''Reading Science Fiction'' is a collection of 22 short essays edited by James Gunn,

Marleen S. Barr Marleen Barr teaches communication and media studies at Fordham University, New York City. She is notable for her significant contributions to science fiction studies, for which she won a Pilgrim Award from the Science Fiction Research Associatio ...

& Matthew Candelaria. The collection explores a wide range of theoretical approaches to studying science fiction, such as

gender studies Gender studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to analysing gender identity and gendered representation. Gender studies originated in the field of women's studies, concerning women, feminism, gender, and politics. The field ...

, post colonialism and

structuralism In sociology, anthropology, archaeology, history, philosophy, and linguistics, structuralism is a general theory of culture and methodology that implies that elements of human culture must be understood by way of their relationship to a broader ...

. The authors reference the various mediums through which science fiction has appeared including literature, film, television, as well as video games to define science fiction as a genre, trace its origins, as well as its parallels with contemporary society.

Sections

*Introduction - James Gunn

Part I: Mapping Science Fiction

*Defining Science Fiction - Eric S. Rabkin * What is Science Fiction - and How It Grew - H. Bruce Franklin * Narrative Strategies in Science Fiction - Brian Stableford *There is No Such Thing as Science Fiction - Sherryl Vint & Mark Bould

Part II: Science Fiction and Popular Culture

*Science Fiction Movies: the Feud of Eye and Idea -

George Zebrowski George Zebrowski (born December 28, 1945) is an American science fiction writer and editor who has written and edited a number of books, and is a former editor of The Bulletin of the Science Fiction Writers of America. He lives with author Pamela ...

*The Feedback Loop -

Michael Cassutt Michael Joseph Cassutt (born April 13, 1954) is an American television producer, screenwriter, and author. His notable TV work includes producing or writing, or both, for '' The Outer Limits'', '' Eerie, Indiana'', ''Beverly Hills, 90210'', and ' ...

*Computers in Science Fiction - Brooks Landon *Cross Fertilization or Coincidence? Science Fiction and videogames - Orson Scott Card

Part III: Theoretical Approaches to Science Fiction

*Gender is a problem that can be solved - Jane Donawerth *Marxism and Science Fiction -

Carl Freedman Carl Freedman (born 1965) is the founder of Carl Freedman Gallery (formerly Counter Gallery). He previously worked as a writer and a curator. Life and career The 1990s and the Young British Artists Saatchi arrived at ''Gambler'' in a green B ...

*Reading Science Fiction with Postcolonial Theory - Matthew Candelaria *Encountering International Science Fiction Through a Latin American Lens -

Roberto de Sousa Causo The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

Part IV: Reading Science Fiction in the Classroom

*Reading Science Fiction as Science Fiction - James Gunn * Reading Joanna Russ in Context: Science, Utopia and Post modernity -

Jeanne Cortiel Jeanne may refer to: Places * Jeanne (crater), on Venus People * Jeanne (given name) * Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc, 1412–1431) * Joanna of Flanders (1295–1374) * Joan, Duchess of Brittany (1319–1384) * Ruth Stuber Jeanne (1910–2004), Amer ...

*Reading Science Fiction's Interdisciplinary Conversation with Science and Technology STudies - R. Doug Davis &

Lisa Yazek Lisa or LISA may refer to: People People with the mononym * Lisa Lisa (born 1967), American actress and lead singer of the Cult Jam * Lisa (Japanese musician, born 1974), stylized "LISA", Japanese singer and producer * Lisa Komine (born 1978), ...

Part V: Science Fiction and Diverse Disciplines

*Neuroscience Fiction Redux - Joseph D. Miller *Physics through Science Fiction -

Gregory Benford Gregory Benford (born January 30, 1941) is an American science fiction author and astrophysicist who is professor emeritus at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. He is a contributing editor of ''Reason ...

*Science Fiction and Biology -

Pamela Sargent Pamela Sargent (born March 20, 1948) is an American feminist, science fiction author, and editor. She has an MA in classical philosophy and has won a Nebula Award. Sargent wrote a trilogy concerning the terraforming of Venus that is someti ...

*Science Fiction and Philosophy - James Gunn *Science Fiction and the Internet -

Bruce Sterling Michael Bruce Sterling (born April 14, 1954) is an American science fiction author known for his novels and short fiction and editorship of the ''Mirrorshades'' anthology. In particular, he is linked to the cyberpunk subgenre. Sterling's first ...

*The Reading Science Fiction Blog -

Reception

Several of the collection's essays were praised, however, the collection as a whole received criticism for not being entirely accessible to students new to science fiction.Paul Kincaid
"Reading Science Fiction
"The SF Site", 2009

References

Essays about literature Works about science fiction 2008 non-fiction books Palgrave Macmillan books {{lit-essay-stub