New Trends in Science Fiction and Fantasy Seminar

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New Trends in Science Fiction and Fantasy

Trends in science fiction have evolved from fear-based (War of the Worlds), through optimistic exploration (Star Trek), action adventure (Star Wars, The Matrix), to modern-age social commentary (Avatar). Likewise, fantasy has transitioned from retellings of myth, legend, and fairytale (Disney), through bloody action adventure films (Conan the Barbarian), tongue-in-cheek comedy (Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean), to deeper explorations of dynamic character interrelationships (Harry Potter).

Students in this class will discuss the development of speculative fiction genres by reading award-winning short stories and viewing film clips from enshrined 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s movies and television shows. Together we will construct the hallmarks of each decade in preparation to read and discuss the Hugo/Nebula and World Fantasy awards winning novels of 2010: The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi and The City & The City by China Mieville. We will then predict what the new hallmarks of speculative fiction will be for the coming decade 2010-2020.

TENTATIVE SYLLABUS BY WEEK

1: Course introduction: Early Science Fiction and Fantasy--view clips (Disney, cave man/moon exploration, Hercules films) and discuss pioneers (Edgar Rice Burroughs, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, the works of Jules Verne, Voltaire, H.G. Wells War of the Worlds); visit Library Special Collections for a tour of the science fiction collection from which students will later select a book to analyze.

2: 50s/60s, discuss “golden age” authors (Poul Anderson, Issac Asimov, Alfred Bester, James Blish, Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, Robert E. Howard, Philip Jose Farmer, Robert A. Heinlein, Frederik Pohl, L. Sprague de Camp, Theodore Sturgeon, J.R.R. Tolkein, Jack Vance, Kurt Vonnegut Jr.), watch Star Trek episode

3: 60s/70s, discuss “new wave” science fiction (Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelazny), watch clips from 2001 Space Odyssey, Clockwork Orange, King Arthur & Sinbad adaptations

4: 70s/80s, discuss exploration/optimistic short story and the hybridization of “new wave” scifi (Ben Bova, Marian Zimmer Bradley, Terry Brooks, C.J. Cherryh, Samuel Delany, Philip K. Dick, E.L. Doctorow, Stephen R. Donaldson, Joe Haldeman, Harry Harrison, Frank Herbert, Tanith Lee, Ursula K. LeGuin, Anne McCaffrey, Patricia McKillip, Michael Moorcock, Larry Niven, James Tiptree), view Star Wars clips, ET clips, Conan the Barbarian clips

5: 80s/90s, discuss hard and “punk” scifi (Greg Bear, Terry Bisson, Orson Scott Card, Charles de Lint, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, William Gibson, Steven King, Elizabeth Moon, Mike Resnick, Anne Rice, Carl Sagan), view clips from 6th Sense, 2010 Space Odyssey, Alien(s), Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, Terminator

6: 90s/00s, discuss “post world wide web” scifi (Steven Brust, Laurell K. Hamilton, Guy Gavriel Kay, Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, Joyce Carol Oates, Spider Robinson, Dan Simmons, Sheri S. Tepper, Harry Turtledove, Terri Windling), view clips from Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings film adaptations, The Matrix, Minority Report, The Chronicles of Narnia, Shrek, Stardust, new Star Wars, Twilight, Watchmen

7: The Windup Girl, pages 1-60
8: The Windup Girl, pages 60-120
9: The Windup Girl, pages 120-180
10: The Windup Girl, pages 180-240
11: The Windup Girl, pages 240-end

12: The City & The City, pages 1-60
13: The City & The City, pages 60-120
14: The City & The City, pages 120-240 (after break)
15: The City & The City, pages 240-end

Students would be expected to write a one-page journal response every week reacting to what social attitudes/aspects of the decade under discussion is revealed by the short stories assigned for each class period from Weeks 1- 6. Due weekly first half.

Students will select one “little known” book from Parks Library Special Collections and write a 1-3 page synopsis and 3-5 page reflection on how the novel is and isn’t a product of the decade in which it was published. Due at midterm.

Students would be expected to write weekly one-page journal responses and questions for discussion for the two texts under examination, The Windup Girl and The City & The City, reflecting on what is being revealed about the expectations of the 2010s in the section under discussion for that day. Due weekly second half.

Final project: Produce a 3-5 page book review about The Windup Girl or The City & The City referencing what we have learned about the history of science fiction/fantasy, placement in the genre, future trends of the 2010s and post this review on Amazon.com. Due at semester end.