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SF and Speculative Novels

Confronting the Science and the Fiction

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Book cover Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction

Part of the book series: Critical Literacy Teaching Series ((LITE))

Abstract

Today there is a nuclear-powered, laser-firing robot exploring Mars. This isn’t fiction. Martian rocks are being zapped, not in defense of the planet Earth, but for the sake of knowledge. The rover is aptly named Curiosity, and she represents not only our advancing technical understanding but also our intense desire to explore, imagine, and create. Many scientists trace their inspiration to science fiction (SF), but as Carl Sagan (1996) notes, the relationship between science and SF is cyclical and mutually reinforcing.

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Svec, M., Winiski, M. (2013). SF and Speculative Novels. In: Thomas, P.L. (eds) Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction. Critical Literacy Teaching Series. SensePublishers, Rotterdam. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6209-380-5_3

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