Science Fiction: Ten Explorations PDF
Preview Science Fiction: Ten Explorations
SCIENCE FICTION: TEN EXPLORATIONS AlsobyC.N. Manlove MODERN FANTASY: FIVE STUDIES LITERATURE AND REALITY, 1600-1800 THE GAP IN SHAKESPEARE: THE MOTIF OF DIVISION FROM RICHARD II TO THE TEMPEST THE IMPULSE OF FANTASY LITERATURE SCIENCE FICTION: TEN EXPLORATIONS c. N. Manlove M MACMILLAN ©C. N. Manlove 1986 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1986 978-0-333-36919-7 All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages. First published 1986 Published by THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 2XS and London Companies and representatives throughout the world Typeset by Wessex Typesetters (Division of The Eastern Press Ltd) Frome, Somerset British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Manlove, Colin N. Science fiction: ten explorations. I. Science fiction-English-History and criticism 2. English fiction-20th century -History and criticism I. Title 823' .0876'09 PR888.S35 ISBN 978-1-349-07261-3 ISBN 978-1-349-07259-0 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-07259-0 To theMemory ofMy Father We are not going to end with a bang. We are notgoing to end with a whimper. We are notgoing to end. That's all. Donald Wollheim, The Universe Makers Contents Preface IX Acknowledgements X Introduction 2 Isaac Asimov,The Foundation Trilogy (1951-53; serialized 1942-49) 15 3 FrederikPohl, AlternatingCurrents(1956) 35 4 BrianAldiss, Hothouse (1962) 57 5 FrankHerbert,Dune(1965) 79 6 RobertSilverberg,Nightwings(1969) 100 7 PhilipjoseFarmer,ToYourScatteredBodiesGo(1971) 121 8 ArthurC.Clarke,RendezvouswithRama(1973) 143 9 Clifford D. Simak,Shakespeare'sPlanet (1976) 161 10 A.A.Attanasio,Radix(1981) 181 11 GeneWolfe, TheBookoftheNewSun(1980-83) 198 12 Conclusion 217 Nous 225 Bibliography 239 Index 245 vn Preface This book began from a feeling which must be common to many readers ofscience fiction. With the story read and a whole new world ofimages lived in and explored, there isa sense ofmystery and powerabout these works which no meredismissal in termsof 'well thought-out story', 'interesting twist', 'subtle intellectual argument' or 'superb imagination' will suffice. All these phrases are true, in their place, yetone feels that what has been explored by the minds that made these works needs foradequate response an explorationon the partofthe readeralso.We have totry tofind outwhy thesestrangeworlds and events are as they are.We have tojourneyinto the interiorofthe text and discoverin the end that actually all the details can be part of patterns and the whole work become rich with unity and unsuspected significance.This has been one ofthe primarypleasuresofwritingthis book;and the communication ofthat pleasure is its first object. Most of the chapter on Gene Wolfe's The Book riftheNew Sun originally appeared as an article in Kansas Quarterly for summer 1984. I am grateful to the editors for permission to reprint. lowe a considerabledebt to Edinburgh University Libraryfor its ready acquisition oflarge numbers of books making possible essential research into current criticism of science fiction. My thanks also to my colleague Ian Campbell for kindly lending me hiscollectionofjournalsonsciencefiction. And Iam gratefulonce more toSheilaCampbellfortypingthe manuscriptsowell:no-one could ask for more care and diligence than she has given.To the dedicateeofthis book I havefeltperhapslessasense ofobligation thanofrenewed kinshipwith amindwhichwhilesternlyscientific also liked to speculate among the interstellar spaces. C.N.M. IX Acknowledgements The author and publishers wish to thank the following who have kindly given permission for the use of copyright material: the Hutchinson PublishingGroup Ltdand Simon & Schuster, for the extractfrom GeneWolfe, TheClawoftheConciliator; and Laurence Pollinger Ltd and Kirby McCauley, for the extract from Clifford D. Sinak, Shakespeare'sPlanet. x
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