What If?: Religious Themes in Science FictionWho am I? Why am I here?Where am I going?What if . . .?Science fiction delights in asking old questions in new ways. Rather than being primarily about advanced technology and the imagined future, science fiction novels and films are more fundamentally about issues of human nature and destiny. They provide a unique perspective on the same questions that have dominated theology and philosophy throughout history. In this fascinating book, Mike Alsford aims neither to give a history of science fiction, nor to systematically identify specific religious motifs within the genre, but to create an interdisciplinary, exploratory space where we can engage with the primal themes in new ways. Whether we are already well-versed in science fiction, or have had only the briefest encounters with Frankenstein’s monster and Doctor Who, this book will provide exciting insights into questions of identity, the human condition, our relationships and our destiny. |
From inside the book
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Page 20
In Star Trek Roddenberry created an immensely popular and rather comforting
universe in which we encounter a humanity that has overcome its differences and
now devotes itself to the higher concerns of civilisation. The science deployed in
...
In Star Trek Roddenberry created an immensely popular and rather comforting
universe in which we encounter a humanity that has overcome its differences and
now devotes itself to the higher concerns of civilisation. The science deployed in
...
Page 30
Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, clearly the most successful SF creation of the
twentieth century, has developed in many different directions, from the 1960s
classic series which first introduced the Starship Enterprise, the United
Federation of ...
Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek, clearly the most successful SF creation of the
twentieth century, has developed in many different directions, from the 1960s
classic series which first introduced the Starship Enterprise, the United
Federation of ...
Page 85
Examples of this can be found in stories such as Arthur C. Clarke's The City and
the Stars (1956), P. K. Dick's Time Out of Joint (1958) and D. F. Galouye's Dark
Universe (1967), as well as the 1960s Star Trek episodes 'The Apple', "The World
...
Examples of this can be found in stories such as Arthur C. Clarke's The City and
the Stars (1956), P. K. Dick's Time Out of Joint (1958) and D. F. Galouye's Dark
Universe (1967), as well as the 1960s Star Trek episodes 'The Apple', "The World
...
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Contents
What Are We? | 26 |
Aliens We | 49 |
Where Are We Going and How Do We | 82 |
Copyright | |
1 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
Aldiss alien android argues Arrakis attempt Augustine become Blade Runner body Borg Brian Aldiss century Christian concerning context created creation creature culture cyberpunk define Descartes destiny divine Earth Emmanuel Levinas encounter Enlightenment environment episode essence ethical example experience explored fear film Frankenstein genetic genre of SF Gernsback human condition human existence human nature humanity's Ibid individual Invaders Invaders from Mars issues Kant Karl Barth Klaatu Levinas live Machine Mars Attacks Martians Masterpiece Society Matrix means Merleau-Ponty mind motif movie Neuromancer notion of human novel ourselves Pannenberg particular person perspective philosopher physical planet post-modern potential present question rational reason relationship religion religious Relph science fiction scientific seek seen sense SF writers significance simply sisko Snow Crash social society space speaks species Star Trek theme theologian theology things tradition ultimately understanding utopia virtual reality virtual world William Gibson Wolfhart Pannenberg world-view
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | What If?: Religious Themes in Science Fiction |
| Author | Mike Alsford |
| Publisher | Darton, Longman & Todd, 2000 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 27 Feb 2008 |
| ISBN | 0232523479, 9780232523478 |
| Length | 164 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |