Well-said, along with everything else in this post. We really need to focus on living more sustainably - and peacefully - on our own planet first.

One of my favorite current TV series is For All Mankind, an alternate history branching from 1969 that has humans actually setting foot on Mars by 1995. The notion is entertaining, but it is science fiction. Regardless, national and international political conflicts are present in nearly every episode; this is no utopian, one-world-government future.

ETA: Just added the book to my library wishlist.