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 82
Page
... narrative, its intricate coded language and discursive 'encyclopaedia'. He shows how, for rich understanding, sf readers must learn the codes and vernacular of these imaginary worlds, while absorbing the 'lived-in futures' generated by ...
... narrative, its intricate coded language and discursive 'encyclopaedia'. He shows how, for rich understanding, sf readers must learn the codes and vernacular of these imaginary worlds, while absorbing the 'lived-in futures' generated by ...
Page
... Narrative and ideology in the British by Michael Denning Lost Narratives: Graham Martin Professor of English Literature Open University by Helen Hughes The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, feminism, psychoanalysis by Barbara Creed spy Popular ...
... Narrative and ideology in the British by Michael Denning Lost Narratives: Graham Martin Professor of English Literature Open University by Helen Hughes The Monstrous-Feminine: Film, feminism, psychoanalysis by Barbara Creed spy Popular ...
Page i
... narrative , its intricate coded language and discursive encyclopaedia ' . He shows how , for rich understanding , sf readers must learn the codes and vernacular of these imaginary worlds , while absorbing the ' lived - in futures ...
... narrative , its intricate coded language and discursive encyclopaedia ' . He shows how , for rich understanding , sf readers must learn the codes and vernacular of these imaginary worlds , while absorbing the ' lived - in futures ...
Page ii
... Narrative and ideology in the British spy thriller by Michael Denning Lost Narratives : Popular fictions , politics and recent history by Roger Bromley Popular Film and Television Comedy by Steve Neale and Frank Krutnik Popular Fiction ...
... Narrative and ideology in the British spy thriller by Michael Denning Lost Narratives : Popular fictions , politics and recent history by Roger Bromley Popular Film and Television Comedy by Steve Neale and Frank Krutnik Popular Fiction ...
Page iv
... 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 ) ISBN 0-415-09788-6 For Jenny Blackford and Russell Blackford.
... 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 ) ISBN 0-415-09788-6 For Jenny Blackford and Russell Blackford.
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