Speculations of War : Essays on Conflict in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Utopian Literature

"Late 19th century science fiction stories and utopian treatises focused on morals and attitudes supporting economic, sociological and at times Marxist ideas. More than a century later, science fiction often depicts the inherent dangers of capitalism and imperialism. Examining a variety of conflicts from the Civil War through the post-9/11 era, this collection of new essays explores philosophical introspection and futuristic forecasting in science fiction and fantasy literature and film, with a focus on the warlike nature of humanity"-- Provided by publisher Fomenting war. Ad bellum purificandum : Kenneth Burke's rhetoric of fiction between the wars / AmyLea Clemons -- Speculations on the interconnectedness of Edward Bellamy, his utopian writing and the Civil War / Annette M. Magid -- Clouds over the valley : images of war and peace in the films of Hayao Miyazaki / Erin M. Roll -- World conflicts. Epistemological warfare(s) in dystopian narrative : Zülfü Livaneli's Son Ada and Anthony Burgess's The wanting seed / Emrah Atasoy -- Three options and three science fiction novels concerning the Algerian War of Independence / Ruy Burgos-Lovece -- Napoleonic conquest and Chinese absorption : dialectics of territorial expansion in Jack London's "The unparalleled invasion" / Julie Hugonny -- Waging metaphorical warfare in feminist dystopian and utopian writing / Naomi R. Mercer -- A call to arms : Star Wars, Star Trek and the science fiction of the German democratic republic / Thomas P. David -- Love and death in two nuclear defense films / Doug Davis Cover Table of Contents Preface Introduction Part I. Fomenting War Ad Bellum Purificandum Speculations on the Interconnectedness of Edward Bellamy, His Utopian Writing and the Civil War Clouds Over the Valley Part II. World Conflicts Epistemological Warfare(s) in Dystopian Narrative Three Options and Three Science Fiction Novels Concerning the Algerian War of Independence Napoleonic Conquest and Chinese Absorption Part III. Cold War and Post–9/11 Waging Metaphorical Warfare in Feminist Dystopian and Utopian Writing A Call to Arms Love and Death in Two Nuclear Defense Films About the Contributors Index Late 19th century science fiction stories and utopian treatises related to morals and attitudes often focused on economic, sociological and, at times Marxist ideas. More than a century later, science fiction commonly depicts the inherent dangers of capitalism and imperialism. Examining a variety of conflicts from the Civil War through the post-9/11 era, this collection of new essays explores philosophical introspection and futuristic forecasting in science fiction, fantasy, utopian literature and film, with a focus on the warlike nature of humanity.