Novara Media ACFM Microdose: Sci-Fi
7 snips
Sep 28, 2025 Explore the evolution of science fiction as a reflective lens on society and technology. Delight in discussions about Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and H.G. Wells’ class allegories. Discover the impact of dystopian visions and the emerging cultural critiques in sci-fi. Unearth the complexities of influential figures like Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, and Ursula K. Le Guin. The dive into post-apocalyptic narratives and contemporary anxieties adds depth, revealing how capitalism intertwines with the genre's utopian and dystopian themes.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Suvin's Cognitive Estrangement
- Darko Suvin defines sci‑fi as cognitive estrangement balancing estrangement and rational continuity with reality.
- This frames SF as distinct from mainstream realism and fantasy by its rational extrapolation of change.
SF As A Tool For Critique
- Science fiction often estranges the present to enable critique and utopian thought.
- This formal estrangement can open up claims of historical mutability and materialist analysis.
Personal SF Beginnings
- Jeremy Gilbert grew up surrounded by Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke on his mum's bookshelf.
- He read them as early adult books and felt later guilty for not keeping up with SF.