“Speculative Fiction” is a genre that stretches back to the earliest literary texts – think Aesop’s Fables, Homer, and Beowulf. Perhaps less so now, Science Fiction has been a literary genre frowned upon by “serious” literary thinkers and by more than a few creative writing professors. Nonetheless, it cannot be denied that the texts we will cover in this course impact readers and have something to say about the cultural/social/political milieu. This course is not a survey course in the history of Science Fiction literature, but rather, we will take a close look at five works which will illustrate elements of Science Fiction in its various forms.

1. To appreciate the method and artistry of the works studied; 2. To develop an understanding of the nature of Science Fiction; 3. To analyze theme and method in literature; 4. To develop skills at presenting ideas in class discussions, oral reports, and written papers.