Department of English

This course explores the emergence of modern science fiction as a genre, the ways it has reflected our evolving conceptions of ourselves and the universe, and its role as the mythology of modern technological civilization. We will explore such characteristic themes as space exploration, time travel, utopias, superman, robots, aliens, other worlds, virtual reality, and cyberspace, and the differences between European and American treatment of these themes. The course is structured chronologically and thematically around 20 classic SF novels: Monday and Wednesday lectures will set them in historical, scientific, and thematic context; Friday sections will provide the opportunity for in-depth comparative discussion.