UBI Taiwan and Taiwanese sci-fi publisher SciFaSaurus jointly launched Island’s New Realities: Imagining UBI in Taiwan, unveiled on August 28 at the BIEN Congress in Brazil.
The book centers on the idea of Unconditional Basic Income (UBI) and brings together eight short stories and one short comic that explore near- and far-future worlds touching on AI and labor redistribution, gender and family relations, social safety nets, and civic participation, using literature as a way to expand policy imagination.
A Year of Cross-Sector Collaboration: From Concept to Publication
The project was a year-long collaboration: SciFaSaurus handled author recruitment and editorial production, while UBI Taiwan provided policy consultation and contextual expertise. Together, they advanced a “publishing × public issue” initiative.
UBI Taiwan Chair Jia-Kuan Su remarked at the forum: “This is not one-way promotion but a space for creation and dialogue. Each story offers a distinct vision of UBI, some optimistic, others critical. We do not present UBI as a perfect solution; rather, we invite readers to reflect on what it could mean for individuals and society.”
Two Stories Reflect Real-World Tensions: From Family Liberation to the Boundaries of Freedom and Responsibility
To help international audiences grasp the book’s world-building, Su highlighted two representative stories: “The Discarded Mother” and “808”.
- The Discarded Mother portrays a woman long trapped in domestic violence and stigmatization who, through UBI, gains financial autonomy and the breathing room to learn new skills and reclaim control of her life. Su noted: “For those in vulnerable positions within families, UBI is more than a monthly figure. It represents hope, dignity, and the possibility of liberation.”
- 808 takes place in a rehearsal studio where two former bandmates diverge under UBI: one keeps working and uses UBI to take entrepreneurial risks; the other drifts, his talent unrealized. Su said: “UBI provides a floor and a starting point, not a ceiling or a guarantee. Outcomes still depend on motivation, choices, and culture. It offers freedom, not promises.”
Heated Discussions and Cross-Cultural Insights at the Congress
After the presentation, the discussion centered on three main themes. The first concerned the social conditions for institutional transformation, as participants reflected on the growing importance of UBI in the context of declining birth rates, AI automation, and the expansion of non-standard employment. The second focused on cultural narratives and public understanding, examining how literary works can bridge the communicative gap that policy papers and research reports often fail to reach. The third theme addressed gender and family governance, as many stories approached UBI from female perspectives, shifting the conversation beyond macroeconomics to include household power structures and the redistribution of care work.
Several researchers and NGO representatives from different countries remarked that this approach, which begins with emotional connection through storytelling before moving toward institutional debate, helps to build cross-cultural awareness more effectively.
Appendix as Public Education: Deepening Understanding of UBI
Su added that the book includes an appendix written by UBI Taiwan members, systematically outlining the concepts, global trends, fiscal designs, and step-by-step implementation pathways of UBI. “We hope readers, after enjoying the stories, can connect with more rigorous research and data, moving beyond emotional or intuitive reactions,” Su said. This structure helps first-time UBI readers gain a clearer grasp of its policy context.
SciFaSaurus Launches Global Collaboration Plans
SciFaSaurus founder Wu-Hsuan Lee (aka Pumpkin President) explained that while Island’s New Realities was first published in Chinese, they welcome international publishers and translators to discuss foreign-language rights, aiming to let Taiwan’s stories inspire new imaginations worldwide.
The publisher is also developing a follow-up series continuing the UBI-centered blend of fantasy and science fiction, with plans for cross-national anthologies and multi-language editions to depict diverse visions of a UBI world.
From Taiwan to the World: Building a Global UBI Community
The book is now available through Taiwanese retail channels. UBI Taiwan and SciFaSaurus will co-host reading sessions and cross-sector dialogues with civic education and arts organizations, while also facilitating online exchanges between authors and UBI researchers worldwide, especially with younger generations.
The team emphasizes that this project is not a one-off publication but part of a long-term initiative linking culture and public policy advocacy.
About UBI Taiwan
Founded in 2017, UBI Taiwan is a non-profit policy advocacy organization dedicated to exploring and implementing UBI solutions. It promotes the idea that the state should provide everyone with a regular, unconditional cash grant to secure basic livelihood and economic dignity, addressing social and economic challenges through research, experiments, and public campaigns for a fairer and more sustainable future.
Founded in 2014, SciFaSaurus is a Taiwan-based publisher specializing in fantasy and science-fiction novels, comics, and games. It cultivates original Taiwanese creators and has developed over 35 intellectual properties (IPs). SciFaSaurus is also the first small-scale publisher in Taiwan to complete an ESG transformation, with all its publications certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).