Science fiction and narrative form / David Roberts.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Roberts, David, author.

Milner, Andrew, author.

Murphy, Peter, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Metaphysics--ontology.

Metaphysics.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023.

Place of Publication:

London : Bloomsbury Academic, 2023.

System Details:

text file

HTML/PDF

Summary:

Locating science fiction as its own distinct and increasingly important narrative form, this book explores how the genre challenges pervasive perceptions of society as presented in the conventional modern novel. Inspired by, and building upon, Georg Lukacs's criticism of the orthodox novel for its depiction of life as alienating and disjointed, Milner, Murphy and Roberts posit that science fiction steps beyond this contemporary form to be a more constructive literature, better able to conceive of society as complete, integrated and well-rounded. Taking stock of three kinds of science fiction which lie outside the scope of the modern novel - theological or ontological science fiction, the science fiction of future history and epic science fiction - this book demonstrates science fiction's unique capacity to encapsulate the whole world, persons and events, things and objects in a glance, and address the motive behind the wish for a meaningful totality. With reference to a vast array of works by authors such as Michel Houellebecq, Elias Canetti, Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, H. G. Wells, Aldous Huxley, Marge Piercy, Iain M. Banks, Margaret Atwood, Ursula K. Le Guin, William Gibson, Dirk C. Fleck, Philip K. Dick, George Orwell and Kazuo Ishiguro, this book offers a compelling argument for rethinking the position and potential of the science fiction novel and to challenge the way we perceive our culture..

Contents:

Introduction Part One: From the Epic to Science Fiction, David Roberts 1. From Epic to Novel 2. From the Novel to Science Fiction 3. A Theory of Science Fiction 4. The God in the Machine <u> </u> Part Two: Science Fiction and the Historical Novel, Andrew Milner 5. Lukacs, the Historical Novel and Science Fiction 6. Climate Fiction as the Future Historical Novel Part Three: Epic Science Fiction, Peter Murphy 7. The Hidden God 8. Galaxia Part Four: World Science Fiction, Andrew Milner 9. History or apocalypse? Conclusion Bibliography Index.

ISBN:

9781350350779

OCLC:

1351204019

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.