Emblematische Orte und Autor:innen der DDR-Science-Fiction in Berlin

Berlin can now be described as the capital of German-language science fiction literature. This is primarily due to the remarkable output of the genre, known as “wissenschaftliche Phantastik” in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), especially in East Berlin. During that period, the GDR capital was home to two of the most important science fiction publishing houses: Neues Leben and Das Neue Berlin. These publishing houses primarily published works dealing with visions of the future and social issues, as well as topics such as environmental protection and human rights. The genre was popular among the public because it allowed for criticism of real socialism through fantastic fiction. However, the regime also used the genre to promote a better communist future. An overview of Berlin’s history in science fiction shows that the German capital still inspires science fiction authors today, and it is a place where also fans can exchange with them ideas about the present and future.