: Re: How do you show, through your narration, a hard and uncaring world? As I've already mentioned, I'm working on a sci-fi novel. One of the main feelings that I wanted to represent when I started

Uncaring. Harsh. Unforgiving. And a Sci-Fi setting? Well. It depends on what the deal is, but I'll offer some things I'd throw in to really show this world doesn't care for humans.

Alien world. The places looking for employees, so think bars, clothing stores, fast-food restaurants. "Humans need not apply." Put up signs outside showing humans aren't welcome in this establishment. Have some places house an atmosphere that humans can't breathe--nothing shows you're unwanted like the literal air you breathe being poisonous to you.
Policing. Again with aliens, but separate, yet related to, the above point. Have the authorities single out humans more often. Have a scene, or mention now and then when out in the world, of some human crying out "I didn't do anything!" and have the officers arresting them anyway. No reason, no lead up. Just arresting them.
Robot/cyborg world. Have tech needed to do that most basic thing. Lift (elevator) needs you to interact with the interface, but it needs a jack of some sort and humans just aren't equipped with that. I'd imagine there'd be some group of humans that would have some sort of workaround, but it's that they need it that's telling.
The pets have an innate dislike of humans, and have them be endemic of the setting. "You see that hairy bear-sized creature with razor sharp claws? That's Fido. He doesn't like your kind."
While being an uncaring world is one thing, a world that is super caring for everything that doesn't look like you is quite another. Show how beautiful the world is, and then show humans being treated like animals or worse.
You remember those mounted bears and deer in those old-fashioned lodges? What if these people mount humans? That certainly gives a clear impression of where humans stand here.

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