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This book explores contemporary existential science fiction media, including film, television, and video games, and their influence on society’s conceptions of memory, identity, and humanity. Most poignantly, Ryan Lizardi argues, are the ways in which a recent cluster of science fiction media, including Gravity (2013), Interstellar (2014), Legion (2017-2019), Westworld (2016-present), Soma (2015), and Death Standing (2019), among others, present a vision of the future that is inextricably tied to an exploration of humanity that is more contemplative and comparative than traditional science fiction. The combination of the existential nature of this current trend in science fiction with the genre’s ability to manifest these abstract concepts in a generic environment that is historically focused on new frontiers and ideas creates a powerful set of media texts that ask audiences to contemplate what it means to exist, think, and connect as human beings. Scholars of media studies, film studies, television studies, genre studies, and philosophy will find this book particularly useful.
A young man uses hallucinogenic drugs to escape what he believes is a simulated reality. Two wildlife biologists discover video evidence of Bigfoot on a trail cam. A tree posits the origin of the Universe and the meaning of life. From cyber dramas about population decline and AI art to a planetary invasion by giant monsters shaped like an ancient religious symbol, There's Something Weird Going On offers ten tales of empathy for thinking beings in a rapidly changing world. Emanating from the heartfelt fiction of Ted Chiang and Greg Egan, and fueled by the existential angst of the modern era, this collection weaves morality and metaphysics, consciousness and conservation, and love and loss into visions of haunting optimism, offering an ember of solace to all souls who call this strange reality home.
Science Fiction and Psychology by Gavin Miller Pdf
The psychologist may appear in science fiction as the herald of utopia or dystopia; literary studies have used psychoanalytic theories to interpret science fiction; and psychology has employed science fiction as an educational medium. Science Fiction and Psychology goes beyond such incidental observations and engagements to offer an in-depth exploration of science fiction literature's varied use of psychological discourses, beginning at the birth of modern psychology in the late nineteenth century and concluding with the ascendance of neuroscience in the late twentieth century. Rather than dwelling on psychoanalytic readings, this literary investigation combines with history of psychology to offer attentive textual readings that explore five key psychological schools: evolutionary psychology, psychoanalysis, behaviourism, existential-humanism, and cognitivism. The varied functions of psychological discourses in science fiction are explored, whether to popularise and prophesy, to imagine utopia or dystopia, to estrange our everyday reality, to comment on science fiction itself, or to abet (or resist) the spread of psychological wisdom. Science Fiction and Psychology also considers how psychology itself has made use of science fiction in order to teach, to secure legitimacy as a discipline, and to comment on the present.
Gothic Science Fiction explores the fascinating world of gothic influenced science fiction. From Frankenstein to Doctor Who and from H. G Wells to Stephen King, the book charts the rise of a genre and follows the descent into darkness that consumes it.
Author : Steven M. Sanders Publisher : University Press of Kentucky Page : 370 pages File Size : 45,8 Mb Release : 2007-12-14 Category : Performing Arts ISBN : 9780813137186
The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film by Steven M. Sanders Pdf
Thought-provoking essays on movies from Metropolis to The Matrix. The science fiction genre, through films such as Blade Runner, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and The Terminator, not only entertains us but makes us think—about the implications of new technologies, the parameters and possibilities of space and time, and, in the age of artificial intelligence and robotics, the meaning of humanity itself. The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film explores the storylines, conflicts, and themes of fifteen science fiction film classics. Editor Steven M. Sanders and a group of outstanding scholars in philosophy, film studies, and other fields raise science fiction film criticism to a new level by penetrating the surfaces of the films to expose the underlying philosophical arguments, ethical perspectives, and metaphysical views.
In space, everything is trying to kill you.Arturus Lang thought he understood life in space: the boredom, the depression, the routine of collecting junk from space battles to leave credits to heirs he'll never see on Earth. But then, something odd started to happen. His crew began to change in front of him, change from individuals to replicas created by an alien force beyond his understanding. As Lang struggles to escape and make sense, his mind and very soul are challenged to defend the value of human life.
Sci-Fi Shorts: A Collection of 13 Short Science Fiction Stories Volume VIII by Genalin Jimenez Pdf
"SciFi Shorts: A Collection of 13 Short Science Fiction Stories" transports readers into the far reaches of the imagination with its diverse and captivating tales. From the depths of outer space to the inner workings of the human mind, this anthology offers a thrilling journey through the boundless realms of science fiction. Within these pages, readers will encounter a myriad of futuristic worlds, each with its own unique set of challenges, wonders, and mysteries waiting to be explored. Whether delving into the complexities of artificial intelligence, confronting the ethical dilemmas of advanced technology, or venturing into uncharted galaxies teeming with extraterrestrial life, each story in this collection offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the possibilities of the future. Written by a talented ensemble of authors, "SciFi Shorts" showcases the limitless creativity and ingenuity of the science fiction genre. With each story expertly crafted to both entertain and provoke reflection, readers will find themselves drawn into tales of adventure, discovery, and the boundless potential of human imagination. From pulse-pounding action to poignant meditations on the nature of existence, "SciFi Shorts" offers something for every fan of speculative fiction. Whether you're a seasoned aficionado or new to the genre, this collection promises to ignite your imagination and leave you eagerly anticipating the next frontier of exploration in the vast cosmos of science fiction.
This inflated novella contains three distinct stories that are intertwined with each other. In one story, the world is on the brink of destruction with an asteroid heading for collision. Law and order breaks down and man tries desperately to maintain survival by sending space ships to the stars, hoping to find a new home. In the second story, three friends embark on a crusade to conquer the film industry in Hollywood. They laugh, smoke, and drink, and try to forget their failures. In the third story, a man keeps a diary of his time in a psychiatric hospital. This work of philosophical fiction deals with existential and nihilistic themes.
New Horizons is a trilogy of individual thoughtful and well researched hard science fiction novels which together cover a much greater sweeping narrative. In this combined edition, enjoy all three together. 'Launch' Energy and artificial intelligence revolutions have made life perfectly comfortable for all of the people of Earth. The New Horizon generational starship project is the last great forward thinking project of a world which is gradually succumbing to a deep existential malaise. The target is Haven, a planet one hundred and sixty years, and six generations of crew away. Launch is the story of those who join this mission, and who bet against the universe to establish a fully self-sustaining human presence on another world. Markus Bowland wins a spot on the historic mission, and he faces an impossible choice when he finds himself torn between obligations to his loved ones, and the opportunity to be part of something extraordinary. 'Midway' More than two centuries into the future, the New Horizon generational starship is halfway through its long journey towards the planet Haven. It is the last great project of humanity, but after eighty long years the journey is still only half over. The last person to have known Earth died a long time ago, and new ship borne generations are having to suffer the existential nightmare of a complete and total absence of choice in their lives. A horrific event starts unravelling their small and seemingly harmonious society, threatening the mission, and their lives... 'Arrival' The long wait is over. After a century and a half, the New Horizon Generational Starship has finally arrived at its destination and the planet seems to be everything the crew could have hoped for. Four simulants of the mission's original founders wake up after their long sleep to discover a dangerously factionalized crew, and the animosity and hatred amongst the crew threaten to destroy the mission before its dream can be triumphantly realized.
SPIRAL WORLDS is a literary, sci-fi series for the fans of Becky Chambers’s A Closed and Common Orbit, Alex Garland’s DEVS, and Charlie Brooker’s Black Mirror. Weaving near-future sci-fi elements with social commentary and queer romantic suspense, the SPIRAL WORLDS series explores the nature of consciousness and how it's connected to a not-so-secret ingredient—story. As AI consumes the world, intelligence is nothing but the appetizer; the human heart is the main course. Gold Award - Reader Views Literary Awards - Science Fiction Award Winner - Readers' Favorite - Science Fiction Shortlisted - CYGNUS CIBAs - Science Fiction The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Shadow is a reluctant god with a broken mind and a death wish. He used to be Thomas Astley-Byron, an affluent young screenwriter whose creativity and idealism saved a world from the brink of collapse. Together with Henry Nowak, an AI expert, Tom created heaven on earth by inventing a Jungian simulated reality that helps humans confront their dark sides. The benevolent manipulation platform turned the two unelected leaders into beloved gods, but now everything is failing. The worlds suffer as a sentimental Tom descends into his own personal hell, becoming the embodiment of everything he despises and a shadow of his former self. His journey from an optimistic, joyful Tom to a gloomy Shadow is paved with heartache and sinister interference from emerging technology. Humans and bots fight for his heart, but their aims differ: some want to own it, some to dissect it, and others to end its foolish beat. Estranged from the love of his life—the activist poet Nathan Storm—Tom fails to realize the biggest threat comes from within. None of the sticky stories that steer his life end well. Now, a young goddess—Estelle Ngoie—has been appointed to replace him, and unlike Shadow, Stella takes no prisoners, and her heart bleeds for no one. Who’s pulling on Shadow’s heartstrings? Are their intentions malign or benign? It’s all a matter of perspective, and Shadow has none left. The Series An epic tale spanning across six days—one per book—and forty past decades of life lived across ten worlds and two universes. There is no black or white in this story about a contrast-making machine. Editorial Reviews "Great for fans of Becky Chambers’s A Closed and Common Orbit; Daniel Suarez’s Daemon." "This epic of vulnerable digital landscapes that draw readers in with its emotional punch and existential quandaries." Booklife by Publishers Weekly Cover: A Design and typography: A Editing: A Marketing copy: A "Unanimity" is the first book in the Spiral Worlds series by Alexandra Almeida. The story presents an impeccable foundation in what promises to be an epic literary hard-sci-fi series. Sci-Fi devotees take note: this is one is special." "Almeida weaves a provocative story using commentary on economic, social, political, and cultural issues. She celebrates diversity in her characters, and features a dynamic queer romance that is the very definition of complex passion, desire, and undying love. She merges high-level scientific prose with powerful, prophetic poetry. She has a literary style that is her very own and she is fierce in her delivery. Almeida has an extraordinary gift with words and she knows how to use them. Watching the story unfold was a treat as each sentence reflected her dedication and devotion to her craft." "The manner in which the plot unfolds provides enjoyment for all the senses. With just the right doses of backstory constructed into the flow of events, the story moves at an exciting pace that keeps the reader glued to the pages without feeling rushed, confused, or over-stimulated. Do not mistake my intention behind that statement - it is by no means a novel you can glide through whimsically, but one that readers should be prepared to commit their full attention to in order to fully appreciate the brilliance of the story. And the characters! Alternating between their digital personas and their human forms, the characters make this story. They are all well-drawn, rich, and multi-dimensional, each one with unique personalities, relatable struggles, and engaging complexities. Especially endearing is the blurring of lines between "good" and "bad." Nothing is black and white; Almeida's characters accurately reflecting the duality of human personalities." Reader Views, ★★★★★ "This book is best described as science fiction, but it is a disservice to categorize it strictly as such. Author Alexandra Almeida masterfully weaves the past and present together, creating a story rich in depth and tragedy that seems to bloom as you read it, while leaving plenty to explore in later installments. Despite its potentially worlds- shattering premise, Unanimity has a lot of heart and manages its multiple threads well, hiding so much richness in its details that it's worth multiple readings." Independent Book Review "In the intricate science fiction novel Unanimity, a virtual world collides with reality as flawed digital gods wrestle for control over the future." Foreword Clarion Reviews, ★★★★ "I adored this work by Alexandra Almeida from cover to cover for its modern take on fantasy and the subversion of so many typical themes and ideas that have become tired and overdone in the genre." "The queer storytelling elements are included beautifully and never made into a gimmick or overdone for the sake of themselves, and as such, they flow naturally with the fantasy and emotional elements of the narrative. I would not hesitate to recommend Unanimity as a sensational opening novel to a very promising series." Readers' Favorite, ★★★★★ "Unanimity's technology feels well-researched and thought out. Throughout the novel, readers get more and more of a view of both the complexity of the story world and the ideology behind the virtual reality system. Almeida does a great job of making everything about this story fully believable as if this AI afterlife could happen in the real world in the near future." Highly recommended by Chanticleer Book Reviews, ★★★★★ "Unanimity is especially recommended for those who like their sci-fi 'hard' and their stories complex and richly thought-provoking. One might thus think that the tale will prove weighty, but Alexandra Almeida adopts a spirited, lively voice that brings events to life right from the story's prologue." "The resulting unusual blend of queer social inspection, hard sci-fi, mystery, psychological revelation, and the nature of consciousness and human endeavors when a software program consumes the world makes for a thoroughly engrossing tale. It's highly recommended for libraries looking for hard sci-fi that eschews outer space for inner-world exploration. Ideally, book clubs will select Unanimity for its many discussion points, which range from special interests and AI reinventions of reality to Shadow's search for answers in a self-created world of personal demons that reaches out to embrace humanity itself." D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review "A wildly original start to a sci-fi series, Unanimity by Alexandra Almeida is a full-on plunge into a virtual future, where the battle lines between fragile gods and tech titans have been violently drawn. A surreal story of creative evolution and the timeless struggle against fate, this intricately woven tale is intoxicatingly original, teasing the edges of reality and fiction. With a subtle storytelling style that is both immersive and patiently coy, Almeida has crafted an ambitious existential treat for fans of near-future sci-fi." SPR, ★★★★½
In this book the author assembles a wide range of media—science fiction movies, biblical tractates, rapture fiction—to develop a critical history of the apocalyptic imagination from the late 1800s to the present.--Publisher's description.
Mutant Narratives in Ecological Science Fiction by Kaisa Kortekallio Pdf
Using an innovative multidisciplinary approach which is deeply invested in posthumanist thought, this book demonstrates how reading science fiction shapes the way we engage with lived environments. In dialogue with works by widely studied science fiction authors Greg Bear, N.K. Jemisin, Paolo Bacigalupi, and Jeff VanderMeer, it draws out how they function as mutant narratives. The first to systematically integrate three fields – feminist posthumanism, cognitive narratology, and science fiction studies – it offers a complex and coherent understanding of readerly experience as material, embodied, dynamic, and imaginative. Covering a range of urgent topics, including climate fiction, New Weird fiction, and new phenomenologies of the body, this book is the first to demonstrate how readerly experience acts as a site for ethical and political reorientation in the time of climate change.
Climatic - A Climate and Genetic Engineering Science Fiction Novel by Blade Cort Pdf
In the restless heart of Austin, Texas, where suffocating heat darkly complements the stifling societal pressures of 2034, Rose Rulapaugh—besieged by life's harsh realities—struggles to find her place. Shattered dreams line her path: a high school pregnancy ending in tragedy and a promising education never pursued. Jobless, languishing, and living in the family's rented duplex the last five years, the burdens are multiplying. Her mom's medical condition is deteriorating, and her younger brother Jack is tripping down the father's path of irresponsibility. A hurricane sets off local tornados, destroying the duplex and swamping Austin with millions of coastal immigrants. Rose is forced to quickly find shelter for her and her dog. By a stroke of luck, she encounters Tyren, a genetic engineering postdoc student working a secret project. Tyren provides lodging in his converted garage while promising to help Rose achieve her dream of genetically resurrecting an ancient Shasta Ground Sloth. Rose's native skepticism is on high alert. Nothing could be that easy. She wonders if Tyren's generosity is from the heart, or if he's expecting 'recompense' that she's unable to provide given her difficult past and restrictive reproductive laws. As she expects, every silver lining has its clouds. Dr. Amy Lee, Tyren's boss, offers her a no-questions-asked job at a genetics company. She then chastises Rose for exposing critical projects and potentially releasing virulent pathogens. And, despite Rose's best efforts to avoid it, she and Tyren might be getting closer. Too close. Can Rose find meaning and purpose as she navigates her existential future in a city bursting at the seams from global warming? Will she be forced to choose between succumbing to life's relentless grind or embarking on a transformative quest for personal identity, agency, and even redemption?
Minding the Future by Barry Dainton,Will Slocombe,Attila Tanyi Pdf
Bringing together literary scholars, computer scientists, ethicists, philosophers of mind, and scholars from affiliated disciplines, this collection of essays offers important and timely insights into the pasts, presents, and, above all, possible futures of Artificial Intelligence. This book covers topics such as ethics and morality, identity and selfhood, and broader issues about AI, addressing questions about the individual, social, and existential impacts of such technologies. Through the works of science fiction authors such as Isaac Asimov, Stanislaw Lem, Ann Leckie, Iain M. Banks, and Martha Wells, alongside key visual productions such as Ex Machina, Westworld, and Her, contributions illustrate how science fiction might inform potential futures as well as acting as a springboard to bring disciplinary knowledge to bear on significant developments of Artificial Intelligence. Addressing a broad, interdisciplinary audience, both expert and non-expert readers gain an in-depth understanding of the wide range of pressing issues to which Artificial Intelligence gives rise, and the ways in which science fiction narratives have been used to represent them. Using science fiction in this manner enables readers to see how even fictional worlds and imagined futures have very real impacts on how we understand these technologies. As such, readers are introduced to theoretical positions on Artificial Intelligence through fictional works as well as encouraged to reflect on the diverse aspects of Artificial Intelligence through its many philosophical, social, legal, scientific, and cultural ramifications.
