Reading by Starlight: Postmodern Science FictionReading by Starlight explores the characteristics in the writing, marketing and reception of science fiction which distinguish it as a genre. Damien Broderick explores the postmodern self-referentiality of the sci-fi narrative, its intricate coded language and discursive `encyclopaedia'. He shows how, for perfect understanding, sci-fi readers must learn the codes of these imaginary worlds and vocabularies, all the time picking up references to texts by other writers. Reading by Starlight includes close readings of paradigmatic cyberpunk texts and writings by SF novelists and theorists including Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Brian Aldiss, Patrick Parrinder, Kim Stanley Robinson, John Varley, Roger Zelazny, William Gibson, Fredric Jameson and Samuel R. Delaney. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 52
Page
... Discourses of Literature and Science, is an award-winning writer who sold his first collection of stories at 20, has published eight novels and holds a PhD in the semiotics of science, literature and science fiction. POPULAR FICTIONS ...
... Discourses of Literature and Science, is an award-winning writer who sold his first collection of stories at 20, has published eight novels and holds a PhD in the semiotics of science, literature and science fiction. POPULAR FICTIONS ...
Page i
... Discourses of Literature and Science , is an award - winning writer who sold his first collection of stories at 20 , has published eight novels and holds a PhD in the semiotics of science , literature and science fiction . This One 2KWO ...
... Discourses of Literature and Science , is an award - winning writer who sold his first collection of stories at 20 , has published eight novels and holds a PhD in the semiotics of science , literature and science fiction . This One 2KWO ...
Page iv
... Discourse analysis , Literary . 4. Postmodernism ( Literature ) 5. Semiotics and literature . 6. Narration - ( Rhetoric ) 7. Literary form . I. Title . II . Series . PS374.S35B76 1995 813'.087620905 - dc20 94-9505 0-415-09789-4 ( pbk ) ...
... Discourse analysis , Literary . 4. Postmodernism ( Literature ) 5. Semiotics and literature . 6. Narration - ( Rhetoric ) 7. Literary form . I. Title . II . Series . PS374.S35B76 1995 813'.087620905 - dc20 94-9505 0-415-09789-4 ( pbk ) ...
Page xi
... discourses ( often in covert mutual synergy ) , the humanities and the exact sciences : the so - called ' two cultures ' . Lofty though they are , such generalities can hardly be dodged when one tries to uncover the codes and strategies ...
... discourses ( often in covert mutual synergy ) , the humanities and the exact sciences : the so - called ' two cultures ' . Lofty though they are , such generalities can hardly be dodged when one tries to uncover the codes and strategies ...
Page xiii
... discourse theory and deconstruction de - privilege in various ways the literary canon which excluded sf from serious critical attention . These fresh , transgressive modes seem to valorise the sportive qualities which sf embodies in a ...
... discourse theory and deconstruction de - privilege in various ways the literary canon which excluded sf from serious critical attention . These fresh , transgressive modes seem to valorise the sportive qualities which sf embodies in a ...
Contents
3 | |
GENERIC ENGINEERING | 21 |
GENRE OR MODE? | 38 |
THE USES OF OTHERNESS | 49 |
READING THE EPISTEME | 64 |
DREAMS OF REASON AND UNREASON | 75 |
THE STARS MY DISSERTATION | 89 |
MAKING UP WORLDS | 103 |
SF AS A MODULAR CALCULUS | 128 |
THE MULTIPLICITY OF WORLDS OF OTHERS | 137 |
THE AUTUMNAL CITY | 153 |
Notes | 159 |
Bibliography | 180 |
xi | 193 |
74 | 195 |
ALLOGRAPHY AND ALLEGORY | 117 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Aldiss alien allegory attempts attention become called Chapter character cited close codes cognitive common constituted constructed course critical culture death definition Delany Delany's detail developed discourse discussion dream early effect episteme especially example experience fantasy figure force future genre given human ibid icons images imagination important interesting Intersection invention Jameson John kind language late later least less limits linguistic literary literature Lobey Marxism means mega-text metaphor mode move myth narrative never notes novel object offers once perhaps play position possible postmodern precisely question reader reading reality recent reference relation remains science fiction scientific seems semiotic sense sf's signifiers social space specific Stars story Strange structure tell textual theory things thinking tropes true turn universe volume writing