American Science Fiction and the Cold War : Literature and Film

American Science Fiction--in both literature and film--has played a key role in the portrayal of the fears inherent in the Cold War. The end of this era heralds the need for a reassessment of the literary output of the forty-year period since 1945. Working through a series of key texts, American Science Fiction and the Cold War investigates the political inflections put on American narratives in the post-war decades by Cold War cultural circumstances. Nuclear holocaust, Russian invasion, and the perceived rise of totalitarianism in American society are key elements in the author's exploration of science fiction narratives that include Fahrenheit 451, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Dr. Strangelove. Contents Acknowledgements Introduction I Postwar Jeremiads: Philip Wylie and Leo Szilard II Variations on a Patriotic Theme: Robert A. Heinlein III History and Apocalypse in Poul Anderson IV Views from the Hearth V Cultures of Surveillance VI Take-Over Bids: Frederik Pohl and Cyril Kornbluth VII The Russians Have Come VIII Embodying the Arms Race: Bernard Wolfe's Limbo IX The Cold War Computerised X Conspiracy Narratives XI Absurdist Visions: Dr. Strangelove in Context XII The Signs of War: Walter M. Miller and Russell Hoban XIII In the Aftermath XIV The Star Wars Debate Bibliography Index Postwar Jeremiads: Philip Wylie And Leo Szilard -- Variations On A Patriotic Theme: Robert A. Heinlein -- History And Apocalypse In Poul Anderson -- Views From The Hearth -- Cultures Of Surveillance -- Take-over Bids: Frederik Pohl And Cyril Kornbluth -- Russians Have Come -- Embodying The Arms Race: Bernard Wolfe's Limbo -- Cold War Computerised -- Cold War Narratives -- Absurdist Visions: Dr. Strangelove In Context -- The Signs Of War: Walter M. Miller And Russell Hoban -- In The Aftermath -- Star Wars Debate. David Seed. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 194-211) And Index. "Looking at a range of important works, David Seed investigates the political inflexions put on American narratives in post-war decades by Cold War cultural circumstances. Nuclear holocaust, Russian invasion, and the perceived rise of totalitarianism in American society are explored in such science fiction narratives as Fahrenheit 451, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and Dr. Strangelove."--BOOK JACKET Seed, a reader in the department of English at the University of Liverpool, investigates political inflections in American science fiction during the Cold War. Nuclear holocaust, Russian invasion, and the perceived rise of totalitarianism in American society are explored in such science fiction nar American science fiction, both literature and film, has played a key role in the portrayal of the fears inherent in the Cold War. Working through key texts, this work investigates the political inflexions put on American narratives in the post-war decades by Cold War cultural circumstances