Fiction is one of the oldest ways that people use to transmit real ideas to others. It's often a powerful way to transmit empathy or morals, in particular. This goes back as far as the Epic of Gilgame...
Also a mirror to society. Currently a plethora of nihilistic dystopian Russian style “no one has any redeeming qualities. Everyone dies” themed books. Maybe a signal, Vesuvius wise, that people inherently know the old order is coming to an end. Exeunt.