American science fiction film and television

the long version

Overview: American Science Fiction Film and Television presents a critical history of late twentieth-century science fiction together with an analysis of the cultural and thematic concerns of this popular genre. Science fiction film and television were initially inspired by the classic literature of HG Wells and Jules Verne. The potential and fears born with the Atomic Age fueled the popularity of the genre, upping the stakes for both technology and apocalypse. From the Cold War through to America's current War on Terror, science fiction has proved a subtle vehicle for the hopes, fears and preoccupations of a nation at war. The definitive introduction to American science fiction, this is also the first study to analyze it across both film and TV. Throughout, the discussion is illustrated with critical case studies of key films and television series, including Invasion of the Body Snatchers, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The X-Files, and Battlestar Galactica.