Paul Graham Raven
@paulgrahamraven.com
Science fiction writer turned tech critic turned STS/critical futures academic turned consulting critical foresight practitioner and worldbuilder-for-hire.
This account is POSSE broadcast only. Email if you want to reach me.
This account is POSSE broadcast only. Email if you want to reach me.
Weeknotes/ week 45 / 2025: ten theses on “the future”
The moment to change a mental model is the moment at which it becomes an obstacle to understanding rather than a scaffold for it.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-45-2025-ten-theses-on-the-future/
The moment to change a mental model is the moment at which it becomes an obstacle to understanding rather than a scaffold for it.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-45-2025-ten-theses-on-the-future/
November 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Weeknotes/ week 45 / 2025: ten theses on “the future”
The moment to change a mental model is the moment at which it becomes an obstacle to understanding rather than a scaffold for it.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-45-2025-ten-theses-on-the-future/
The moment to change a mental model is the moment at which it becomes an obstacle to understanding rather than a scaffold for it.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-45-2025-ten-theses-on-the-future/
Weeknotes/ week 44 / 2025: hermit walks the dunes
I'm running a three-day course on fiction-for-futures in January! In-person, on-site, and strictly limited to no more than ten participants...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-44-2025-hermit-walks-the-dunes/
I'm running a three-day course on fiction-for-futures in January! In-person, on-site, and strictly limited to no more than ten participants...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-44-2025-hermit-walks-the-dunes/
November 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 44 / 2025: hermit walks the dunes
I'm running a three-day course on fiction-for-futures in January! In-person, on-site, and strictly limited to no more than ten participants...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-44-2025-hermit-walks-the-dunes/
I'm running a three-day course on fiction-for-futures in January! In-person, on-site, and strictly limited to no more than ten participants...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-44-2025-hermit-walks-the-dunes/
Weeknotes/ week 43 / 2025: l'esprit de l'ascenseur
Marketing 101 advises that you hone your elevator pitch. I'm increasingly convinced that simplifying problems this way just makes them worse in the long run.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-43-2025-lesprit-de-lascenseur/
Marketing 101 advises that you hone your elevator pitch. I'm increasingly convinced that simplifying problems this way just makes them worse in the long run.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-43-2025-lesprit-de-lascenseur/
October 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 43 / 2025: l'esprit de l'ascenseur
Marketing 101 advises that you hone your elevator pitch. I'm increasingly convinced that simplifying problems this way just makes them worse in the long run.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-43-2025-lesprit-de-lascenseur/
Marketing 101 advises that you hone your elevator pitch. I'm increasingly convinced that simplifying problems this way just makes them worse in the long run.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-43-2025-lesprit-de-lascenseur/
Weeknotes/ week 42 / 2025: reinventing the wheel
What’s the value of worldbuilding around the questions of a green transition, when participants could be spending their time developing products and services instead? I have answers!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-42-2025-reinventi…
What’s the value of worldbuilding around the questions of a green transition, when participants could be spending their time developing products and services instead? I have answers!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-42-2025-reinventi…
October 19, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 42 / 2025: reinventing the wheel
What’s the value of worldbuilding around the questions of a green transition, when participants could be spending their time developing products and services instead? I have answers!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-42-2025-reinventi…
What’s the value of worldbuilding around the questions of a green transition, when participants could be spending their time developing products and services instead? I have answers!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-42-2025-reinventi…
Weeknotes/ week 41 / 2025: stuck in the middle with you
In which I channel my inner Inigo Montoya in an attempt to explain why talking about "technology" robs us of the sense of our own agency...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-41-2025-stuck-in-the-middle-with-you/
In which I channel my inner Inigo Montoya in an attempt to explain why talking about "technology" robs us of the sense of our own agency...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-41-2025-stuck-in-the-middle-with-you/
October 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 41 / 2025: stuck in the middle with you
In which I channel my inner Inigo Montoya in an attempt to explain why talking about "technology" robs us of the sense of our own agency...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-41-2025-stuck-in-the-middle-with-you/
In which I channel my inner Inigo Montoya in an attempt to explain why talking about "technology" robs us of the sense of our own agency...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-41-2025-stuck-in-the-middle-with-you/
Weeknotes/ week 40 / 2025: the same river twice
This week, it seems I'm flagrantly mishandling Heraclitus to make a case for horizon-scanning...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-40-2025-the-same-river-twice/
This week, it seems I'm flagrantly mishandling Heraclitus to make a case for horizon-scanning...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-40-2025-the-same-river-twice/
October 5, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Weeknotes/ week 40 / 2025: the same river twice
This week, it seems I'm flagrantly mishandling Heraclitus to make a case for horizon-scanning...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-40-2025-the-same-river-twice/
This week, it seems I'm flagrantly mishandling Heraclitus to make a case for horizon-scanning...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-40-2025-the-same-river-twice/
Weeknotes/ week 39 / 2025: staying with various troubles
Utopias and dystopias are equally open to interpretation, as are all narratives of futurity. That's why, for me, the name of the game is to portray the messiness of hopes and fears alongside each other...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/we…
Utopias and dystopias are equally open to interpretation, as are all narratives of futurity. That's why, for me, the name of the game is to portray the messiness of hopes and fears alongside each other...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/we…
September 28, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 39 / 2025: staying with various troubles
Utopias and dystopias are equally open to interpretation, as are all narratives of futurity. That's why, for me, the name of the game is to portray the messiness of hopes and fears alongside each other...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/we…
Utopias and dystopias are equally open to interpretation, as are all narratives of futurity. That's why, for me, the name of the game is to portray the messiness of hopes and fears alongside each other...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/we…
Weeknotes/ week 38 / 2025: player of games
I’m waxing philosophical this week, as I consider the potential utility of the “dark forest” theory of the internet to foresight. So please exercise your (potentially illusory) free will and click on through to follow along...
https://www.worldbuilding.a…
I’m waxing philosophical this week, as I consider the potential utility of the “dark forest” theory of the internet to foresight. So please exercise your (potentially illusory) free will and click on through to follow along...
https://www.worldbuilding.a…
September 21, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Weeknotes/ week 38 / 2025: player of games
I’m waxing philosophical this week, as I consider the potential utility of the “dark forest” theory of the internet to foresight. So please exercise your (potentially illusory) free will and click on through to follow along...
https://www.worldbuilding.a…
I’m waxing philosophical this week, as I consider the potential utility of the “dark forest” theory of the internet to foresight. So please exercise your (potentially illusory) free will and click on through to follow along...
https://www.worldbuilding.a…
Weeknotes/ week 37 / 2025: a room of one’s own
It’s been wall-to-wall logistics around here this week, as I’ve been moving in to a new studio/office space...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-37-2025-a-room-of-ones-own/
It’s been wall-to-wall logistics around here this week, as I’ve been moving in to a new studio/office space...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-37-2025-a-room-of-ones-own/
September 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 37 / 2025: a room of one’s own
It’s been wall-to-wall logistics around here this week, as I’ve been moving in to a new studio/office space...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-37-2025-a-room-of-ones-own/
It’s been wall-to-wall logistics around here this week, as I’ve been moving in to a new studio/office space...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-37-2025-a-room-of-ones-own/
Weeknotes/ week 36 / 2025: at the intersection of three things
I've been going on about this "narrative prototyping" thing for ages now, but how does it differ from science fiction and/or design fiction? Well, since you asked...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-36-2025-at-the-inter…
I've been going on about this "narrative prototyping" thing for ages now, but how does it differ from science fiction and/or design fiction? Well, since you asked...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-36-2025-at-the-inter…
September 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 36 / 2025: at the intersection of three things
I've been going on about this "narrative prototyping" thing for ages now, but how does it differ from science fiction and/or design fiction? Well, since you asked...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-36-2025-at-the-inter…
I've been going on about this "narrative prototyping" thing for ages now, but how does it differ from science fiction and/or design fiction? Well, since you asked...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-36-2025-at-the-inter…
Weeknotes/ week 35 / 2025: radio daze
Client work is keeping me busy this weekend, so perhaps you'd like to go listen to a recent podcast appearance?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-35-2025-radio-daze/
Client work is keeping me busy this weekend, so perhaps you'd like to go listen to a recent podcast appearance?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-35-2025-radio-daze/
August 31, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 35 / 2025: radio daze
Client work is keeping me busy this weekend, so perhaps you'd like to go listen to a recent podcast appearance?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-35-2025-radio-daze/
Client work is keeping me busy this weekend, so perhaps you'd like to go listen to a recent podcast appearance?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-35-2025-radio-daze/
Weeknotes/ week 34 / 2025: the machine stops
When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade-flavoured parable in place of the more considered content that you'd have written if you'd not lost the time to dealing with the lemons.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-34-2025-the-machine-sto…
When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade-flavoured parable in place of the more considered content that you'd have written if you'd not lost the time to dealing with the lemons.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-34-2025-the-machine-sto…
August 24, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 34 / 2025: the machine stops
When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade-flavoured parable in place of the more considered content that you'd have written if you'd not lost the time to dealing with the lemons.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-34-2025-the-machine-sto…
When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade-flavoured parable in place of the more considered content that you'd have written if you'd not lost the time to dealing with the lemons.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-34-2025-the-machine-sto…
Weeknotes/ week 33 / 2025: how much is too much?
Or, phrased differently: what do the IPCC's climate change scenarios have in common with the Star Wars franchise?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-33-2025-how-much-is-too-much/
Or, phrased differently: what do the IPCC's climate change scenarios have in common with the Star Wars franchise?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-33-2025-how-much-is-too-much/
August 17, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 33 / 2025: how much is too much?
Or, phrased differently: what do the IPCC's climate change scenarios have in common with the Star Wars franchise?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-33-2025-how-much-is-too-much/
Or, phrased differently: what do the IPCC's climate change scenarios have in common with the Star Wars franchise?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-33-2025-how-much-is-too-much/
Weeknotes/ week 32 / 2005: conspiracy culture
There's nothing like looking at the disposable popular culture of three decades previous for reminding you that there's nothing new under the sun, and that history moves in waves rather than an arc.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-32-2…
There's nothing like looking at the disposable popular culture of three decades previous for reminding you that there's nothing new under the sun, and that history moves in waves rather than an arc.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-32-2…
August 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 32 / 2005: conspiracy culture
There's nothing like looking at the disposable popular culture of three decades previous for reminding you that there's nothing new under the sun, and that history moves in waves rather than an arc.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-32-2…
There's nothing like looking at the disposable popular culture of three decades previous for reminding you that there's nothing new under the sun, and that history moves in waves rather than an arc.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-32-2…
Weeknotes/ week 31 / 2025: churches of futurity
What can we learn about futures from thinking about them as if they were faiths or fandoms? Quite a lot, if you ask me...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-31-2025-churches-of-futurity/
What can we learn about futures from thinking about them as if they were faiths or fandoms? Quite a lot, if you ask me...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-31-2025-churches-of-futurity/
August 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM
Weeknotes/ week 31 / 2025: churches of futurity
What can we learn about futures from thinking about them as if they were faiths or fandoms? Quite a lot, if you ask me...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-31-2025-churches-of-futurity/
What can we learn about futures from thinking about them as if they were faiths or fandoms? Quite a lot, if you ask me...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-31-2025-churches-of-futurity/
Weeknotes/ week 30 / 2025: in defence of magickal thinking
Divination and foresight are a deal less different than some practitioners in either camp would have you believe—both address questions of strategy through the sensemaking process of storytelling. Perhaps you'd like a free trial by way of …
Divination and foresight are a deal less different than some practitioners in either camp would have you believe—both address questions of strategy through the sensemaking process of storytelling. Perhaps you'd like a free trial by way of …
July 27, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 30 / 2025: in defence of magickal thinking
Divination and foresight are a deal less different than some practitioners in either camp would have you believe—both address questions of strategy through the sensemaking process of storytelling. Perhaps you'd like a free trial by way of …
Divination and foresight are a deal less different than some practitioners in either camp would have you believe—both address questions of strategy through the sensemaking process of storytelling. Perhaps you'd like a free trial by way of …
Weeknotes/ week 29 / 2025: rifts in the schismatrix
Here's another way to look at the difference between science fiction and fiction-for-futures: the former is art, the latter is artifice.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-29-2025-rifts-in-the-schismatrix/
Here's another way to look at the difference between science fiction and fiction-for-futures: the former is art, the latter is artifice.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-29-2025-rifts-in-the-schismatrix/
July 20, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 29 / 2025: rifts in the schismatrix
Here's another way to look at the difference between science fiction and fiction-for-futures: the former is art, the latter is artifice.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-29-2025-rifts-in-the-schismatrix/
Here's another way to look at the difference between science fiction and fiction-for-futures: the former is art, the latter is artifice.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-29-2025-rifts-in-the-schismatrix/
Weeknotes/ week 28 / 2025: the concretisation of metaphor
The tools of science fiction can be put to use in the storying of scenarios, but in such cases, they are means to a somewhat different end. How might we usefully describe that distinction?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-28…
The tools of science fiction can be put to use in the storying of scenarios, but in such cases, they are means to a somewhat different end. How might we usefully describe that distinction?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-28…
July 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Weeknotes/ week 28 / 2025: the concretisation of metaphor
The tools of science fiction can be put to use in the storying of scenarios, but in such cases, they are means to a somewhat different end. How might we usefully describe that distinction?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-28…
The tools of science fiction can be put to use in the storying of scenarios, but in such cases, they are means to a somewhat different end. How might we usefully describe that distinction?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-28…
Weeknotes/ week 27 / 2025: on models and literacies
"All models are wrong, but some models are useful"—so the saying goes. But how are they wrong, and how are they useful? And what does that mean for thinking about futures?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-27-2025-on-models-and-lit…
"All models are wrong, but some models are useful"—so the saying goes. But how are they wrong, and how are they useful? And what does that mean for thinking about futures?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-27-2025-on-models-and-lit…
July 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 27 / 2025: on models and literacies
"All models are wrong, but some models are useful"—so the saying goes. But how are they wrong, and how are they useful? And what does that mean for thinking about futures?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-27-2025-on-models-and-lit…
"All models are wrong, but some models are useful"—so the saying goes. But how are they wrong, and how are they useful? And what does that mean for thinking about futures?
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-27-2025-on-models-and-lit…
Weeknotes/ week 26 / 2025
The hollyhocks stretch toward the sun, and WEEKNOTES wanders the backstreets to bask in their colours...
This week, a fictional bishop transmigrates, and the Green Revolution is reassessed.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-26-2025/
The hollyhocks stretch toward the sun, and WEEKNOTES wanders the backstreets to bask in their colours...
This week, a fictional bishop transmigrates, and the Green Revolution is reassessed.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-26-2025/
June 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 26 / 2025
The hollyhocks stretch toward the sun, and WEEKNOTES wanders the backstreets to bask in their colours...
This week, a fictional bishop transmigrates, and the Green Revolution is reassessed.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-26-2025/
The hollyhocks stretch toward the sun, and WEEKNOTES wanders the backstreets to bask in their colours...
This week, a fictional bishop transmigrates, and the Green Revolution is reassessed.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-26-2025/
Weeknotes/ week 25 / 2025
The sun sinks behind the prow-stone, and WEEKNOTES sail on toward the summerland...
This week, a solstice is observed, both figuratively and literally, and the up/down axis gets an airing.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-25-2025/
The sun sinks behind the prow-stone, and WEEKNOTES sail on toward the summerland...
This week, a solstice is observed, both figuratively and literally, and the up/down axis gets an airing.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-25-2025/
June 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 25 / 2025
The sun sinks behind the prow-stone, and WEEKNOTES sail on toward the summerland...
This week, a solstice is observed, both figuratively and literally, and the up/down axis gets an airing.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-25-2025/
The sun sinks behind the prow-stone, and WEEKNOTES sail on toward the summerland...
This week, a solstice is observed, both figuratively and literally, and the up/down axis gets an airing.
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-25-2025/
Weeknotes/ week 24 / 2025
WEEKNOTES is on something like a holiday—so not much to see here for anyone but the serious completists!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-24-2025/
WEEKNOTES is on something like a holiday—so not much to see here for anyone but the serious completists!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-24-2025/
June 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 24 / 2025
WEEKNOTES is on something like a holiday—so not much to see here for anyone but the serious completists!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-24-2025/
WEEKNOTES is on something like a holiday—so not much to see here for anyone but the serious completists!
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-24-2025/
worldbuilding/ week 23 / 2025
Making stories while the sun shines, enjoying the music of the muezzin—WEEKNOTES aspires to feline reincarnation!
This week, Eid is celebrated vicariously, and the philosophy of cats is revealed as a contradiction in terms...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/404/
Making stories while the sun shines, enjoying the music of the muezzin—WEEKNOTES aspires to feline reincarnation!
This week, Eid is celebrated vicariously, and the philosophy of cats is revealed as a contradiction in terms...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/404/
June 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
worldbuilding/ week 23 / 2025
Making stories while the sun shines, enjoying the music of the muezzin—WEEKNOTES aspires to feline reincarnation!
This week, Eid is celebrated vicariously, and the philosophy of cats is revealed as a contradiction in terms...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/404/
Making stories while the sun shines, enjoying the music of the muezzin—WEEKNOTES aspires to feline reincarnation!
This week, Eid is celebrated vicariously, and the philosophy of cats is revealed as a contradiction in terms...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/404/
Weeknotes/ week 22 / 2025
Trekking through the wilderness of story, traversing the desert of the Real—WEEKNOTES wander where they will.
This week, warfare is conducted through comics, and Canada goes its own way...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-22-2025/
Trekking through the wilderness of story, traversing the desert of the Real—WEEKNOTES wander where they will.
This week, warfare is conducted through comics, and Canada goes its own way...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-22-2025/
June 1, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 22 / 2025
Trekking through the wilderness of story, traversing the desert of the Real—WEEKNOTES wander where they will.
This week, warfare is conducted through comics, and Canada goes its own way...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-22-2025/
Trekking through the wilderness of story, traversing the desert of the Real—WEEKNOTES wander where they will.
This week, warfare is conducted through comics, and Canada goes its own way...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-22-2025/
Weeknotes/ week 21 / 2025
Hanging pictures on the wall / who can say when WEEKNOTES fall?
This week, pictures are exhibited, and the devil rides out...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-21-2025/
Hanging pictures on the wall / who can say when WEEKNOTES fall?
This week, pictures are exhibited, and the devil rides out...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-21-2025/
May 25, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Weeknotes/ week 21 / 2025
Hanging pictures on the wall / who can say when WEEKNOTES fall?
This week, pictures are exhibited, and the devil rides out...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-21-2025/
Hanging pictures on the wall / who can say when WEEKNOTES fall?
This week, pictures are exhibited, and the devil rides out...
https://www.worldbuilding.agency/weeknotes/week-21-2025/