This challenge/criterion is kind of awkward. I mean, what good stories are there set in ANY society where everything runs smoothly? A true Utopia could be awesome to be in without being at all interesting to write about, if its being interesting is tied up in ‘had to be there’ elements.
As for external difficulties, it could be a story of how only a set of people with their acts as comprehensively together as are in that utopia could have handled this challenge. Then it’s about the utopia and the external challenge.
Bwuh? Things can be utterly fabulous in different ways! My family had different cookies this year than last year. Just because the lemon streusel bars were utterly fabulous this year and the almond apricot thingamabobs were utterly fabulous last year doesn’t mean there’s nothing to chat about. (These are examples of cookies, not exhaustive lists. We actually go kind of overboard on cookies in my family.)
This challenge/criterion is kind of awkward. I mean, what good stories are there set in ANY society where everything runs smoothly? A true Utopia could be awesome to be in without being at all interesting to write about, if its being interesting is tied up in ‘had to be there’ elements.
As for external difficulties, it could be a story of how only a set of people with their acts as comprehensively together as are in that utopia could have handled this challenge. Then it’s about the utopia and the external challenge.
Consequently, I’d conclude, a society where everything runs smoothly is not a utopia.
“How were your holidays?”
“Utterly fabulous.”
“Oh. Can you tell me about them?”
“Nothing much to say, really.”
Bwuh? Things can be utterly fabulous in different ways! My family had different cookies this year than last year. Just because the lemon streusel bars were utterly fabulous this year and the almond apricot thingamabobs were utterly fabulous last year doesn’t mean there’s nothing to chat about. (These are examples of cookies, not exhaustive lists. We actually go kind of overboard on cookies in my family.)
Bwuh? My point was that if you can’t talk about it, then it’s hard to see that it was great. You cookies and both great and talked about...