Science Fiction Research Articles

Defamiliarizing Privilege: A Journey from Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s Sultana’s Dream to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie

When Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain published Sultana’s Dream in 1905, it was read as a fantasy, a science fiction, or even a dystopian worldview by some. As I see it, it is an ironic, as well as an iconic defamiliarization of male privilege. Its depiction of “Ladyland” illustrates that women were capable of everything men were capable of, and more. In 2023, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, presents a similar defamiliarization – a presentation of the utopian “Barbie Land”, a world run for the women and by the women. The two discourses have similarities in the sense that they both present a world where women take centre stage – and both make the point that a world run by women would not be less successful than a world run by men. While Sultana’s Dream only presents this world as a possibility, Barbie expands on the concept of “Barbie Land”, by taking its characters on a journey to the “real world”, one that is run by the patriarchy. This journey brings Barbie and Ken to the realization that any world, when it privileges one gender over the other, is an unfair and imbalanced one. This paper aims to compare the two texts in the light of defamiliarization, and analyze the processes by which they problematize the gender inequalities of their contemporary times in both parallel and divergent ways. Spectrum, Volume 18, June 2023: 58-68

Tap into practical AI tools to enhance engagement, success

Artificial intelligence is no longer just something you see in science fiction movies. On college campuses today, AI is driving innovation and transforming the expe rience for students and higher education administrators. According to the “2024 NASPA Top Issues in Student Affairs” report, 90% of respondents indicated that AI is an important issue in technology and innovation in our work in student affairs.

On-Demand Polymer Materials for Sustainability and Space

Production of polymer material goods on-demand is a recurring science fiction element, but advances in chemistry and engineering have pushed it closer to reality. Experienced at a hobby scale by 3D printing enthusiasts and at an industrial level through rapid prototyping and modular manufacturing, the approach is on its way to further flexibility and high-performance material production. We review the advances in on-demand materials design as well as manufacturing, using examples in space exploration and sustainability, because these are cases where the value proposition for rapid changes in materials is strong. Despite the promising technological base for on-demand production, challenges still exist for commercial viability. We thus also review business strategy and private and public policy considerations for transitioning polymer materials markets to on-demand production. Combined analysis of the chemistry, manufacturing, and business/policy advances provides a more comprehensive picture of the status and remaining challenges.

Viewpoint: from Star Trek to “Service Trek”: these are the voyages of the service community

Purpose Science fiction analogies have been shown to be an effective vehicle for disseminating scientific knowledge and building a better understanding of scientific principles. Toward this end, this study aims to use the Star Trek universe as a lens in an effort to remove barriers to understanding the science of service research. Design/methodology/approach This study synthesizes research on using science fiction narratives in sparking dialogue within and beyond scientific communities, draws parallels between the Star Trek universe and the service research domain and uses these insights to identify pertinent ways forward. Findings In the service research domain, science fiction analogies and dramaturgical metaphors can challenge researchers to reflect beyond the domain’s traditional boundaries. In fact, the Star Trek universe lends itself as visionary backdrop to assess leadership principles, understand the evolution of scientific paradigms and inspire future service research. Originality/value This article contributes to the service research literature by introducing the notion of drawing on science fiction analogies to facilitate key dialogues in a scientific context and demonstrates how such analogies can be used to provide guidance in moving the service research discipline forward.

Lyell’s Views of Translation in the Perspective of Thick Translation—Cat Country as an Example

As China’s first science fiction novel, Lao She’s satirical novel Cat Country has been welcomed by readers as soon as it was released in its first English translation. The success of this novel’s foreign translation cannot be separated from the translator William Lyell’s “thick translation”. By describing the explicit and implicit thick translation methods of Lyell’s translation of Cat Country, analyzing the translator’s thick translation skills under the characterization of thick translation, the principle of truth-seeking in translating culture, and the translation guideline of serving the readers of the translated language, the article reveals the basic rationale of the successful translation of Lyell’s translation, which will serve as a reference for the foreign translation of Chinese literature, and better serve the translation practice and theoretical construction.

An Ecofeminist Approach to Posthuman Subjects in Karen Traviss’ City of Pearl

ABSTRACT Science fiction has often been described as the encounter with difference as this is a genre that enables readers and viewers to experience what it means to be the other. With alterity playing a prominent role in most recent science fiction through traditional figures within the genre such as the alien, the robot or the android, it is interesting to approach works with an ecofeminist perspective as to explore how otherness is portrayed. This article aims to explore City of Pearl, the first novel of The Wess'har Wars series by Karen Traviss looking at the different species, human and alien, that appear in the novel. The focus will be on how they relate with other species as well as with their own habitat. In order to do so I will consider both posthumanist and ecofeminist theories and how they intersect in the protagonists’ sets of beliefs and ethics, also taking into account how certain organisms present in the novel alter biology so that the boundary between species is constantly challenged and changing. Therefore, this novel questions dualistic notions embedded in our reality and enables both protagonists and readers to reflect on concepts related to evolution or exceptionalism.

Beyond Content: Leaning on the Poetics of Defamiliarization in Design Fictions

Literary approaches to design fictions, though previously theorized to be diverse in form and content, often fall within narrow stylistic and content boundaries such as speculative abstracts, memos, and studies. By drawing on a rich history of science fiction criticism, we advocate for literary design fictions that diverge from what is commonplace in HCI and design research. We foreground our paper with a discussion of the poetics of science fiction, and their relationship to current design fiction practices. Specifically, we highlight how the poetics of a design fiction can work to familiarize or defamiliarize readers from the imagined world presented. We thus argue that considerations of poetics, specifically how they work to (de)familiarize readers of design fictions, enrich understanding of design fictions as a research method. We then provide and discuss three design fictions in the forms of poetry and flash fiction, which fictionalize anthropomorphism in AI and AI explainability, AI assistants and AI privacy, and the relationship between AI and human autonomy. This paper makes two contributions: 1) a poetics-based framework that broadens current understandings of written design fictions and 2) three design fictions that speculate on the future of human-AI interaction.

Fear of Seeing: A Poetics of Chinese Science Fiction

Fear of Seeing: A Poetics of Chinese Science Fiction

Dinero y futuro en tiempos de cambio climático. Un abordaje sociológico e histórico de El ministerio del futuro, de Kim Stanley Robinson

Seeking to contribute to current research on the future imagination, the article explores a scientific fiction text, The Ministry of the Future (2020), by Kim Stanley Robinson. This novel has two singularities: it begins in July 2024, so it narrates an imminent future, prolonging concrete possibilities of our present, and it proposes, based on existing academic articles, a currency —carboncoin— for the ecological transition. This makes the novel a speculative science fiction of strategy, a notion explored in the article to understand this way of imagining the future. After presenting a series of sociological concepts for the study of money (with emphasis on Nigel Dodd’s concept of “social fiction”) and outlining a history of imagining the future of money, and arguing that, since 2008, we live in a conjuncture of currency transformation, the futurization of money present in the novel is analyzed. The characteristics and implications of the carboncoin, which rewards carbon capture, are explored, analyzing moments of its design and evolution in relation to banking institutions, the dollar, technologies and the dilemmas of its adoption. By putting the plot of the novel into dialogue with historical phenomena, theoretical positions, political discourses, social and technological processes, we try to support the hypothesis that the way of imagining the future in a current science fiction novel, which speculates on the future of money in times of climate change, can offer new possibilities for the social sciences to think about the future.

There's No Such Thing as Science Fiction

There's No Such Thing as Science Fiction

Science Fiction Heterotopia: The Economy of the Future

This article uses the cultural theory of hyper-modernism, to scrutinize the present and potentially future impact on society of advanced digital media technologies like Virtual Reality, ubiquitous computing, and Artificial Intelligence. I did this by writing in a hybrid way about the portrayal of the given technology in science fiction films and the realization of the technology in the so-called “real world.” It studies the examples of blockchain, 3D Printers, and moral algorithms and their connections to ideas about post-capitalist transformation of the economy. My theoretical perspective is explicitly critical of capitalism. The article draws from a chapter of my latest book, Decoding Digital Culture with Science Fiction: Hyper-Modernism, Hyperreality, and Posthumanism.

Philosophical and Anthropological Vision of the Idea of Spirituality in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy

Purpose. The article is a philosophical and anthropological representation of the idea of spirituality in The Foundation Trilogy by the American science fiction writer, philosopher, populariser of science Isaac Asimov. Theoretical basis. The study is based on an understanding of the worldview imperatives of Asimov’s work, which highlight his philosophical and anthropological vision of spirituality as a historically established property of a rationally organised society and a key condition for its progressive evolution. The emergence, stochasticity and eventuality of the development of the modern global society brings the content of A. Azimov’s philosophical and anthropological ideas to a fundamentally new level of understanding of the further development of humanity. Asimov’s articulation of the idea of spirituality in The Foundation Trilogy allows us to define the philosophical and anthropological concept of the writer in the fullness of its social, philosophical, existential and axiological dimensions. Originality. The authors have substantiated the expediency and relevance of considering the idea of spirituality in A. Asimov’s Foundation trilogy in the semantic field of philosophical anthropology. It is shown that Asimov’s philosophical anthropology has a clearly expressed teleological "load". In the writer’s interpretation, a person of the future is not a "posthuman" with a biological nature altered by special technologies, but a person focused on spiritual development and self-improvement based on the eternal values enshrined in the mental code of Homo sapiens – happiness, love, freedom, dignity, independence, patriotism. Conclusions. Foundation is a multifaceted work, rich in plot, compositionally mosaic and polyphonic, in which, at first glance, it is difficult to identify any dominant idea. In the course of the study, it was found that one of the main content centres in A. Asimov’s works is the philosophical and anthropological discourse, in the space of which considerable attention is paid to human spirituality.

Environmental degradation and its symbolic representation in Nnedi Okorafor’s Lagoon

This paper investigates how Lagoon critiques environmental neglect, employing speculative fiction to engage with pressing ecological issues. Through an ecocritical lens, it emphasizes the novel’s call for reimagining humanity’s relationship with nature, advocating for sustainable futures rooted in both cultural and ecological resilience. Nnedi Okorafor’s Lagoon stands out as a landmark in African speculative fiction, blending elements of science fiction with sharp ecological and socio-political commentary. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, the novel vividly depicts environmental degradation, symbolized by the polluted waters of Bar Beach, as a microcosm of broader ecological crises. Through richly detailed descriptions of oil spills, marine life disruption, and urban pollution, Okorafor critiques human exploitation of natural resources and its devastating socio-economic and cultural consequences. The arrival of extraterrestrial beings introduces a speculative framework that critiques human inaction while envisioning pathways for ecological restoration. These aliens, capable of purifying polluted waters and reviving marine ecosystems, serve as a metaphor for humanity’s potential to reverse environmental harm through collective action and innovation. The novel also explores the symbolic role of water and marine life, portraying them as sites of both destruction and renewal. By examining the intersections of environmental degradation, governance, and resilience, Lagoon situates itself within the emerging field of African ecocriticism.

The Practice and Exploration of Virtual Reality Technology in Distance Education

With the rapid development of information technology, virtual reality (VR) technology has gradually transformed from the concept of science fiction to reality, and become an important driving force for innovation and development in the field of education. As an immersive technology, VR can break the limitations of time and space in traditional teaching modes and create an immersive learning experience for learners. This technology can not only make the learning process more vivid and interesting, but also improve students’ learning efficiency and initiative through interaction and immersion. Especially in the field of distance education, the application of VR technology is redefining teaching methods, increasing the efficiency of educational resource sharing, and enhancing the fairness and accessibility of education. This paper will take VR technology as the starting point, analyze its basic principles and technical characteristics, and deeply discuss the diversified practices of VR in distance education, including teaching scene simulation, interactive experience optimization, other aspects of educational resources equity, etc.

Zombies and Aliens: Fantasy and Science-Fiction Simulations in Teaching Political Science, International Relations and Security Studies

The article explores the pedagogical potential of integrating fantasy and science fiction simulations into teaching political science, International Relations or security studies at the university level. Recognizing the influence of popular culture on contemporary students, the article advocates for leveraging the immersive experience of simulations based on unusual topics. Drawing inspiration from similar successful didactic endeavors, we introduce an outline for a pedagogical experiment and key takeaways from its preliminary tests on students from various courses. Theoretical and empirical foundations are provided to support the experiment’s methodology, emphasizing the use of imaginative scenarios to engage students and provide them with a set of important skills, as well as foster critical thinking and enhance creative problem-solving in an empowering educational experience. The article presents the structure of the experiment, conducted over three years with diverse student groups, yielding promising early results and positive feedback, but also touches on its challenges and limitations. It concludes that team-based role-playing simulations provide an accessible, low-tech yet innovative tool which could make its way into more curriculums.

Some aspects of extraterrestrial life in science fiction

The purpose of the article is to trace how science fiction deals with the theme of otherness in terms of the interaction between the concepts of aliens and earthlings, resulting in the perception of earthlings as aliens. Until now, this approach has not been used. The research was conducted on a wide range of science fiction authors, including S. de Bergerac, F. Godwin, H. Wells, H. P. Lovecraft, I. Yefremov, R. Heinlein, R. Bradbury, J. Corey, S. Lem, the Strugatsky brothers, N. Stephenson, P. Watts. Comparative motif analysis was used. The article notes that the concept of aliens in science fiction can develop in two directions. They can be seen as creatures similar to earthlings in physical and psychological aspects (a type of neighbor /inhabitant of another village), contact with them is possible and beneficial. Alternatively, they can be portrayed as completely different and terrifying creatures (a type of monster), contact with them is deadly or impossible. In science fiction, earthlings who have undergone some kind of mutation may be considered as “the different others”, even aliens. A characteristic feature of homo alius in science fiction is their language, which is presented as equally mutated through hybridization. The way that homo alius is perceived in relation to normal human beings in science fiction is always ambiguous, leading to a variety of relationships between the concepts within the semantic field of “friend or foe”.

American Science Fiction Studies in China: Retrospect and Prospect

The study of American science fiction in China has travelled a long and winding path over the past three decades. Relative papers and dissertations have been increasing with an academic boom of research programs. By analyzing the statistics and representative works on American science fiction in China, it is revealed that the research output has been flourishing in the 21st century in terms of its research quantity and quality, though there is still much to be improved in its depth, breadth, and standardization. It is suggested that in the research of science fiction as a form of world literature, broader vision and deeper insight should be explored in such aspects as comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and comparative studies.

A Posthumanist Study of Becky Chambers’ A Closed and Common Orbit

The study examined the relationship between science and humanity. It highlighted the symbiotic bond between machines and humans in Becky Chambers’ A Closed and Common Orbit (2016). The research argued that human-technology interaction is inevitable since the two reciprocate and aid each other. The purpose of the research was to demonstrate the fusion of human ingenuity and technological advancements and how they ensure the prosperity and survival of humans in the coming decades. The study, therefore, explored the future of humanity in science fiction, evaluating how humans integrate with machines or artificial intelligence. A close reading of A Closed and Common Orbit (2016) investigated Posthumanism ideology and its strands–Transhumanism propounded by Pramod K. Nayar and the Critical Posthumanism proposed by David Roden. Posthumanism deals with the idea of the intersection of different species, like humans, non-humans, and technological tools. Transhumanism and Critical Posthumanism look at the amplification and improvement of human capacities with the use of technologies – machines, robots, and computers. Humans do not exist as monolithic, which is why this bond between humans and technology gives us a sense of a symbiotic relationship. As human technology is a two-way methodology, it represents a symbiotic union and proves a futuristic step in the realm of science fiction. Thus, the study concluded that humans use technologies to enhance, support, and disburden their abilities to thrive.

From fantasy to sci-fi: social aspects of reflection of science in literature on the example of the Strugatsky brothers and Elizer Yudkowsky

The work raises the issue of the popularity of science in modern science fiction literature. It defines science fiction and fantasy from the standpoint of social philosophy. It reveals the social aspects that influence the formation of the author's concepts using the example of the Strugatskys and Yudkowsky. It analyzes the methods of presenting literary history as an enhancing factor in the reflection of science.

‘From the Horror of Us and Our Surroundings’

Superstudio’s Le dodici città ideali (‘The Twelve Ideal Cities’) appeared in various formats within numerous architectural magazines between 1971 and 1974 as a series of collaged drawings of cities accompanied by short texts and occasionally containing cautionary epilogues with reader ‘tests’. Readings of the project often foreground the speculative or ‘visionary’ potential of the city images: unbuilt architectural representations describing a series of terrifying scenarios for the future of the urban environment. This essay looks beyond individual images of Le dodici città ideali to examine the textual content and contexts of its multiple published forms, departing from this future-focused framing and instead highlighting the project’s unwavering concern with the past and present. In the pages of 都市住宅 (Toshi Jutaku), AD, Casabella, Archithèese, Architektur Aktuell, Αρχιτεκτονικά Θέματα (Architektoniká Thémata), and Cree, Superstudio’s intertwined textual and image-based descriptions of the city leveraged the architectural magazine to speak directly to the profession. Laminating the language and imagery of science fiction with references to magic, myth, and history, Superstudio choreographed a series of grand reveals: holding a mirror to the architect-reader placed within the late-capitalist conditions of their labour inside the pages of the architectural magazine. Through a close reading of two published versions of Le dodici città ideali—‘Twelve Cautionary Tales for Christmas: Premonitions of the Mystical Rebirth of Urbanism’ in the December 1971 issue of AD, and ‘Premonizioni della parusia urbanistica’ (Premonitions on the Mystical Rebirth of Urbanism) in Casabella in January 1972—we highlight Superstudio’s deliberate rejection of architectural design as a future-oriented exercise. Focusing on contextualising the work within the architectural magazine format, we suggest that the cities of Le dodici città ideali cannot be thought of purely as ‘unbuilt’. Rather, the project sets in motion an architecture of unbuilding through its capacity to reveal ‘the horror of us and our surroundings’ as conditions that already exist in the 1970s. By examining Le dodici città ideali as an ‘architecture of unbuilding’, we consider how published images and text can unbuild existing conditions, prioritising the retrospective and destructive character of architectural design within the context of the architectural magazine.