Description

Book Synopsis

A Companion to Science Fiction assembles essays by an international range of scholars which discuss the contexts, themes and methods used by science fiction writers.

  • This Companion conveys the scale and variety of science fiction.
  • Shows how science fiction has been used as a means of debating cultural issues.
  • Essays by an international range of scholars discuss the contexts, themes and methods used by science fiction writers.
  • Addresses general topics, such as the history and origins of the genre, its engagement with science and gender, and national variations of science fiction around the English-speaking world.
  • Maps out connections between science fiction, television, the cinema, virtual reality technology, and other aspects of the culture.
  • Includes a section focusing on major figures, such as H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ursula Le Guin.
  • Offers close readings of particular novels, from Mary

    Trade Review
    “The volume as a whole successfully acquaints diligent readers with an array of substantive avenues of critical inquiry into science fiction … Highly recommended." Choice

    “[This] Companion provides unusual depth and detail … The main strengths here are the distinguished roster of contributors, who have plenty of thought-provoking ideas … Anyone seeking an immersion course in the history and criticism of [science fiction] today will find that their time is well repaid.”
    Science Fiction Studies



    Table of Contents

    Notes on Contributors ix

    Introduction: Approaching Science Fiction 1

    PART I Surveying the Field 9

    1 Hard Reading: The Challenges of Science Fiction 11
    Tom Shippey

    2 The Origins of Science Fiction 27
    George Slusser

    3 Science Fiction/Criticism 43
    Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Jr.

    4 Science Fiction Magazines: The Crucibles of Change 60
    Mike Ashley

    PART II Topics and Debates 77

    5 Utopia 79
    Phillip E. Wegner

    6 Science Fiction and Religion 95
    Stephen R.L. Clark

    7 “Monsters of the Imagination”: Gothic, Science, Fiction 111
    Fred Botting

    8 Science Fiction and Ecology 127
    Brian Stableford

    9 Feminist Fabulation 142
    Marleen S. Barr

    10 Time and Identity in Feminist Science Fiction 156
    Jenny Wolmark

    11 Science Fiction and the Cold War 171
    M. Keith Booker

    PART III Genres and Movements 185

    12 Hard Science Fiction 187
    Gary Westfahl

    13 The New Wave 202
    Rob Latham

    14 Cyberpunk 217
    Mark Bould

    15 Science Fiction and Postmodernism 232
    Veronica Hollinger

    16 The Renewal of “Hard” Science Fiction 248
    Donald M. Hassler

    PART IV Science Fiction Film 259

    17 American Science Fiction Film: An Overview 261
    Vivian Sobchack

    18 Figurations of the Cyborg in Contemporary Science Fiction Novels and Films 275
    Christine Cornea

    19 British Television Science Fiction 289
    Peter Wright

    PART V The International Scene 307

    20 Canadian Science Fiction 309
    Douglas Barbour

    21 Japanese and Asian Science Fiction 323
    Takayuki Tatsumi

    22 Australian Science Fiction 337
    Van Ikin and Sean McMullen

    PART VI Key Writers 351

    23 The Grandeur of H.G. Wells 353
    Robert Crossley

    24 Isaac Asimov 364
    John Clute

    25 John Wyndham: The Facts of Life Sextet 375
    David Ketterer

    26 Philip K. Dick 389
    Christopher Palmer

    27 Samuel Delaney: A Biographical and Critical Overview 398
    Carl Freedman

    28 Ursula K. Le Guin 408
    Warren G. Rochelle

    29 Gwyneth Jones and the Anxieties of Science Fiction 420
    Andy Sawyer

    30 Arthur C. Clarke 431
    Edward James

    31 Greg Egan 441
    Russell Blackford

    PART VII Readings 453

    32 Mary Shelley: Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus 455
    Susan E. Lederer and Richard M. Ratzan

    33 Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Herland 466
    Jill Rudd

    34 Aldous Huxley: Brave New World 477
    David Seed

    35 Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 489
    Brian Baker

    36 Joanna Russ: The Female Man 500
    Jeanne Cortiel

    37 J.G. Ballard: Crash 512
    Roger Luckhurst

    38 Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale 522
    Faye Hammill

    39 William Gibson: Neuromancer 534
    Andrew M. Butler

    40 Kim Stanley Robinson: Mars Trilogy 544
    Carol Franko

    41 Iain M. Banks: Excession 556
    Farah Mendlesohn

    Index 567

A Companion to Science Fiction

    Product form

    £139.45

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £154.95 – you save £15.50 (10%)

    Order before 4pm tomorrow for delivery by Tue 7 Jul 2026.

    A Hardback by David Seed

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of A Companion to Science Fiction by David Seed

      Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
      Publication Date: 01/08/2005
      ISBN13: 9781405112185, 978-1405112185
      ISBN10: 1405112182
      Also in:
      Literary studies: fiction

      Description

      Book Synopsis

      A Companion to Science Fiction assembles essays by an international range of scholars which discuss the contexts, themes and methods used by science fiction writers.

      • This Companion conveys the scale and variety of science fiction.
      • Shows how science fiction has been used as a means of debating cultural issues.
      • Essays by an international range of scholars discuss the contexts, themes and methods used by science fiction writers.
      • Addresses general topics, such as the history and origins of the genre, its engagement with science and gender, and national variations of science fiction around the English-speaking world.
      • Maps out connections between science fiction, television, the cinema, virtual reality technology, and other aspects of the culture.
      • Includes a section focusing on major figures, such as H.G. Wells, Arthur C. Clarke, and Ursula Le Guin.
      • Offers close readings of particular novels, from Mary

        Trade Review
        “The volume as a whole successfully acquaints diligent readers with an array of substantive avenues of critical inquiry into science fiction … Highly recommended." Choice

        “[This] Companion provides unusual depth and detail … The main strengths here are the distinguished roster of contributors, who have plenty of thought-provoking ideas … Anyone seeking an immersion course in the history and criticism of [science fiction] today will find that their time is well repaid.”
        Science Fiction Studies



        Table of Contents

        Notes on Contributors ix

        Introduction: Approaching Science Fiction 1

        PART I Surveying the Field 9

        1 Hard Reading: The Challenges of Science Fiction 11
        Tom Shippey

        2 The Origins of Science Fiction 27
        George Slusser

        3 Science Fiction/Criticism 43
        Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, Jr.

        4 Science Fiction Magazines: The Crucibles of Change 60
        Mike Ashley

        PART II Topics and Debates 77

        5 Utopia 79
        Phillip E. Wegner

        6 Science Fiction and Religion 95
        Stephen R.L. Clark

        7 “Monsters of the Imagination”: Gothic, Science, Fiction 111
        Fred Botting

        8 Science Fiction and Ecology 127
        Brian Stableford

        9 Feminist Fabulation 142
        Marleen S. Barr

        10 Time and Identity in Feminist Science Fiction 156
        Jenny Wolmark

        11 Science Fiction and the Cold War 171
        M. Keith Booker

        PART III Genres and Movements 185

        12 Hard Science Fiction 187
        Gary Westfahl

        13 The New Wave 202
        Rob Latham

        14 Cyberpunk 217
        Mark Bould

        15 Science Fiction and Postmodernism 232
        Veronica Hollinger

        16 The Renewal of “Hard” Science Fiction 248
        Donald M. Hassler

        PART IV Science Fiction Film 259

        17 American Science Fiction Film: An Overview 261
        Vivian Sobchack

        18 Figurations of the Cyborg in Contemporary Science Fiction Novels and Films 275
        Christine Cornea

        19 British Television Science Fiction 289
        Peter Wright

        PART V The International Scene 307

        20 Canadian Science Fiction 309
        Douglas Barbour

        21 Japanese and Asian Science Fiction 323
        Takayuki Tatsumi

        22 Australian Science Fiction 337
        Van Ikin and Sean McMullen

        PART VI Key Writers 351

        23 The Grandeur of H.G. Wells 353
        Robert Crossley

        24 Isaac Asimov 364
        John Clute

        25 John Wyndham: The Facts of Life Sextet 375
        David Ketterer

        26 Philip K. Dick 389
        Christopher Palmer

        27 Samuel Delaney: A Biographical and Critical Overview 398
        Carl Freedman

        28 Ursula K. Le Guin 408
        Warren G. Rochelle

        29 Gwyneth Jones and the Anxieties of Science Fiction 420
        Andy Sawyer

        30 Arthur C. Clarke 431
        Edward James

        31 Greg Egan 441
        Russell Blackford

        PART VII Readings 453

        32 Mary Shelley: Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus 455
        Susan E. Lederer and Richard M. Ratzan

        33 Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Herland 466
        Jill Rudd

        34 Aldous Huxley: Brave New World 477
        David Seed

        35 Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451 489
        Brian Baker

        36 Joanna Russ: The Female Man 500
        Jeanne Cortiel

        37 J.G. Ballard: Crash 512
        Roger Luckhurst

        38 Margaret Atwood: The Handmaid’s Tale 522
        Faye Hammill

        39 William Gibson: Neuromancer 534
        Andrew M. Butler

        40 Kim Stanley Robinson: Mars Trilogy 544
        Carol Franko

        41 Iain M. Banks: Excession 556
        Farah Mendlesohn

        Index 567

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account