First, What Is 'Competence-Core'?
The term, often called 'competence porn,' was coined by writer John Rogers to describe the thrill of watching highly skilled people do their jobs exceptionally well. It’s not about superheroes with unearned powers, but about experts using their knowledge,
creativity, and rigorous training to solve a problem step-by-step. Think less 'chosen one,' more 'the one person with the exact PhD needed to save the world.' This subgenre focuses on the process. The drama comes from the intellectual puzzle, the failed experiments, and the eventual breakthrough. It taps into a deep-seated fantasy: that with enough brainpower and collaboration, even the most catastrophic challenges are manageable. The appeal lies in seeing order methodically imposed on chaos through sheer intelligence and hard work.
Exhibit A: The Andy Weir Effect
Andy Weir has become the modern master of this subgenre. His breakout novel, The Martian, was a pure hit of competence-core fiction. An astronaut, Mark Watney, is left for dead on Mars and must 'science the hell' out of his situation to survive. The book—and the hit film—was an addictive cycle of problem, hypothesis, experiment, and solution (or new, more complicated problem). Weir doubled down on this formula with Project Hail Mary. Protagonist Ryland Grace, a middle-school science teacher, wakes up on a spaceship with amnesia, tasked with saving the sun. The story is a masterpiece of scientific problem-solving, where Grace uses his intellect to overcome one impossible hurdle after another, often in collaboration with an alien who is, conveniently, also a brilliant engineer. Weir’s writing makes complex chemistry and physics feel accessible and, most importantly, thrilling.
It's a Trend, Not a Fluke
While Andy Weir is the poster child, the hunger for competence is visible across modern sci-fi. Apple TV+'s For All Mankind imagines an alternate history where the space race never ended, showcasing the relentless ingenuity of NASA engineers and astronauts. Shows like The Expanse ground their space opera in the gritty realities of physics and resource management. Even going back, the subgenre has deep roots. Isaac Asimov, one of Weir's inspirations, often wrote stories about rational thinkers solving galactic problems. Ellen Ripley in Alien wasn't the hero because she was the strongest, but because she was the only one following safety protocols. The current 'moment' feels like a powerful resurgence of this classic sci-fi trope, pushing back against stories where heroes succeed through destiny or brute force alone.
An Antidote to an Anxious World
So, why is this hitting so hard right now? In a world grappling with seemingly intractable problems like climate change, political polarization, and misinformation, there is a profound comfort in stories where expertise is valued and effective. When real-world leadership can feel inept and institutions seem to fail, the fantasy of a hyper-competent team working together to avert disaster is incredibly appealing. These stories provide a form of catharsis and wish-fulfillment. They suggest that our problems aren't necessarily unsolvable, they just require the right people with the right knowledge to tackle them. It’s an escape into a reality where logic prevails, data is trusted, and collaboration leads to salvation. It’s a quiet reassurance that intelligence is the ultimate superpower. In these narratives, we're not just watching humanity get saved; we're watching it prove it's worth saving.
