Stuff of Science Fiction

Gary Westfahl, a professor emeritus at the University of La Verne, California, has authored, edited, or co-edited 31 books about science fiction and fantasy, and hundreds of articles and reviews. In 2003, he received the Science Fiction Research Association’s Pilgrim Award for his lifetime contributions to science fiction and fantasy scholarship.

“Fascinating and thought-provoking…unreservedly recommended”—Midwest Book Review

• Table of ContentsAcknowledgments viiiIntroduction 1The Hardware of Science FictionMachines—Our Machines, Ourselves: The Objects of Science Fiction 3Weapons—Fifty Ways to Kill Your Lover: The Weapons of Science Fiction 11Vehicles—Going Mobile: Advanced Vehicles in Science Fiction 22Spaceships—Rockets to Ride: The Spaceships of Science Fiction 41Monuments and Memorabilia—Messages to the Future, Intended and Unintended, in Fact and Fiction 51The Settings of Science FictionUnder the Earth—Homes, Horrors, and History: Subterranean Science Fiction 63Under the Sea—Water, Water, Only Occasionally Everywhere: Aquatic Science Fiction 74The Past and Future—Time Out of Mind: Journeys through Time in Science Fiction 86Future Earths—The (Mostly Unpleasant) Fate of the Earth 96Outer Space—The Frightful Frontier: Space as a Setting in Science Fiction 113Space Stations—Space Stations, in Fact and Fiction 129The Moon—Humanity’s Inviting, and Forbidding, Nearest Neighbor 134Mars—Reading Mars: Changing Images of the Red Planet 146Venus—Venus of Dreams … and Nightmares: Changing Images of Earth’s Sister Planet 164The Characters of Science FictionChildren—The Boys (and Girls) Who Would Be King: The Children of Wonder 175Scientists—Alchemists, Athletes, and Achievers: Three Images of Scientists in Science Fiction 181Superheroes—The Gods Next Door: Superheroes as Reflections of American Values 189Animals and Plants—Our Alien Neighbors and Their DisTable of Contents195Future Humans—The Way We Will Be, and the Way We Are: Tomorrow’s Humanity and Today’s Humanity 211Robots—Eying Robots: A Discussion of the Literature of Artificial Intelligence 217Aliens—The Company We Seek: Aliens in Fact and Fiction 227Conclusion 235Bibliography 239Index 255