Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: David Seed
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199557454
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
David Seed examines how science fiction has emerged as a popular genre of literature in the 20th century, and discusses it in relation to themes such as science and technology, space, aliens, utopias, and gender. Looking at some of the most influential writers of the genre he also considers the wider social and political issues it raises.

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: David Seed
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191620106
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 160

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Book Description
Science Fiction has proved notoriously difficult to define. It has been explained as a combination of romance, science and prophecy; as a genre based on an imagined alternative to the reader's environment; and as a form of fantastic fiction and historical literature. It has also been argued that science fiction narratives are the most engaged, socially relevant, and responsive to the modern technological environment. This Very Short Introduction doesn't offer a history of science fiction, but instead ties examples of science fiction to different historical moments, in order to demonstrate how science fiction has evolved over time. David Seed looks not only at literature, but also at drama and poetry, as well as film. Examining recurrent themes in science fiction he looks at voyages into space, the concept of the alien and alternative social identities, the role of technology in science fiction, and its relation to time - in the past, present, and future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Writing and Script: A Very Short Introduction

Writing and Script: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Andrew Robinson
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199567786
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
"Starting with the origins of writing five thousand years ago, with cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs, Andrew Robinson explains how these early forms of writing developed into hundreds of scripts including the Roman alphabet and the Chinese characters. He reveals how the modern writing system we take for granted - including airport signage and electronic text messaging - resemble ancient scripts much more closely than we think." --Book Jacket.

Contemporary Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

Contemporary Fiction: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Robert Eaglestone
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199609268
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 137

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Book Description
In this Very Short Introduction, Robert Eaglestone provides a clear and engaging exploration of the major themes, patterns, and debates of contemporary fiction.

Computer Science

Computer Science PDF Author: Subrata Dasgupta
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0198733461
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 169

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Book Description
While the development of Information Technology has been obvious to all, the underpinning computer science has been less apparent. Subrata Dasgupta provides a thought-provoking introduction to the field and its core principles, considering computer science as a science of symbol processing.

Black Holes: A Very Short Introduction

Black Holes: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Katherine Blundell
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191653942
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 121

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Book Description
Black holes are a constant source of fascination to many due to their mysterious nature. In this Very Short Introduction, Katherine Blundell addresses a variety of questions, including what a black hole actually is, how they are characterized and discovered, and what would happen if you came too close to one. She explains how black holes form and grow - by stealing material that belongs to stars, as well as how many there may be in the Universe. She also explores the large black holes found in the centres of galaxies, and how black holes give rise to quasars and other spectacular phenomena in the cosmos. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Future: A Very Short Introduction

The Future: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Jennifer M. Gidley
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191054240
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 185

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Book Description
From the beginning of time, humans have been driven by both a fear of the unknown and a curiosity to know. We have always yearned to know what lies ahead, whether threat or safety, scarcity or abundance. Throughout human history, our forebears tried to create certainty in the unknown, by seeking to influence outcomes with sacrifices to gods, preparing for the unexpected with advice from oracles, and by reading the stars through astrology. As scientific methods improve and computer technology develops we become ever more confident of our capacity to predict and quantify the future by accumulating and interpreting patterns form the past, yet the truth is there is still no certainty to be had. In this Very Short Introduction Jennifer Gidley considers some of our most burning questions: What is "the future "?; Is the future a time yet to come?; Or is it a utopian place?; Does the future have a history?; Is there only one future or are there many possible futures? She asks if the future can ever be truly predicted or if we create our own futures - both hoped for and feared - by our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and concludes by analysing how we can learn to study the future. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: David Seed
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199557454
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 161

Get Book Here

Book Description
David Seed examines how science fiction has emerged as a popular genre of literature in the 20th century, and discusses it in relation to themes such as science and technology, space, aliens, utopias, and gender. Looking at some of the most influential writers of the genre he also considers the wider social and political issues it raises.

Contemporary Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

Contemporary Fiction: A Very Short Introduction PDF Author: Robert Eaglestone
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191665142
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 137

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Book Description
Contemporary fiction is a wide and diverse field, now global in dimension, with an enormous range of novels and writers that continues to grow at a fantastic speed. In this Very Short Introduction, Robert Eaglestone provides a clear and engaging exploration of the major themes, patterns, and debates of contemporary fiction. From genre, form, and experimentalism to the legacies of modernism and postmodernism, the relationship between globalization and terrorism, and the impact of technology, Eaglestone examines how works both reflect the world in which we live and the artistic concerns of writers and readers alike. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

The Science in Science Fiction

The Science in Science Fiction PDF Author: Peter Nicholls
Publisher: Crescent
ISBN: 9780517653357
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description


Reading Science Fiction

Reading Science Fiction PDF Author: James Gunn
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1137078987
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 256

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Book Description
Science Fiction is illuminated by world class scholars and fiction writers, who introduce the history, concepts and contexts necessary to understanding the genre. Their groundbreaking approach provides insights into today's SF world and makes learning how to read Science Fiction an exciting collaborative process for teachers and students.