Stephen Oram – Brain Fruit, Applied Science Fiction & Near-Future Questions
In this episode of Miles Beyond the Page, host Michelle Miles welcomes London-based speculative fiction author Stephen Oram, whose work sits at the fascinating intersection of storytelling, science, and emerging technology.
Stephen discusses his latest work, Brain Fruit, a futuristic fable exploring trust, symbiosis, and finding common ground through the unlikely combination of a bee, a bug, a brain fruit, and a group of droids. He shares why he enjoys writing shorter, fable-like stories that leave room for reader interpretation and imagination in ways that novels often cannot.
Michelle and Stephen also dive into his work in applied science fiction, where he collaborates with scientists and technologists to spark conversations about real-world research and its potential impact on society. From artificial intelligence and biotechnology to the ethical questions raised by emerging innovations, they explore science fiction’s unique role in asking “what if?” and helping readers think through possible futures.
The conversation also covers Stephen's research process, working with experts and beta readers, his hybrid publishing approach, idea-capture habits, and his flexible, discovery-driven writing style.
🎧 Join Michelle and Stephen for a thought-provoking discussion about speculative fiction, technology, creativity, and the stories that help us imagine tomorrow.
ABOUT STEPHEN ORAM:
Stephen Oram writes social science fiction, often exploring the intersection of messy humans and imperfect technology. Described by Linux User & Developer Magazine as, "A soothsayer for this century’s relationship with technology,” he is published in many anthologies, including the award-winning Best of British Science Fiction 2022 (Newcon Press).
He has three novels: We Are Not Anonymous, 2025; Fluence, 2015; and Quantum Confessions, 2014. And three short story collections: Extracting Humanity, 2023; Biohacked & Begging, 2019; and Eating Robots, 2017.
He has co-edited four anthologies: Virtual Futures, 2019; Vital Signals, 2022; 22 Ideas About the Future, 2022; and All Tomorrow’s Futures, 2024. The Financial Times said that his work, “Should set the rest of us thinking about science and its possible repercussions.”
He is also a leading proponent of applied science fiction, working with scientists and technologists to explore possible outcomes of their research through short stories. He has been a writer for the Sci-Fi prototypers- SciFutures, was author in residence at Virtual Futures and one of the masterminds behind their new Near-Future Fiction series. He is also a member of the Clockhouse London Writers and the Spectrum Writers.
Stephen is based in the heart of central London and attributes much of the urban grittiness and the optimism about humanity in his writing to the noise, the bustle, and the diverse community of where he lives.
Previously, he was Head of Policy for post-16 Strategic Development and Innovation at the Department for Education.
You can read more about his work in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and at https://stephenoram.net
WHERE TO FIND HIM:
Website | X | Instagram | LinkedIn
WHERE TO FIND HIS BOOKS: