Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

David Seed

Very Short Introductions

• Considers the emergence of science fiction as a popular genre in the 20th century
• Looks at the ways in which changes in science and technology affect human perception and behaviour
• Explores science fiction in film and literature and compares the two media
• Considers the wider social and political issues raised by science fiction writers
• Looks at a wide range of science fiction in literature, drama, poetry, and film
• Explores science fiction as a global phenomenon that constantly evolves and changes in times of rapid technological and political change

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

David Seed

Very Short Introductions

Description

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

David Seed

Very Short Introductions

Table of Contents

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

David Seed

Very Short Introductions

Author Information

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

David Seed

Very Short Introductions

From Our Blog

The continuing life of science fiction

In 1998 Thomas M. Disch boldly declared in The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of: How Science Fiction Conquered the World that science fiction had become the main kind of fiction which was commenting on contemporary social reality. As a professional writer, we could object that Disch had a vested interest in making this assertion, but virtually every day news items confirm his argument that SF connects with an amazingly broad range of public issues.

Posted on January 2, 2019

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The discovery of Mars in literature

By David Seed Although there had been interest in Mars earlier, towards the end of the nineteenth century there was a sudden surge of novels describing travel to the Red Planet. One of the earliest was Percy Greg's Across the Zodiac (1880) which set the pattern for early Mars fiction by framing its story as a manuscript found in a battered metal container. Greg obviously assumed that his readers would find the story incredible and sets up the discovery of the 'record', as he calls it, by a traveler to the USA to distance himself from the extraordinary events within the novel.

Posted on December 7, 2012

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The continuing life of science fiction

By David Seed In 1998 Thomas M. Disch boldly declared in The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made Of: How Science Fiction Conquered the World that science fiction had become the main kind of fiction which was commenting on contemporary social reality. As a professional writer, we could object that Disch had a vested interest in making this assertion, but virtually every day news items confirm his argument that SF connects with an amazingly broad range of public issues.

Posted on July 20, 2012

Read the blog post