Science fiction can take us places in time and space where no other art can. It has motivated cutting-edge scientific research, inspired new technologies, and changed how we view everyday life-and its themes and questions permeate popular culture. Take an unparalleled look at the influence, history, and greatest works of science fiction with illuminating insights and fascinating facts about this wide-ranging genre.
How Great Science Fiction Works
Examine what makes science fiction an enduring phenomenon that has reflected and inspired our highest technological aspirations-as well as our darkest fears.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
neilrieck from
I wish my parents could have viewed this
I was born in 1952 Canada so was brought up in this environment. My parents (devout evangelical Lutherans) kept telling my that my obsession with science fiction (books and comics) was a complete waste of time, but the way this lecture ties sci-fi to the zeitgeist of the time vindicates my obsession. I just finished watching the last lecture of this course, so will wait a few months then watch it again. Many thanks.
p.s Asimov's Foundation Trilogy (now available on AppleTV+) was inserted into something called Asimov's Favorite Fifteen (just do a google search). True Asimov fans would be wise to read those books in Asimov's suggested order.
Date published: 2024-09-29
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Canadian from
Praise for this Course Plus an Alert!
Speaking as a fan of science fiction, and one who is quite well-read in the genre, I can affirm that Dr. Gary K. Wolfe’s analyses of science fiction’s history, iconic themes, past and current trends, changing status in public regard, and future potential are very, very good. The author’s own clear course review spells out for prospective purchasers just what he will cover in his 24 lectures. “How Great Science Fiction Works” deserves a 5-out-of-5 star rating and enthusiastic recommendation.
However—and here comes the alert—many of the stories and novels mentioned in the course are analyzed in detail, often revealing a lot of plot, potential surprises for readers, and even some endings. I didn’t mind this level of revelations. I’d either already known such details, or I still felt I’d want to read the featured material, in any case. A course on Shakespeare’s plays or Faulkner’s novels, say, or generally on varied classics of world literature, would surely mention and analyze details of just how gifted writers had crafted their works and what they had covered. Dr. Wolfe’s course does reveal a lot, and he discusses that total in depth. I certainly did not mind that, but be well advised about what this course is like.
Date published: 2024-08-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DaGeek from
Sci-Fi Fan? A Must Watch
TV was never a big thing around my house, and we passed a few years outside the country with TV in another language – and not particular good. Reading became a passion for me and my two siblings just younger than me. I graduated from reading Hardy Boys mysteries to science fiction. This was in what many folks call the Golden Age of Sci-Fi. While I would read just about anything I could my hands, sci-fi was definitely my go to genre. I will admit to still being a bit of fan of the pulp era of science fiction, but then I like cheesy detective stories and Victorian and Russian novels too. Can you say eclectic?
Life then kicked in and my reading became more education and work focused. Now that my life is slowing down I have gone back to reading a lot, including a lot of sci-fi, even re-reading some of the books of my youth. Admittedly that sometimes does not work out well. A few books I thought were absolutely fantastic at 15, seem pretty lame now.
The presenter has a very low key presentation style that takes a little getting used, but I found him exceedingly knowledgeable and entertaining. He did get very animated during the Cyberpunk class and the last two classes dealing with more current sci-fi and the future of sci-fi.
I found myself frequently going, I remember that book or story, or I need to read that book or author. I rediscovered a book I had been trying to find for decades. What little I remembered of the story has haunted me a bit. I started it as young teenager, but for some reason did not finish it or did not remember the ending. I could not remember the title or author. Maybe I borrowed the book and had to give it back as we were moving, who knows. It was the classic “Slan” by A. E. van Vogt. I am now about half way through it.
This is a well thought out survey of the field and various tropes used by science fiction writers. The presenter touches on a wide range of authors and styles, influential early editors of the pulp magazines. It some ways it was as much a philosophy/sociology/civics course as it was a survey of sci-fi. After all, sci-fi, like other forms of literature explores these issues.
He touched briefly of sci-fi movies at various points in the series, but the concentration is on the written.
I thoroughly enjoyed the series, and I am betting that if you are a fan of this genre you will too. Although I do think that even if you are not a fan, you will parts of it very interesting.
Date published: 2023-12-30
Rated 5 out of
5
by
UHane from
A real page turner!
I learned so much from this course, especially about the era before I could read. I love the way he's broken it down into various aspects and jusped around in time within it to reference his thesis. SOO recommend.
Date published: 2023-03-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ksmyth from
What a wonderful course
I just finished watching the course on Amazon. I would like to just say I learned a lot, but it was so much more valuable than that, because I began to think about science fiction differently than just as escapist fiction. Prof. Wolfe did a great idea of offering great examples of the changing approach to the genre as well as how to see the great ideas in science fiction. My favorite of the courses I've taken through my streaming subscription.
Date published: 2023-02-04
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Wire from
Perfect for creating your own lectures on sci-fi
This course was perfect for what I needed: ideas for what to cover, and source material, for my own sci-fi course that I am giving for the first time to a bunch of retired folks. It turns out that just being an avid sci-fi reader and film watcher for 60 years didn't completely prepare me to give this course. Now I know how to give such a course, and so far the students are loving it.
Date published: 2022-09-21
Rated 4 out of
5
by
kacx from
Great Overview of Science Fiction Literature
I enjoyed this course. I read, a lot, of everything so I have read my share of science fiction. But, I would not consider myself a huge science fiction fan or well versed in the topic. So, this was a really great introduction to many titles and authors. What I really gained from the course was the history behind science fiction writing, including how history has shaped some of the trends of the genre. And, I have used the guide to pick some titles to read.
Date published: 2022-06-28
Rated 3 out of
5
by
former fan from
Not sure I like science fiction anymore
The author knows a lot about science fiction, much more than me. After listening to many of his many lectures on science fiction I am wondering if I even care for it myself.
Date published: 2022-04-05
Overview
About
Dr. Gary K. Wolfe is a Professor of Humanities in Roosevelt University's Evelyn T. Stone College of Professional Studies. He earned his B.A. from the University of Kansas and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. Dr. Wolfe has earned many awards, including the Pilgrim Award from the Science Fiction Research Association, the Distinguished Scholarship Award from the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, the Eaton Award from the Eaton Science Fiction Conference, the British Science Fiction Association Award for Best Non-Fiction, the Locus Award for Non-Fiction, and the World Fantasy Award for criticism and reviews. He has been nominated for the prestigious Hugo Award from the World Science Fiction Convention, twice for his nonfiction and three times for the podcast he co-hosts with Jonathan Straham. A reviewer for Locus magazine since 1991 and the Chicago Tribune since 2013, and author or editor of a dozen books, Dr. Wolfe also edited the 2012 Library of America's American Science Fiction: Nine Classic Novels of the 1950s and edits a series of monographs on science fiction authors for the University of Illinois Press.
Trailer
01: Mary Shelley and the Birth of Science Fiction
Kick off your adventure into science fiction by clearly defining what science fiction is, and more importantly, what science fiction is not. Learn how science fiction is distinguished from-yet often confused with-other literary genres such as fantasy and horror. Take a look at the concept of the "monster" through horror, fantasy, and science fiction to help define the differences in the genres. Ex...
31 min
02: Science Fiction in the 19th Century
Look at some of the most important names in 19th-century science fiction, including Poe, Verne, and Wells. From the books and stories they penned, the 20th-century science fiction story emerged. Explore select works from each author, gain the context to better understand their writings and lives, and learn how they influenced what we know as science fiction today....
31 min
03: Science Fiction Treatments of History
We commonly think of science fiction as dealing with the future, but there is a fascinating subset of science fiction that looks at the past. Learn how science fiction writers often mix real-life history with fiction and invoke mechanisms such as time travel to explore alternate histories-looking at how the world might have been different had history gone another direction at pivotal points in our...
34 min
04: Evolution and Deep Time in Science Fiction
The concept of alternate histories enables vast possibilities. Discover how many science fiction stories tackle massive timescales, taking us from the very beginning to the very end of the universe, and any time and place in between. Examine the ideas science fiction writers proposed about evolution, anthropology, physics, religion, mythology, and more, and see how these concepts influence their v...
34 min
05: Utopian Dreams and Dystopian Nightmares
One intriguing theme presented in science fiction is the concept of utopia and dystopia-and how remarkably similar these two seeming opposites can be. Explore the fundamental questions of "Can our lives be better?" and "Can our lives be worse?" Take an in-depth look at some of the most poignant portrayals of utopian and dystopian societies and the social contexts that inspired them....
32 min
06: The Rise of the Science Fiction Pulps
Science fiction battled a long-standing bad reputation, born out of the "pulp era" in history. Survey the rise of pulp science fiction through serials, magazines, and short stories at the turn of the 20th century and through the 1950s. You'll gain an appreciation of the obstacles the genre had to overcome through this period in history as Professor Wolfe highlights key authors who contributed to-a...
32 min
07: The Golden Age of Science Fiction Stories
After World War II, science fiction took a turn for the better. Learn how one pivotal magazine called Astounding Science Fiction helped change the tide on science fiction. Review the specific works, writers, and editors who contributed to the resurgence of the science fiction. Uncover some of the little-known gems that shaped modern science fiction by reflecting society's struggles, anxieties, and...
33 min
08: The Spaceship As a Science Fiction Icon
Science fiction is known for distinguishing elements: artificial intelligence, time travel, aliens, outer space, and more. Delve into one of the more iconic components of science fiction-the spaceship. Learn how the spaceship is portrayed in some of the most famous stories, as well as lesser-known works. Consider how stories of space exploration parallel and reflect the realities in which they are...
32 min
09: The Robot: From Capek to Asimov
Robots are a common theme in science fiction, but why? Professor Wolfe introduces you to Karel Capek, who adapted the word "robot" from a Czech word meaning "forced labor." Witness the evolution of this concept in science fiction throughout history-including the introduction of the android, existential questions about the nature of cyborgs, and the consequences of robots who think....
32 min
10: The Golden Age of the Science Fiction Novel
In 1950, the New York Times ran an article claiming that science fiction had graduated from pulp fiction to respectable hardcover books. Learn how this remarkable validation was brought to fruition, and see how television and radio helped propel the popularity of science fiction novels. Examine influential authors of novels during this decade, with an in-depth look at Ray Bradbury, Frederik Pohl a...
31 min
11: From Mars to Arrakis: The Planet
A key differentiator between fantasy and science fiction is that fantasy stories often take place in worlds, while science fiction stories take place on a planet. Thus, the theme of planets is common among some of the great science fiction works in history. Explore the use of planets-whether being discovered or already colonized-in a variety of works. Focus on Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars trilogy, ...
33 min
12: The Science Fiction Wasteland
Not all science fiction predicts technology-driven modern futures. Look at the stories over time that foreshadowed a desolate and bleak future, ravaged by environmental issues, plagues, or cataclysmic events. Examine the five components of apocalyptic stories, the various paradoxes the wasteland-style novels predict or reflect, and some stellar examples from this often bleak subgenre....
31 min
13: Invasions, Space Wars, and Xenocide
Science fiction includes war stories-which often respond to real-life wars. Ascertain how authors such as H. G. Wells took the subgenre of invasion tales to a new level by reflecting current anxieties such as annexation through fictional tales of intergalactic attacks. You'll also learn the truth behind The War of the Worlds hoax. Dig deep into themes such as genocide and extermination and how the...
31 min
14: Religion in Science Fiction
A number of science fiction stories tackle the concept of religion, which is often at odds with the concepts that define science fiction. Delve into how science fiction approaches religion, from parody, to reimagining familiar biblical stories and characters in the scope of science fiction, to confronting existing religions and inventing new beliefs. You'll also explore the opposite scenario, in w...
33 min
15: Science Fiction's New Wave
In order to truly make a mark on the literary world, science fiction needed to develop a substantial body of work. In the 1950s and 1960s, see how authors such as J.G. Ballard defined and contributed to the New Wave. You'll also visit the anthologies of Michael Moorcock and Harlan Ellison to discuss whether they helped transform science fiction or reflected an existing shift that would have occurr...
30 min
16: Encounters with the Alien Other
Aliens are another icon and staple of science fiction. Often depicted as hostile and representing the unknown "other" as well as our fears about ourselves, aliens have been examined (and have examined us) in a variety of stories. Journey through the portrayal of aliens in important works by Robert A. Heinlein, John W. Campbell, Jack Finney, Larry Niven, Stanislaw Lem, and Karen Joy Fowler....
30 min
17: Environmentalism in Science Fiction
Here you'll revisit the idea that science fiction often deals directly with the consequences of human actions, whether through robots who take over the world or massive storms produced by climate change. Starting with a common theme in many science fiction novels, bugs, Professor Wolfe walks you through works that feature-and often correctly predicted-environmental concerns and ramifications....
33 min
18: Gender Questions and Feminist Science Fiction
One stereotype science fiction still hasn't fully shaken off is that it is a predominantly male genre. Originally, the audience was assumed to be male because science fiction often featured similar themes of exploration, war, and domination that characterized the Western genre. This idea was so prevalent that female science fiction writers were often only successful when writing under a male pseud...
31 min
19: Cyberpunk and the 1980s
Gibson's Neuromancer and the movie Blade Runner (based on the Philip K. Dick novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) together formed a gritty, corporatized view of the future that set the standard for science fiction to come. Throughout the 80s, the concepts of corporatization took hold in science fiction, while at the same time, with real-life technological advances, authors began to investiga...
32 min
20: The 1990s: The New Space Opera
Space operas-mega-adventures that span galaxies and many pages-introduce complex and layered narratives with complicated characters who are often not immediately likable. Professor Wolfe traces the components that comprise a space opera, differentiating it from a regular series. Consider how these new space operas relate to-and differ from-classic space operas, and see how modern television and mo...
29 min
21: The Artifact as a Science Fiction Icon
The artifact in science fiction is typically a manufactured item with value, power, or mystery, which can be as small as a subatomic particle or as immense as the wormhole from the 2014 film Interstellar. Many science fiction stories grow around the search for an artifact, the protection of an artifact, or the quest to discover what meaning or use the artifact has. Explore how science fiction gian...
29 min
22: Science Fiction's Urban Landscapes
While many science fiction stories take place in post-apocalyptic wastelands, deep in outer space, or on other planets, another common setting for science fiction is the futuristic city. Compare two different interpretations of urban landscapes, looking first at the flying cars and enormous glass and steel buildings some stories envision, then the gritty, dark dystopia the cyberpunk era introduced...
28 min
23: Science Fiction in the 21st Century
Shift your attention to how science fiction grew through the last century into this one. Uncover how the genre has developed from having highly similar plots, audiences, and even authors, into a diverse field with international appreciation and ownership. Tour novels and stories featuring characters of all shapes and colors, written by authors of varying ethnicities, nationalities, and genders. Le...
30 min
24: The Future of Science Fiction
Speculate with Professor Wolfe to consider how science fiction may be evolving in the future, as this genre is gaining popularity, acknowledgement, and recognition as an art form worthy of literary respect. Science fiction writers are topping the best-seller lists, and many works of literary fiction now seamlessly weave in elements that half a century ago would have been dismissed as science ficti...
31 min
