Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free One-Day Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
34 used & new from £12.99

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
 
 

The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature) (Paperback)

by Edward James (Editor), Farah Mendlesohn (Editor) "The word 'science' acquired its modern meaning when it took aboard the realization that reliable knowledge is rooted in the evidence of the senses, carefully..." (more)
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £18.99
Price: £18.04 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £0.95 (5%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Saturday, July 11? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
24 new from £12.99 10 used from £14.51
Other Editions: RRP: Our Price: Other Offers:
Hardcover £55.00 £52.25 25 used & new from £45.59

Frequently Bought Together

The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature) + New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction + 100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels
Price For All Three: £43.53

Show availability and shipping details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Science Fiction (Cultural History of Literature)

Science Fiction (Cultural History of Literature)

by Roger Luckhurst
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £17.09
New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

by Peter Nicholls
4.5 out of 5 stars (2)  £20.70
100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels

100 Must-Read Science Fiction Novels

by Christopher Priest
4.7 out of 5 stars (7)  £4.79
Critical Theory and Science Fiction

Critical Theory and Science Fiction

by Carl Freedman
£18.95
Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions

Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions

by Fredric Jameson
£13.59
Explore similar items

Product details


Product Description

Review
‘Overall, the volume is a major achievement. There’s no other book like it on the market, and it will surely become the first point of reference for students coming to the study of SF. The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction is highly recommended.’ Alien Online

‘The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction … appears to be structured as an undergraduate teaching resource, although one accessible to both the interested lay reader and to readers and fans with more than a basic knowledge of sf. This, in itself, is something of a feat, and that the Companion pulls it off admirably is a credit to its editors and contributors.’ Vector

'This is a solid, intelligent, sophisticated scholarly assessment from a major academic publisher. Every bit the intellectual equal of other titles in the Cambridge series, it will likely become one of the most referenced secondary works in the study of sf, especially in pedagogical contexts.' Science Fiction Studies

'… an ideal introductory companion for the uninitiated … a range of interesting themes … This book is thought provoking, informative and intelligent. It successfully reveals the critical intricacy of this much-maligned genre … This is an excellent addition to any collection supporting the study of modern English literature and a superb source book for librarians seeking to develop the definitive science fiction collection.' Reference Reviews

'… this is a coherent, well-edited collection, which covers all of the bases and is more than fit for purpose. The production of the book alone, given its scope, must have been a mammoth task and the fact that the whole comes together so well does real credit to its editors.' Foundation

'A thoughtful compilation of ideas about the genre, a bit of history, some politics and good guides make The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge, £24.99) worth the read.' New Scientist

'… this is one of the best literary companions I have discovered … a comprehensive and clearly accessible guide to current sf writing … Science fiction does what so few of such reader's guides manage. it coveys both rigorous academic erudition and a genuine love and interest in the subject … will do much for the academic study of science fiction in future years.' English

'… it does an excellent job cataloguing and condensing in a mere 300 pagesthe basics as well as some current trends in Science Fiction (Studies). … the book suceeds in offering a comprehensive and inspiring introduction to Science Fiction (Studies). Next to the many brilliant essays it collects it's greatest strength lies in the rich topical surveys of sf literature each contribution supplies, whetting the reader's appetite for these novels which might otherwise slip her/his attention.' Anglia

'… a comprehensive analysis of a literary genre which stands at the intersection of numerous fields. … it retains coherence in style and purpose throughout …' Revue d'études anglophones

Product Description
Science fiction is at the intersection of numerous fields. It is a literature which draws on popular culture, and which engages in speculation about science, history, and all types of social relations. This volume brings together essays by scholars and practitioners of science fiction, which look at the genre from these different angles. After an introduction to the nature of science fiction, historical chapters trace science fiction from Thomas More to more recent years, including a chapter on film and television. The second section introduces four important critical approaches to science fiction drawing their theoretical inspiration from Marxism, postmodernism, feminism and queer theory. The final and largest section of the book looks at various themes and sub-genres of science fiction. A number of well-known science fiction writers contribute to this volume, including Gwyneth Jones, Ken MacLeod, Brian Stableford Andy Duncan, James Gunn, Joan Slonczewski, and Damien Broderick.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
The word 'science' acquired its modern meaning when it took aboard the realization that reliable knowledge is rooted in the evidence of the senses, carefully sifted by deductive reasoning and the experimental testing of generalizations. Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Search inside this book:

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature)
70% buy the item featured on this page:
The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction (Cambridge Companions to Literature) 4.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£18.04
Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction
9% buy
Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction
£6.49
The History of Science Fiction (Palgrave Histories of Literature)
8% buy
The History of Science Fiction (Palgrave Histories of Literature) 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£15.19
New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
7% buy
New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)
£20.70

 

Customer Reviews

2 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:
 (1)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking and helpful, 15 Jan 2007
By Nicholas Whyte (Oud Heverlee, Belgium) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
We are all waiting for the third edition of the Clute/Nicholls Encyclopedia of Science Fiction to appear. In the meantime, this volume of 21 essays on various aspects of sf fulfills the two things I really want from a critical survey: it helps me better understand the sf I have already read, and gives me pointers to writers and books that I might enjoy.

Highlights for me: the sequence of five historical essays about the development of science fiction; the three essays basically about sf and sex (dressed up as "feminist theory", "queer theory" and "gender"); and Ken MacLeod's broad survey of sf and politics. I also felt that Andrew Butler's essay on "post-modernism and science fiction" succeeded by critically examining postmodernism as a concept, so that I felt I had learnt something at the end of it. Mark Bould's essay on sf in films and TV is also very good but runs out of steam in about 1970.

Two assertions that made me think: Ken MacLeod - a writer with things to say about religion? Alien - like "Bloodchild", a pregnant man story?

Low points: Istvan Csicsery-Ronay's essay on Marxist theory and science fiction is without redeeming features. The only interesting bit, his discussion of Jameson, is covered much better by Butler two chapters on. Several of the other chapters spurred me to think that had I the time and library resources I would have liked to try and do a better job.

General bias: Well, one can quibble about the omissions (graphic novels; Christopher Priest) but the top four names in the index, ranked by numbers of cross-references, are Heinlein, Le Guin, Wells and Asimov, which seems to me pretty fair. Given the collection's emphasis on issues of sex and sexuality, it's not so very surprising to find Joanna Russ in fifth place, but she is followed by the firmly traditional choices of John W. Campbell, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, and E.E. "Doc" Smith. I would have thought that fans who want to read more broadly about sf, but feel alienated by the Clute lit-crit stuff (as I saw it referred to somewhere; I am not among this number), will find enough in this book to make them feel they got their money's worth.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Rather Disappointing, 17 April 2009
By Vittorio Caffè (Rome, Italy) - See all my reviews
For a Cambridge Companion, this is surprisingly shallow. The other reviewer pinpointed one of the faults of the book; but the chapter about Religion and SF by Mendlesohn is also quite poor. A discussion about religion in SF in a book printed by such a prestigious press which does not mention James Blish's A Case of Coscience? I can't believe it. It's like a book on Renaissance Revenge Tragedy which doesn't mention Hamlet. But what might be even more disappointing is the absence of Philip K. Dick. Of course the author of the chapter is allowed to devote more time to what authors she thinks are more important, but since this is a book that should help students to understand what is sf and what are its most important works and issues, the fact that such novels as VALIS, The Divine Invasion, Radio Free Albemuth, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch are not mentioned in the context of a discussion of sf and religion is bewildering.

All in all, my very personal opinion is that some parts are quite good (McLeod's chapter on politics, but also Butler's on sf & postmodernism and Wolfe's on sf editors), but some are awfully poor and poorly researched. And this should make us ask why did the editors chose those authors for those chapters, which is a question that directly leads to another, why haven't some very important scholars been involved (no, I won't drop names, but anybody who's knowledgeable with sf criticism knows what people I mean). Once again, the editors are free to choose, but then they're responsible for their choices, which are puzzling at best.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


   
Related forums


Listmania!


Look for similar items by category


Feedback


The Battle of the Sexes in...

The Battle of...

"Larbalestier has assembled a volume that skillfully expands the... Read more
£19.90

Find similar items

 

Up to 75% off Shoes

Shoe Clearance - 75% off Shoes
Save up to 75% on shoes for the whole family.

Shop clearance shoes

 

A Close Shave

Philips Nivea Coolskin HS8060 Moisturizing Rotary Shaving System
For all types of hair removal, stay smooth with Amazon.co.uk.

Discover Shaving & Hair Removal

 

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

Learn more about Gift Certificates

 
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.

Continue Shopping: Top Sellers
The Girl Who Played with Fire
Breaking Dawn (Twilight Saga)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Host
The Host by Stephenie Meyer

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates