Abolition Science Fiction

Citation

(2022) Abolition Science Fiction. Glasgow: Self-published. https://abolitionscifi.org/

Abstract
Abolition Science Fiction (2022) is a free collection of sci fi short stories written by activists and scholars involved in prison abolition and transformative justice in the UK, edited by Phil Crockett Thomas. The stories are not all explicitly about prison abolition, but all of them explore the underlying question of how we can live well together, tackling complex topics like violence, revenge, responsibility, care, and community. As such they can help us imagine a future where we respond to harm without exclusion and punishment, illustrating Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s contention that ‘abolition requires that we change one thing: everything.’ Alongside the stories are extracts from discussions from the workshops where we wrote and shared the stories. There are also creative writing exercises and discussion prompts, included to help readers explore ideas about abolition and transformative justice in creative ways. The book is aimed both at those curious about abolition and at seasoned activists who want to explore abolition through creative writing. You can read more about the project at https://abolitionscifi.org

Keywords
prison abolition, science fiction, creative writing, activism, collaboration, punishment, justice

People

Dr Phil Crockett Thomas

Lecturer in Criminology, Sociology, Social Policy & Criminology