Condition: Acceptable. Please see the images for more details. May show signs of wear such as:
• Shelf wear or scuffing on the cover
• Creases, marks, or tears on pages or dust jacket
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Cover art:
Blurb: “Science fiction's roots lie deep in the Renaissance, when reason and logic created the proper mental and psychological atmosphere for its germination and growth. Although the term itself seems a self-defeating contradiction, science fiction has produced scores of classic works-among them Mary Shelley's unforgettable Frankenstein, Jules Verne's
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and H. G. Wells's War of the Worlds.
The authors of this serious yet entertainingly told study treat the genre of science fiction as the natural extension and development of man's interest in prophecy and the future, in technological advancement in locomotion, travel, and exploration, and in sociological change for the betterment of humankind.
International and timeless in scope, this literature includes the utopian dreams of the ancient world, the technological marvels of the Industrial Revolution in Europe and America, and the exploration of interstellar space by both Eastern and Western Worlds today.
The authors follow writers through the centuries as their interest focuses first on the idealization of a near-perfect society, then on the exciting technological advances of modern science, and finally on the inner workings of the psyche as humankind searches for its proper role in the universe.
All the familiar elements of the science fiction genre that make it a must for the modern fan are here: utopias, dystopias, trips to the moon, flights to Mars, bug-eyed monsters (BEMs), space operas-even a look at today's brand-new studies in "inner space."
In addition to the early voices of the genre, in-depth psychological and cultural studies of the modern giants of the literary genre right up to Stanislaw Lem and Ursula Le Guin are included, as well as an assessment of the direction and thrust of science fiction today as it varies from one country to an-other. Included are scores of illustrations, some of great historical value, photographs of authors, of books, of magazine covers, and even of science fiction films—all of which help give this story a personal and intimate flavor.
A fascinating look at one of today's most popular— and distinguished-cultural endeavors-the literature of science fiction!”