94. Elite Dangerous, Government Research, and Future Horizons Scanning, with Allen Stroud (Part 1)

What if an AI could end a war—but only by lying to everyone involved? And what if science-fiction writers were helping governments prepare for futures like this?

In this episode of Alternate Futures, I talk with a Coventry University lecturer-researcher, BSFA director, composer, science-fiction author, game writer and researcher Allen Stroud about the connections between storytelling, video games and real-world futures research. From building the universe of Elite Dangerous to working on Phoenix Point and Baldur's Gate 3, Allen shares his experiences creating believable fictional worlds and explains why great worldbuilding isn't just about what writers reveal—it's also about what they leave to the imagination. We explore the creative process, the importance of learning from failure, and why some of the best ideas begin as bad ones.

We also discuss what happens when science fiction moves beyond entertainment and into government strategy as Allen shares his experience with the UK's Ministry of Defence on the Creative Futures project, where science-fiction writers help researchers and policymakers explore possible futures and the human consequences of their decisions. We consider why storytelling can reveal things that statistics cannot, whether science-fiction authors really predict the future, and what happens when an AI achieves its objectives through deception. And Allen shares his approach to composing music for fictional worlds, the challenges of balancing creativity with everyday life, and why imagination might be one of our most valuable tools for navigating an uncertain future.

Books of his we discuss: Anti-State (The Fractal Series)

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