I’ve always believed that putting topical issues in stories was a good idea. Even an important one. But just how important is it? Can’t you just tell a story for pure entertainment? Does every story have to have a moral to it or a theme?
I would say not necessarily. I believe a story can be pure entertainment. Like Star Wars for instance. That story really had nothing to teach anyone about anything. Maybe some people can get something out of it if they wanted, but to me it was just entertainment. (The first installment, anyway.)
Another entertaining show did have a lot of topical issues imbued in the storylines. Star Trek. I can think of several episodes that focused on topical issues. And, to me, it worked.
In my stories, I also use topical issues. THE VASE involves the conflict in the Middle East. And the Middle East is rampant with topical issues. Heck, it’s a topical issue unto itself.
And in my KILLER series, I focus on murder, crime, and other timeless issues like justice, injustice, corruption, and drugs. And more drugs. And the fighting sports that are popular today are still more topical issues. The UFC, the MMA, and everything else that involves violence, mayhem, and graphic portrayals of you name it. All these topical issues are covered in both KILLER novels. But one thing of which I never lost sight was entertainment, because if a story is not entertaining, no one will read it.
So if a story loses none of its entertainment, but can teach a lesson at the same time, it's all the better, imo.
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