The Man with the Strange Head and Other Early Science Fiction Stories


Book Description

A compilation of the best work of the author, a pioneer in the science fiction genre, includes his first publication, "The Man with the Strange Head," his dystopian novel Paradise and Iron, stories, the essay "The Future of Scientification," a critical statement of his genre, and some of his letters. Original.




The Man with the Strange Head and Other Early Science Fiction Stories


Book Description

Gathered here for the first time are Miles J. Breuer s first publication, The Man with the Strange Head ; his neglected dystopian novel Paradise and Iron (appearing here in book form for the first time); stories such as Gostak and the Doshes and Mechanocracy ; and Breuer s essay The Future of Scientifiction, one of the early critical statements of the genre. Also included are some of the author s letters from the Discussions column of Amazing Stories. Much of what we know as science fiction saw the light and found its themes, styles, and modes in the science fiction magazines of the early twentieth century. It was in these magazines of the 1920s and 1930s that Breuer often led the way. Breuer himself found his inspiration in the work of H. G. Wells and in turn influenced science fiction masters from Jack Williamson to Robert A. Heinlein. The Man with the Strange Head and Other Early Science Fiction Stories collects the best work of this pioneer of the genre.




Paradise and Iron


Book Description

Independence and self-reliance versus pampered leisure under A.I. domination and control - the dilemma posed by far-seeing author Miles J. Breuer. Paradise and Iron will thrill young adult readers. It's a timely warning for our times.




Modern Science Fiction: A Critical Analysis


Book Description

James Gunn--one of the founding figures of science fiction scholarship and teaching--wrote in 1951 what is likely the first master's thesis on modern science fiction. Portions were in the short-lived pulp magazine Dynamic but it has otherwise remained unavailable. Here in its first full publication, the thesis explores many of the classic Golden Age stories of the 1940s and the critical perspective that informed Gunn's essential genre history Alternate Worlds and his anthology series The Road to Science Fiction. The editor's introduction and commentary show the historical significance of Gunn's work and its relevance to today's science fiction studies.




Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction in Literature


Book Description

The Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction in Literature is a useful reference to the broad and burgeoning field of science fiction literature. Science fiction literature has gained immensely in critical respect and attention, while maintaining a broad readership. However, despite the fact that it is a rapidly changing field, contemporary science fiction literature also maintains a strong sense of its connections to science fiction of the past, which makes a historical reference of this sort particularly valuable as a tool for understanding science fiction literature as it now exists and as it has evolved over the years. The Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction in Literature covers the history of science fiction in literature through a chronology, an introductory essay, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has over 300 cross-referenced entries including significant people; themes; critical issues; and the most significant genres that have formed science fiction literature. This book is an excellent access point for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about this subject.




Saving the World Through Science Fiction


Book Description

One of the major figures in science fiction for more than sixty years, James Gunn has been instrumental in making the genre one of the most vibrant and engaging areas of literary scholarship. His genre history Alternate Worlds and his The Road to Science Fiction anthologies introduced countless readers to science fiction. He founded the Gunn Center for the Study of Science Fiction in 1982. But Gunn has also been one of the genre's leading writers. His classic novels Star Bridge (with Jack Williamson), The Joy Makers, The Immortals and The Listeners helped shape the field. Now in his nineties, he remains a prominent voice. His forthcoming novel is Transformation. Drawing on materials from Gunn's archives and personal interviews with him, this study is the first to examine the life, career and writing of this science fiction grandmaster.




The Marching Morons


Book Description

The Marching Morons, a thought-provoking novella by C. M. Kornbluth, presents a chilling vision of a future dominated by mediocrity and conformity. Set in a world where intelligence is a rarity, this compelling narrative challenges readers to reflect on the consequences of societal complacency and the loss of critical thought. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a protagonist navigating a dystopian society filled with the "marching morons"—people who blindly follow the status quo. What happens when the few intelligent individuals are left to contend with a populace that prioritizes entertainment over enlightenment? Kornbluth masterfully explores these questions, crafting a narrative that is both cautionary and deeply engaging. The Marching Morons is celebrated for its sharp social commentary and dark humor. Kornbluth's insightful prose and vivid characterization create a thought-provoking experience that resonates with contemporary readers, prompting them to consider the implications of their own choices in a rapidly evolving world. Readers are drawn to The Marching Morons for its relevance and ability to inspire critical thinking. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of science fiction and social critique, offering a glimpse into a future that serves as a mirror to our present realities. Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with this powerful narrative that warns of the dangers of apathy and conformity. Purchase The Marching Morons today, and challenge your perceptions of intelligence and society!




Futuristic Cars and Space Bicycles


Book Description

Given the extensive influence of the 'transport revolution' on the past two centuries (a time when trains, trams, omnibuses, bicycles, cars, airplanes, and so forth were invented), and given science fiction's overall obsession with machines and technologies of all kinds, it is surprising that scholars have not paid more attention to transportation in this increasingly popular genre. Futuristic Cars and Space Bicycles is the first book to examine the history of representations of road transport machines in nineteenth-, twentieth-, and twenty-first-century American science fiction. The focus of this study is on two machines of the road that have been locked in a constant, often bitter, struggle with one another: the automobile and the bicycle. With chapters ranging from the early science fiction of the pulp magazine era in the 1920s and 1930s, to the postcyberpunk of the 1990s and more recent media of the 2000s such as web television, zines, and comics, this book argues that science fiction by and large perceives the car as anything but a marvelous invention of modernity. Rather, the genre often scorns and ridicules the automobile and instead promotes more sustainable, more benign, more restrained technologies of movement such as the bicycle.




The American Robot


Book Description

Although they entered the world as pure science fiction, robots are now very much a fact of everyday life. Whether a space-age cyborg, a chess-playing automaton, or simply the smartphone in our pocket, robots have long been a symbol of the fraught and fearful relationship between ourselves and our creations. Though we tend to think of them as products of twentieth-century technology—the word “robot” itself dates to only 1921—as a concept, they have colored US society and culture for far longer, as Dustin A. Abnet shows to dazzling effect in The American Robot. In tracing the history of the idea of robots in US culture, Abnet draws on intellectual history, religion, literature, film, and television. He explores how robots and their many kin have not only conceptually connected but literally embodied some of the most critical questions in modern culture. He also investigates how the discourse around robots has reinforced social and economic inequalities, as well as fantasies of mass domination—chilling thoughts that the recent increase in job automation has done little to quell. The American Robot argues that the deep history of robots has abetted both the literal replacement of humans by machines and the figurative transformation of humans into machines, connecting advances in technology and capitalism to individual and societal change. Look beneath the fears that fracture our society, Abnet tells us, and you’re likely to find a robot lurking there.




The Secret of Wilhelm Storitz


Book Description

Translation of: Le secret de Wilhelm Storitz.