and literally on fire. Blind optimism is useless and boring at best. In a worst case scenario, it encourages a worldview that could potentially lead you singing and clapping off a cliff.

Okay, maybe that’s a little dire for a piece about science fiction. But, many would agree that science fiction operates best when it fully engages in complexity. The future can be good, so please don’t get me wrong. It just doesn’t have to be simple. All the variations on happiness — joy, delight, contentment, even simple well-being — are entirely compatible with thoughtful, well-written sci-fi.

With that in mind, here are 20 of the most optimistic science fiction stories out there. They run the gamut from novels, to films, to even a television show or two. Be warned: there are a few spoilers throughout, though generally nothing major. Even if you do inadvertently find one, much of the joy in these works comes from engaging with them on your own. So, go ahead: read, watch, listen, and be happy.