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How Great Science Fiction Works

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How Great Science Fiction Works

By: Gary K. Wolfe, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Gary K. Wolfe
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About this listen

Robots, spaceships, futuristic megacities, planets orbiting distant stars. These icons of science fiction are now in our daily news. Science fiction, once maligned as mere pulp, has motivated cutting-edge scientific research, inspired new technologies, and changed how we view everyday life - and its themes and questions permeate popular culture. Take an unparalleled look at the influence, history, and greatest works of science fiction with illuminating insights and fascinating facts about this wide-ranging genre. If you think science fiction doesn't have anything to do with you, this course deserves your attention. And if you love science fiction, you can't miss this opportunity to trace the arc of science fiction's evolution, understand the hallmarks of great science fiction, and delve deeply into classics while finding some new favorites.

These 24 captivating lectures reveal the qualities that make science fiction an enduring phenomenon that has been steadily gaining popularity. You'll grasp the context and achievements of authors like Arthur C. Clarke, H.G. Wells, Isaac Asimov, Ursula K. LeGuin, and many more. You'll experience the wonder, horror, and incredible imagination of works like Frankenstein, the Foundation series, Stranger in a Strange Land, and dozens of more recent stories as well. You'll also see this genre's influence in movies like Star Wars and TV shows like The Twilight Zone.

Science fiction can take us places in time and space where no other form of fiction can - outer space, the far future, alternate universes, unfathomable civilizations. The best science fiction expands our imaginations and makes its mark on our reality. And while few writers would ever claim to predict the future, sometimes authors get it almost eerily right: Gernsback describing radar in 1911, Bradbury describing giant flatscreen TVs in 1951, Gibson inventing "cyberspace" in 1984, and so on.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLC Fiction Science Fiction Robotics Technology Great Classics

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All stars
Most relevant  
This is a well structured analysis that explores the importance of Science Fiction. It has stimulated my desire to expand my Sci-Fi library!

A fascinating overview of Science Fiction.

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An excellent series of lectures on the history of science fiction and many of the themes that have been explored in this genre. Gary K. Wolfe provides a lot of interest, information and detail in his lectures, which makes them thought-provoking and informative. Themes such as 'the planet', 'the wasteland' and 'the robot' in science fiction are explored, as are other interesting topics, such as how religion, encounters with aliens and environmentalism are all portrayed in science fiction. I came away from this series with a clearer overview of the history of science fiction and a desire to read more titles!

A highly informative exploration

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Really enjoyed listening to this course.
It was well structured and very informative.

A must listen!

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I like certain types of Science Fiction but had a fairly narrow experience of the genre but this has certainly broadened my interest and given me plenty of pointers towards other authors and titles. Well worth a listen.

Very informative and interesting

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Thoughtful lectures spanning the history of SF, alongside some lit crit ideas. While I felt some key works were missed (no consideration of 'Lord of Light' in the lecture on religion), I welcomed the later focus on modern developments in the genre.

Professor Wolfe speaks well and with an obvious passion, making me wish for more. However, I must instead make time to read some of the many books talked about in this excellent lecture series.

Gets it right

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Enjoyable and will certainly encourage me to relook at science fiction in a new light

Interesting lectures

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This is just an excellent series of lectures on the history of science fiction. Both insightful and entertaining all the way through.

I enjoyed it fully

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If you could sum up How Great Science Fiction Works in three words, what would they be?

Informative and enjoyable

What other book might you compare How Great Science Fiction Works to, and why?

I haven't read anything similar

What does Professor Gary K. Wolfe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He is very passionate about the topic. He provides a great deal more detail in the lectures than in the accompanying notes

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I found the lecture on gender and feminism in science fiction fascinating

Any additional comments?

My to read list has substantially increased as a consequence of listening to this series of lectures.

Informative and enjoyable

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What does Professor Gary K. Wolfe bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He reads it very engagingly and naturally with passion and personal involvement.

Any additional comments?

A very well thought-out and thorough coverage of science fiction covering history, major themes and movements comprehensively. I feel like I am well equipped to read science fiction with a sense of context now. If I had been writing down names of authors and stories I would have a long reading list of the major science fiction stories worth reading.

It is also very entertaining. I never read things more than once but in this case I may make an exception.

Excellent

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I really enjoyed these lectures on Science Fiction very informative. Gary K. Wolfe gives an interesting lecture.

Very Informative.

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