English 270 Intro to Lit: Literary History (U.S. Science Fiction)
Course Description
In this course we will examine a selection of science fiction short stories and novels that give us some sense of the preoccupations and explorations of science fiction in the U.S. over time. We’ll start with looking at Hugh Gernsback’s pulp sf magazine Amazing Stories and continue into sf of the 1950s “Golden Age,” then turn toward Afrofuturism, Cyberpunk, and contemporary turns in sf, including Indigenous Futurisms. Throughout we will reflect on how U.S. science fiction has been shaped by and shapes the U.S., its peoples, and (our understandings of) its history.
Major Assignments
4 papers, 1 presentation, and possible shorter and more informal writing assignments
Texts I am considering
Selections from Amazing Stories. Ed. Hugh Gernsback
Finney, Jack. The Body Snatchers
Bester, Alfred. The Stars My Destination
Butler, Octavia. Kindred
Le Guin, Ursula. The Left Hand of Darkness
Gibson, William. Neuromancer
Selections from Walking the Clouds. Ed. Grace Dillon
Bacigalupi, Paolo. The Water Knife