Human prehistory in fiction / by Charles De Paolo.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

De Paolo, Charles, 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Fantasy literature--History and criticism.

Fantasy literature.

Science fiction--History and criticism.

Science fiction.

Physical Description:

xi, 160 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. ; London : McFarland & Co., [2003]

Summary:

What was the world like for people thousands of years ago? How can we know? Through fiction? This is a work of literary criticism, and more. It begins with a discussion of the problem of authenticity and then considers twelve pieces of fiction that depict human prehistory: H.G. Wells The Island of Doctor Moreau, Pierre Boulles The Planet of the Apes, Jules Vernes The Village in the Treetops, Edgar Rice Burroughs The Land That Time Forgot, the struggle for legitimacy in Wells "The Grisly Folk, " the Tasmanian analogue in Lester Del Reys "The Day Is Done, " William Goldings The Inheritors, "the promise of humanity" in Arthur C. Clarkes 2001: A Space Odyssey, the theme of "a god among the heathen" in Wells "The Lord of the Dynamos" and other works, Jean Auels The Clan of the Cave Bear, J.H. Rosny-Ans Quest for Fire, and Wells The Time Machine: An Invention. A final chapter considers the paleoanthropo

Contents:

Introduction: The Problem of Authenticity 1

1. Heterogony and H. G. Wells's: The Island of Doctor Moreau 9

2. "A point in common": Pierre Boulle's: The Planet of the Apes 18

3. Chains and Links: Jules Verne's: The Village in the Treetops 25

4. Phylosynthesis in Edgar Rice Burroughs': The Land That Time Forgot 37

5. H. G. Wells's "The Grisly Folk": The Struggle for Legitimacy 46

6. Lester Del Rey's "The Day Is Done" and the Tasmanian Analogue 59

7. William Golding's The Inheritors: The Great Divide 72

8. Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey: "the promise of humanity" 79

9. H. G. Wells's "The Lord of the Dynamos" and Related Works: "a god among the heathen" 94

10. Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear: "defining the point" 113

11. J.-H. Rosny-Aine's Quest for Fire: The Archaic Twilight 120

12. H. G. Wells's The Time Machine: The Days of Triumph 127

13. The Paleoanthropologist as Literary Critic 142.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 147-154) and index.

ISBN:

0786414170

OCLC:

50774222