Elon Musk Loves Science Fiction
The Richest Man In The World And Dedicated Sci-Fi Fan Wants To Buy Twitter
Elon Musk and his fantastic exploits are all about us these days. You can’t escape coverage of him even if you tried. And, let’s be honest, who would want to escape learning more intriguing things about this fascinating man.
After all, when Musk talks, people listen, and when he tweets, that’s when they really take notice.
Musk always has a knack for making or breaking the news. More than anything lately, he’s making us all a twitter over his desire to buy Twitter. But aside from the tweeting, there’s so much more to the billionaire than just his love of social media.
Most of us recognize the multi-billionaire - currently listed as being worth $265 billion dollars - from his Tesla cars and his satellite internet project, StarLink. So, when it’s revealed to us that Musk is a dedicated science fiction fan, it comes as no surprise. It’s said his favorite book as a child was Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy.
From an interview with Jill Lepore, a Harvard University historian:
On how Musk's love of sci-fi translates into his vision for the future of technology
As a historian, one of the things I find so fascinating about Musk and Muskism is how much of the fantasy of invention, especially "disruptive innovation," boasts itself as part of a culture of futurism. Everything is forward-looking and an abandonment of the past — in fact, a disavowal of the past, because you really have to always be starting from scratch.
But so much of what the culture of Silicon Valley produces has its origins in science fiction, as I think a lot of those people would themselves recognize. But what they wouldn't see is that the origins in science fiction is actually an origins in dystopian science fiction.
Will Elon Musk practice his science fiction hobby for all of us to see online? Will he take his love of sci-fi to Twitter if he acquires it? It may be an irresistible move for this always unpredictable global mover and shaker.
Perhaps he’ll christian certain aspects of his social media platform after famous science fiction elements. I see twitter fans using Warp Core engagements or giving someone a sonic screwdriver for good measure. Enter the wormhole, raise defensive shields or jump into hyperspace while tweeting, but always remember the man who may become Twitter’s big boss is as big a sci-fi lover as you are.