“Science fiction is that branch of literature that deals with human responses to changes in the level of science and technology.” —Isaac Asimov

This section of Special Topics (ENGL 3999) will explore the genre of science fiction in the last half of the twentieth century in short stories, novels, films, and futurism. Much of humanity’s hopes and fears about its relationship with the universe is explored by the various writers and directors known for their work in science fiction. Science, or speculative, fiction also considers humanity’s responses to changes in the level of science and technology. This class will consider science fiction as located historically and attempt to relate culturally texts that explore, discover, learn, by means of projection, extrapolation, analogue, hypothesis-and-paper-experimentation, something about the nature of the universe, of humanity, of “reality.” Cyberpunk, world building, gender, cyborgs, robots, space travel, aliens, war, time travel, mad computers, and other similar subjects will fall under the purview of the course. Talk to your advisor to see if this course will work for you.

Possible Authors, Directors, Works

• Philip K. Dick
• Blade Runner
• Bruce Sterling
• William Gibson
• Arthur C. Clarke
• Alice Sheldon
• Ridley Scott
• Steven Soderbergh
• Stanislaw Lem
• Solaris
• Isaac Asimov
• Harlan Ellison
• Stanley Kubrick
• David Cronenberg
• And others . . .

What: ENGL 3999 Special Topics
When: Fall 2006
Who: Dr. Gerald Lucas