New Books Network Jim Endersby, "The Arrival of the Fittest: Biology's Imaginary Futures, 1900-1935" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Jan 7, 2026
Jim Endersby, a professor of the history of science at the University of Sussex, shares insights from his book on early twentieth-century biology. He describes the public's fascination with mutation theory and how it fueled imaginative futures in literature and politics. Endersby introduces the concept of 'biotopia,' exploring its utopian and dystopian implications. He highlights the role of science fiction in shaping public perceptions and discusses feminist perspectives on biology, linking these historical ideas to contemporary debates on genetic engineering and AI.
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Book Origin: A Plant, Gilman, And A Classroom
- Jim Endersby traced the book's origin to his earlier work on 'A Guinea Pig's History of Biology' and an obscure plant, Oenothera lamarckiana.
- A classroom reading of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Herland revealed the plant's mutation theory reference and launched his research.
Mutation Promise: Rapid, Controllable Evolution
- De Vries' mutation theory proposed that new species can appear rapidly during 'mutation periods'.
- That idea promised controllable, experimental evolution and sparked hopes for artificial breeding and
Biotopia: Futures Built On Biology
- 'Biotopia' names futures where biology, not just technology, is used to remake nature and human nature.
- These futures are ambiguous, mixing utopian hopes and dystopian anxieties about reshaping life.
