Kim Stanley Robinson

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerry Canavan
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
San Diego ◽  
Committee Member ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Alternate History ◽  
Contemporary Science ◽  
Fredric Jameson ◽  
The University

Kim Stanley Robinson (b. 1952) was born in Waukegan, Illinois, but moved to California as a small child, where he has since lived most of his life. Robinson attended the University of California, San Diego, and received a BA in literature in 1974. He earned a PhD in English from UC San Diego in 1982 for his dissertation on the novels of Philip K. Dick, for which the famous Marxist literary critic Fredric Jameson served as a committee member. The dissertation was published as The Novels of Philip K. Dick by UMI Research Press in 1984, the same year as Robinson’s first novel, The Wild Shore, set in a post-apocalyptic California. Since then Robinson has published many major works in the science fiction genre, most notably the Mars trilogy (1992–1996). Robinson’s science fictions are closely associated with the socialist left, especially with regard to the environment, though the utopian optimism of his work seems to have been tempered somewhat by disheartening developments in global politics since the 1990s. Many of his post-Mars works explicitly “remix” elements of the Mars books; for instance, Aurora (2015) explores the idea of launching an inhabited asteroid out of the solar system to reach another star, as imagined in Blue Mars (1996), while Galileo’s Dream (2009) and 2312 (2012) imagine colonization of the solar system happening with much more destructive speed. Likewise, the Science in the Capital trilogy (2004–2007) and New York 2140 (2017) both explore the climate catastrophe of ice sheet collapse that also occurred in the Mars books, while the title of Red Moon (2018) alone suggests an obvious intertextual relationship with earlier works. Other noteworthy novels explore multiple possible futures for California (the Three Californias trilogy, 1984–1990), life in the scientific colony on Antarctica (Antarctica, 1997), an alternate history in which a much more virulent Black Plague killed nearly every European on the planet (The Years of Rice and Salt, 2002), and the dawn of modern humanity at the end of the Ice Age (Shaman, 2013). While Robinson’s short fiction has not garnered the same critical attention as his novels, he has written a number of important and well-anthologized stories, most notably “The Lucky Strike” (1984), an alternate history in which the bombing of Hiroshima does not occur. Since the 1980s, Robinson has won the Campbell, Locus, Nebula, Hugo, and World Fantasy awards, among other distinctions, demonstrating his importance as a major figure in the field of contemporary science fiction.

Joanna Russ

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul March-Russell
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Literary Criticism ◽  
Short Story ◽  
White Male ◽  
Bertolt Brecht ◽  
Associate Professor ◽  
Alternate History ◽  
Joanna Russ ◽  
The University

Joanna Russ was one of the most influential figures within postwar women’s science fiction. As a writer, she incorporated modernist techniques, such as collage, so as to defamiliarize generic science fiction scenarios, for example, the first contact narrative, time travel, and alternate history, and to question their ideological bases. As a critic, she was instrumental in propounding science fiction as a genre that estranges its readership but which, until the Women’s movement of the 1960s, had tended to assume that the reader was exclusively white, male, and heterosexual. Lastly, as a feminist, she united both her creative and critical practices in an attempt to deflect this male gaze, and to open up the possibilities of alternate forms of social and sexual identity. Russ was born in the Bronx, New York City, on February 22, 1937. Her parents were both schoolteachers, from whom she gained a love of reading. She studied English at Cornell University, where she was taught by Vladimir Nabokov. Russ then studied playwriting at Yale University, where she discovered the work of Bertolt Brecht. She published her first science fiction story, “Nor Custom Stale,” in 1959. After teaching at the University of Boulder, Russ returned to Cornell as a tutor in 1968. During the next twelve months, Russ would join the first-ever women’s group at Cornell, publish her first novella, Picnic on Paradise, leave her husband, come out as a lesbian, and begin work on her masterpiece, The Female Man (cited under Novels). During the early 1970s, Russ became, alongside her close friend and fellow author, Samuel R. Delany, one of the most important critical voices in science fiction. In 1977, she became an associate professor at the University of Washington, Seattle, where, six years later, she published her most influential work of literary criticism, How to Suppress Women’s Writing (cited under Nonfiction). Russ won several awards including the Nebula Award in 1972 for “When It Changed,” the Hugo Award in 1983 for “Souls,” and the Pilgrim Award for science fiction criticism in 1988. Her literary output diminished after the early 1980s; Russ’s final short story, “Invasion,” was published in 1996. Plagued by chronic back problems, Russ retired from academia to concentrate upon her critical writings. On April 29, 2011, following a series of strokes, Russ died in Tucson, Arizona.

scholarly journals Return to Titanic: Time Voyage by S. Brezenoff

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Blackwood
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
100Th Anniversary ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Book Series ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Spring Break ◽  
Non Fiction ◽  
The University

Brezenoff, Steve. Return to Titanic: Time Voyage. Illus. Scott Murphy. North Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books, 2012. Print.    The legendary Titanic resurfaces for this children’s novel which cleverly combines history with science fiction.  The subject of the Titanic voyage is timely, since it is recently the 100th anniversary of its maiden voyage. Tucker and Maya spend their spring break helping out at a museum and as they sort through a box labeled “special collection” for the Titanic exhibit, they find an original ticket to the maiden voyage of the Titanic.  Their curiosity provokes them to open its protective case.  Once they touch the ticket, they are sent back in time to Queenstown, Ireland in 1912, the day the Titanic was to set sail across the Atlantic Ocean.  Tucker’s mother, the museum’s curator, always said there was “magic in the junk at the museum”.  Tucker and Maya must decide what to do next.  Should they stop the Titanic from sailing?  Is it possible to change history?  They begin to wonder how will they ever return back to 2012? Detailed pencil-sketch drawings by Scott Murphy decorate every few pages.  These illustrations enhance the description and imagery in the novel while supporting reluctant readers.  The shaded teal-coloured sketches assist with setting the tone of history, mystery, and adventure.  Inclusion of a map, at the beginning of each chapter, indicates the location of the characters at that moment in the novel, whether they were in Queenstown, Ireland or in New York.  To assist with these transitions, the change of time occurs at the start of a new chapter, as well as clear setting descriptions are included throughout, integral in showing the time and place.  These time transitions are smooth and easy to follow.   Themes of friendship, curiosity, history, time-travel, adventure, and courage are intertwined.  Educators can integrate this novel into lessons about the Titanic's history.  Time Voyage is an exciting adventure story to accompany non-fiction titles.  It is interesting to note the correct historical references of location, dates, and the company that sailed the Titanic incorporated in this work of fiction. Time Voyage is the first novel in the Return to Titanic four book series, written by Steve Brezenoff.   With easy vocabulary, great plot description, imagery, and consistent use of strong adjectives, this novel will captivate readers aged 9 to 13 years old, appealing to grade 2 to 3 reading levels.  The cliff-hanger at the end of the book will surely entice readers to continue reading this four book series. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Melissa Blackwood Melissa Blackwood is a Primary/Elementary teacher, presently completing a Master of Education in Teacher-Librarianship with the University of Alberta.

scholarly journals Using science fiction to teach science facts

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 15-20
Author(s):  
Laura Bowater ◽  
Christine Cornea ◽  
Helen James ◽  
Richard P. Bowater
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Teaching Practices ◽  
Science Communication ◽  
Health Sciences ◽  
University Teaching ◽  
East Anglia ◽  
Interest In Science ◽  
Contemporary Science ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The University

The contributors to this discussion teach in three different Faculties at the University of East Anglia (UEA) – Science, Arts & Humanities and Medicine & Health Sciences. They have each used science fiction to explore learning outcomes in their distinct teaching practices. The discussion below highlights how contemporary science fiction can operate as a touchstone for debate that informs biochemistry teaching. Laura, Helen and Richard have all studied basic sciences, gaining PhDs in various aspects of biochemistry and molecular biology, and each have taught undergraduates and postgraduates at UEA. Helen and Richard are based in the Faculty of Science. Laura is based in the Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, and uses her interest in science communication to explore university teaching practices that involve science fiction. Christine gained a PhD from her research of technology and performance in science fiction film and is based in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities.

Introduction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Slusser
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
San Diego ◽  
American South ◽  
Military Family ◽  
University Of California ◽  
Cultural Issues ◽  
Distinguished Career ◽  
The Social ◽  
The American South ◽  
The University

This book explores the life and work of Gregory Benford. Born in 1941 in Mobile, Alabama, Benford has strong roots in the American South. But as member of a military family, he spent much of his adolescence in other countries such as Germany and Japan. In the process he developed a cosmopolitan perspective, which gave rise to a lifelong fascination with “alien” cultures. Benford earned a doctorate in physics at the University of California, San Diego, and received his PhD in 1967. This book examines Benford's distinguished career as science fiction writer as well as his ideas on science and scientists “doing science,” the writing of science fiction, and the social and cultural issues raised by science. It also considers Benford's literary production in terms of its main categories.

scholarly journals How do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? by J. Yolen

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debbi Feisst
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Public Library ◽  
Young Adult Fiction ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Full Effect ◽  
General Feeling ◽  
The University

Yolen, Jane. How do Dinosaurs Eat Cookies? Illus. Mark Teague. New York: Scholastic, 2012. Print. If you have ever set foot in the children’s section of a public library or bookstore, you will likely recognize the dinosaur on the cover of this book. Yolen, a much-lauded author who has also penned science fiction and fantasy, has over 300 children’s books to her name and is the author of How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?, How Do Dinosaurs Say I Love You? and many others in the wildly successful How Do Dinosaurs… franchise created by bestselling author Jane Yolen and illustrator Mark Teague. The familiar classic dinosaur characters from Yolen and Teague’s books try their hands at baking and eating cookies while learning some ‘cookie etiquette’ along the way.  While Yolen’s prose is fun and lively, in general the images of the dinosaurs have been ‘re-purposed’ from other titles in the series save for the addition of a cookie here and there. The book is also marketed as a scratch-and-sniff and according to the Scholastic web site, includes 3 cookie recipes.  Sadly the 5 scratch-and-sniff scents have almost no scent at all, even in a brand new copy with minimal scratching, and there are only 2 recipes included.  If your young readers are excited about the scratch-and-sniff potential they will be sorely disappointed.  The recipes look easy enough and will be fun for kids to assist with in the kitchen but you will require dinosaur-shaped cookie cutters (not included) to get the full effect. There is no denying, however, the uniqueness of Mark Teague’s illustrations as well as his award-winning talent.  The dinosaurs are realistic-enough looking to get slightly older kids’ attention but friendly enough for the younger set. The sturdy board-book binding, smaller size and aesthetic design make for an attractive book but the displeasure in the quality of the scratch-and-sniff and the general feeling of ‘I’ve seen this somewhere before’ is reason enough to bypass this title. Not Recommended: 1 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Debbie FeisstDebbie is a Public Services Librarian at the H.T. Coutts Education Library at the University of Alberta.  When not renovating, she enjoys travel, fitness and young adult fiction.

Introduction

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Robert Markley
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Science Fiction ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Economic Systems ◽  
Survival Strategy ◽  
Contemporary Science ◽  
Competition For Resources

The Introduction situates Robinson’s novels in the contexts of recent and contemporary science fiction and offers a brief biography of the writer. Robinson has emerged in recent decades as a crucial voice in what critics now call Anthropocene fiction, novels and stories that examine the consequences of humankind’s radical remaking of Earth’s environments since the Industrial Revolution. In discussing the development of Robinson’s fiction since the 1980s, the Introduction emphasizes that in all of his work, from the Mars and Science in the Capital trilogies to the recent New York 2140, utopia becomes a necessary survival strategy for humankind--the only way to step back from the spiraling cycles of corrosive competition for resources and antidemocratic political and economic systems.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document