I’m Jackson Allen and I’m an author of scifi stories. After rebooting my life, I decided to focus on telling stories as a kind gesture in a cruel time.
How People Describe Me
- “If sci-fi was a planet, Inkican would be its ambassador.”
- “From quantum physics to fusion energy … posts read like a syllabus for the coolest science class you never took.”
- “Short, snappy, and caters to both the sci-fi nerd and the casual scroll-er. It’s like fast food for thought—satisfying yet deliciously thought-provoking!”
- “Expert at making complex sci-fi ideas digestible—perfect for dinner parties!”
- “An open-minded fellow writer or reader who can handle prolific cat commentary and enjoys deep sci-fi discussions.”
STEM-based scifi is important to me, it helps the weird, nerdy kids (as a former weird, nerdy kid) know that it’s okay to be weird. The world needs weird nerds.
Why I Write STEM Scifi
Weird nerds view themselves as outliers and STEM is their ‘comment je m’intègre’ or ‘How I fit in’. Those kids need to feel seen, heard, and welcomed. In a world of amplified voices, STEM access and acceptance are still very much based on a single person catching that ‘star in the jar’ at the right time and helping them move forward. I want EVERY weird, nerdy kid to feel they have an ally, to feel accepted and that their dreams are accessible.
I do that at scale by telling stories. My storytelling philosophy is pretty simple: Science fiction should contain some ACTUAL science – where tinkering, hacking, curiosity and discovery intersect with social-emotional connection. In a world where there’s so much to know, we need to practice understanding.
Modern scifi – for the most part, waters down understanding. Sience fantasy, Marvel magic punching people – all considered ‘scifi’ and there’s no understanding involved. Additionally, the 2020s have seen a surge in mental health awareness, with discussions around anxiety, depression, and well-being becoming mainstream. My stories are ‘trauma informed’ because I know many of my readers are / have been victims of trauma.
Why STEM Scifi
My stories focus on real kids using brains, tech skills, and creativity to win – they resonate with those who see the possibilities in STEM technology and innovation. Plus – it’s not just about STEM. I don’t want to lie to kids, telling them that ‘coding camps’ and hackathons are cool. I love computers, but I’m not a coder. Say you’re a STEM kid but you don’t like coding or explosives? How firefighting robots, rocket-propelled anti-robot guns, or bots that take down active shooters?
The point is, that if you want to get kids into STEM, you have to make it work for kids. Not just silly science experiments – actual projects. Make cool stuff, blow something up, build something crazy! For my first novel, Mesh, I wrote about a technical high school that teaches – along with STEM and regular classes – how to use explosives and pyrotechnics. I write fun stories, not science textbooks.
The ‘missing stair’ in scifi right now is the logical path between Dream and Do. Progress isn’t linear – it doesn’t doesn’t happen in a montage. Finding the truth about how progress works can discourage, so let’s show STEM enthusiasts how go from 0 to 1. Let’s show the kids who know they can change the world how to get started. Our job is to ‘lace them up,’ and provide blueprints for the future. That’s why I write STEM-focused scifi.
I Want You to Know
So if you’re into STEM, scifi, STEM-focused scifi or you consider yourself weird, nerdy or weird and nerdy – there’s three things I’d like you to know:
1. Welcome home-ish. (I’ve created a virtual home for weird nerds)
2. You are worthy – this is your space and time for you to use your powerful gifts wisely.
3. No matter what anyone else says or makes you feel – I appreciate you and I know you’re an important person. I’m glad you’re here.