{"product_id":"plagues-apocalypses-and-bug-eyed-monsters-heather-urbanski-9780786429165","title":"Plagues, Apocalypses and Bug-Eyed Monsters: How Speculative Fiction Shows Us Our Nightmares","description":"\u003cp\u003e Speculative fiction--both science fiction and fantasy--reflects, among other things, the fears of the culture that created it, contributing (perhaps unconsciously) to our efforts to prevent our fears from coming true. While the names and media change over time, the themes of speculative fiction have a long history. Nineteenth century works such as \u003ci\u003eFrankenstein\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Invisible Man\u003c\/i\u003e contain many of the same messages as the more modern tales of \u003ci\u003eTerminator, Jurassic Park\u003c\/i\u003e and even \u003ci\u003eBuffy, the Vampire Slayer, \u003c\/i\u003e although almost a century separates their creation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This critical study discusses the ways in which speculative fiction reflects societal fears and analyzes how such cautionary tales contribute to society's efforts to avoid the realization of these fears. Beginning with a discussion of the nature of speculative fiction, it takes a look at the characteristics of the cautionary tale. The core of the book, however, is the concept of the \"Nightmares Model,\" which examines and categorizes the repetition of specific themes within the genre. The dangers of science and technology, the perils of power, and the threat of the unknown are discussed as recurrent themes within a variety of works in prose, film and television. Works analyzed range from \u003ci\u003eTwenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003e2001: A Space Odyssey\u003c\/i\u003e to \u003ci\u003eThe Blair Witch Project.\u003c\/i\u003e Sources include the author's own observations as a member of the genre's fandom, a variety of published commentaries and the perspectives of contemporary professionals gained through personal interviews and panel discussions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Heather Urbanski\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 078642916X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780786429165\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/23\/2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 264\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.81lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.22h x 5.80w x 0.61d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eReference and Research Bk News\u003c\/i\u003e 05\/01\/2007 pg. 263","brand":"Heather Urbanski","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":45064505819391,"sku":"9780786429165","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6f752483-dd84-48ad-a6ba-f43a01215f60.jpg?v=1712124479","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/plagues-apocalypses-and-bug-eyed-monsters-heather-urbanski-9780786429165","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}