Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction – Book Review
I am a big fan of science fiction, and like most other fans consider myself fairly knowledgeable about this genre. Nonetheless, I have not thought deeply and systematically about science fiction, and this very short introduction was very informative and enlightening.
This book presents a good short overview of some of the most important Sci-fi writers of all time: H.G. Wells, Aldous Huxley, George Orwell, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Philip K. Dick, Ursula K. Le Guin, and many others. This is a very nice and historically well-researched introduction, with plenty of references to some of the most influential works of science fiction. The book is structured thematically along the main subgenres of science fiction: voyages into space, alien encounters, science fiction and technology, utopias and dystopias, and fictions of time. I would have also liked to see a dedicated genetic manipulation and biotechnology chapter. This has become one of the most significant science fiction themes in recent years. The last chapter deals with the field of science fiction as such, and it takes a bird’s view of science fiction literature.
One slight issue that I have with this introduction is its overwhelming emphasis on science fiction literature. A few notable movies are mentioned, but only as book tie-ins. The fact is that the most successful movie of all time (Avatar), as well as many others on the top-grossing list, are all very much science fiction works. Far from being a fringe, science fiction is one of the most dominant forms of the cinematic arts. Hence an introductory book like this one should have given it much more space. Another minor annoyance are the several attempts throughout the book to raise the issues that are very dominant in the academic literature departments, but are very far from the concerns of most science fiction readers. I feel that these attempts were made in order to make science fiction seem more important from the point of view of “serious” literary studies, but I find these concerns somewhat artificial. Fortunately these digressions are few and far between.
Overall, this is a very well written book that would be of a lot of interest to all the science fiction fans, as well as to people who want to learn more about this fascinating genre.
About the Author
Bojan Tunguz
Bojan Tunguz was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which he and his family fled during the civil war for the neighboring Croatia. Over the past two decades he has studied, lived and worked in the United States. He is a theoretical physicist with degrees from Stanford and University of Illinois. Tunguz has taught physics at several prominent liberal arts colleges and has been writing about physics, science and technology for more than a decade. He also has a wide spectrum of interests, and reads and writes about current events, society, culture, religion and politics. Over the years he has reviewed many of the books that he has read, and posted his reviews on various online outlets. In 2011 he had become a top 10 reviewer on Amazon.com, where he continues to be very active. Aside from reading and writing, Tunguz enjoys traveling, digital photography, hiking, and fitness. He resides with his wife in Indiana. You can follow my review updates on the following pages as well: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tunguzreview Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tunguzreviews Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104312842297641697463/posts
Did it discuss the changes in science fiction between the 60s and today. Television and movies are a big part of science fiction awareness. How many people will watch sci-fi movies or TV show but never read an SF book? So does that tend to create different needs for evaluation. Movies are expensive they must attract a large audience to make money. So sophisticated subjects which might only interest the top 20% of the bell curve would make a money losing movie.
In 1977 the producers of Star Wars said it was not science fiction. The called it Space Fantasy in in TIME magazine. But Star Wars and Star Trek have changed the perception of science fiction in the minds of many people. Like it is not something to be taken seriously. And yet the technology contradicts that with smartphones everywhere.