Close Encounters?: Science and Science Fiction - Softcover

Lambourne, R.J; Shallis, M.J; Shortland, M

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0852741413 ISBN 13: 9780852741412

Publisher: CRC Press, 1990

Synopsis

Currently, science fiction in all its forms is enjoying enormous popular interest. There can be no doubt that science fiction books and films have great influence on the public view of science and scientists. Close Encounters? examines the historical development of science fiction as a genre in books and films, tracing its roots, examining its most common ideas, exploring its relationship to "real" science, and attempting to assess its cultural impact. Discussion focuses on major themes such as time travel, politics, religion, ecology, and disasters. The authors consider the science in science fiction, the images of scientists that science fiction conveys, and some of the political, religious, and social motifs prominent in science fiction. They also discuss pseudo-science and its growing influence on the public perception of science. This fascinating, thought-provoking study should be read by all those interested in how the nature of science and its role in our society is portrayed in science fiction.

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Review

"a careful, knowledgeable and sympathetic consideration of science fiction in its various forms and its relation to science." Isaac Asimov eful, knowledgeable and sympathetic consideration of science fiction in its various forms and its relation to science." Isaac Asimov "It is well written....The book is worth the investment." Fantast (Medway) Ltd well written....The book is worth the investment." Fantast (Medway) Ltd ..."anyone interested in the sociology of filmic representations of scientists and science will find it rewarding" one interested in the sociology of filmic representations of scientists and science will find it rewarding" "Close Encounters? will continue to provide me with new maps to regions of interest and pleasure in sci-fi which I might, left to myself, overlook." Colin Keay, Australian and New Zealand Physicist Encounters? will continue to provide me with new maps to regions of interest and pleasure in sci-fi which I might, left to myself, overlook." Colin Keay, Australian and New Zealand Physicist "In sum, Close Encounters? is a brief, readable and reasonably priced introduction, suitable for a section of an introductory course on science and literature." British Journal for the History of Science, Close Encounters? is a brief, readable and reasonably priced introduction, suitable for a section of an introductory course on science and literature." British Journal for the History of Science

Synopsis

This book aims to play a part in correcting the widespread misconceptions about science and its practitioners by examining the ways in which images of science and the scientist are portrayed in science fiction. It also aims to illustrate how useful science fiction can be in bridging the gap between the worlds of professional scientists and laypeople. The eight chapters into which this book is divided deal with aspects of the central theme from a variety of perspectives. The book hopes to present different approaches to the way science and science fiction inter-relate. The book concentrates on English language science fiction or works readily available in translation and aims to maintain a balance between films and books. The first chapter of the book describes the origins of science fiction and picks out some landmarks in its development and then examines the way in which science enters into science fiction. The following chapters study the science fiction films of the 1950s. These chapters deal with the humanization and domestication of science, the representation of the scientist and the integration of scientific ideology into social, political and traditional; value patterns.

The book examines the interaction between science and religion as presented in science fiction and aims to provide some insight into the wider issues of the role and location of science in society and the interchanges between science and theology.

Edition details

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0852741413
• ISBN 13: 9780852741412
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 198