• Science/Speculative Fiction
    • Relates to history, becomes more popular as science becomes a more popular way of knowing the world
    • Connects with history to predict the future
  • Heavy emphasis on utopias (dystopias?), how to fight and create them
  • Historical science fiction (1400-1750)
    • Discusses planets and colonization of new worlds
    • Colonization relates to the time period; many European countries were colonizing, and imperialism was encouraged
  • The start of modern science fiction
    • Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is the start
      • “Progress becomes indissoluble from catastrophe”
      • Discusses science, philosophy, identity, the meaning of life itself
    • Jules Verne
      • Discusses fantastic voyages
      • Emphasis on industrialization, colonization, and human/scientific ingenuity
    • H. G. Wells
      • “Scientific Romances”, time machines/War of the Worlds
      • Emphasis on social planning/socialism
      • Began doubting science, could come with many downsides but also a higher quality of life
      • Things to Come was a story about human unity
  • Modern Science Fiction
    • Pulps, or short stories, came about in the early 1900s
      • Thrill Book, Amazing Stories, Astounding Science Fiction; all magazines
      • Focused more on “pubescent boy fantasy”, scantily clad women and action
    • Hugo Gernsback stated that science fiction would help people understand how the world could be a better place
    • Asimov wrote science fiction in the context of government, how it shapes our world
      • Wrote the Foundation series which details a galactic empire and how it will fail
        • Refers to the Cold War and the decline of the British Empire at the end of the Second World War
      • How can we survive this period of failure? How can we prevent it?
    • Science fiction also refers to how can history change and affect the present
      • What would the world have been like if the Nazis won?
    • Used to explore boundaries of gender, time periods, etc.
  • Parable of the Sower
    • What does the book “educate the public” on in regards to science
    • How does it use history or reference historical situations?
    • How does the story engage in cognitive estrangement?