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Cover of The Science Fiction Handbook

The Science Fiction Handbook

Written by Nick Hubble,Aris Mousoutzanis

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192 pages, about 4 hours of reading

Literary Criticism

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About this book

As we move through the 21st century, the importance of science fiction to the study of English Literature is becoming increasingly apparent. The Science Fiction Handbook provides a comprehensive guide to the genre and how to study it for students new to the field. In particular, it provides detailed entries on major writers in the SF field who might be encountered on university-level English Literature courses, ranging from H.G. Wells and Philip K. Dick, to Doris Lessing and Geoff Ryman. Other features include an historical timeline, sections on key writers, critics and critical terms, and case studies of both literary and critical works. In the later sections of the book, the changing nature of the science fiction canon and its growing role in relation to the wider categories of English Literature are discussed in depth introducing the reader to the latest critical thinking on the field.

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Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in The Science Fiction Handbook, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 8 hours
  • intermediate
  • informative
  • analytical
  • academic

The Science Fiction Handbook serves as an essential academic guide, positing science fiction as an increasingly vital field within English Literature studies. It offers a comprehensive overview for students new to the genre, detailing its historical trajectory, key authors from H.G. Wells to Doris Lessing, and crucial critical terms. The book further explores the dynamic nature of the science fiction canon, advocating for its integration into broader literary discourse and introducing readers to contemporary critical thinking on the subject. It aims to equip students with the necessary tools and frameworks for rigorous analysis of science fiction texts.

“As we move through the 21st century, the importance of science fiction to the study of English Literature is becoming increasingly apparent.”

Key themes

The Integration of Science Fiction into English Literature
The book's primary thesis is that science fiction is no longer a marginal genre but a crucial and increasingly apparent component of English Literature, deserving rigorous academic study. It argues for its analytical depth, cultural relevance, and its capacity to engage with profound philosophical and social questions, thus advocating for its full acceptance and exploration within university curricula.
Canon Formation and Evolution within Science Fiction
The handbook critically examines how the science fiction canon is formed, challenged, and re-evaluated. It explores how certain authors and works gain prominence, how this canon interacts with and influences the broader English Literature canon, and how issues of representation and diversity play a role in its continuous transformation. It emphasizes the fluid and contested nature of literary legitimacy.
Critical Methodologies for Science Fiction Studies
The book provides students with the necessary tools and frameworks to analyze science fiction. This includes defining key critical terms, introducing influential critics, and presenting case studies that demonstrate various analytical approaches. It aims to equip readers with a robust vocabulary and conceptual understanding to engage deeply with SF texts, moving beyond superficial readings.

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