The ultimate strength in this text is that it serves as a companion to multiple pieces of science fiction and fantasy, while also focusing on a distinctively post-Holocaust thematic that arrives most clearly in the segment discussing post-apocalyptic works. The author’s observations are well supported by evidence cited directly from the source material. This strategy and presentation keeps both the analysis grounded.
Jewish Book Council
In <i>Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy of the 1960s and 70s: The Post-Holocaust Authors</i>, Valerie Estelle Frankel provides a fascinating ride through some of the key texts of the era and the Jews, Jewishness and Judaism in them. Highly recommended.
- Nathan Abrams, Professor of Film Studies, Bangor University, Wales and author of <i>The New Jew in Film: Exploring Jewishness and Judaism in Contemporary Cinema</i>,
<i>Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy of the 1960s and 70s </i>is another excellent book from the wonderfully prolific author and scholar Valerie Estelle Frankel. Covering the vast ground of Jewishness and the Holocaust in speculative fiction and cinema of the crucial two decades in the US, Israel, and South America, the volume is a rich source on everything from <i>Star Trek </i>to Kubrick to Clarice Lispector. Both the newcomers and aficionados of the genre will find here much to learn and debate. Highly recommended.
- Marat Grinberg, Reed College,
Following the Holocaust, American literature experienced a resurgence of Jewish themes, characters, and contributions. This book focuses on the genres of science fiction and fantasy of the post-Holocaust period and argues that while the era was colored by grief, it also offered a renaissance of Jewish creative expression. The author provides an overview of texts beginning with the rise of Jewish speculative fiction anthologies in science fiction and fantasy and delving into emerging subgenres such as alternate history, post-apocalyptic, cold war, second-wave feminism, counterculture parodies, new wave, postmodernism, and cyberpunk to illustrate how Jewish culture made its mark on popular culture. The book also covers the Silver Age and Bronze Age of comics which saw Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Julius Schwartz, and Marv Wolfman form new superhero teams to battle prejudice and draws parallels with some of the most impactful shows made by Jewish creators, including Star Trek, Twilight Zone, and Doctor Who. The analysis also looks beyond the American context to include texts from Germany, the Soviet Union, Brazil, and Israel.
This book analyzes Jewish themes, characters, and contributions in science fiction and fantasy of the post-Holocaust period, from the U.S., Europe, the Soviet Union, South America, and Israel. The author explores the ways in which comic books, parody films, and emerging literary subgenres contested prejudice and embraced counterculture.
History? How the Hell Did That Happen?
by Jack Dann
Introduction
Chapter 1: Major Franchises
Chapter 2: Silver and Bronze Age Comics
Chapter 3: Postwar Fantasy Subgenres
Chapter 4: Humor from Spaceballs to Sleeper
Chapter 5: Science Fiction Tropes
Chapter 6: Alternate History
Chapter 7: The Postwar World
Chapter 8: The Emerging Israeli Genres
Conclusion
Jewish science fiction is a monumental literary genre worldwide, with hundreds of novels and short stories along with an enormous canon of films, plays, television shows, and graphic novels. It’s also strikingly popular. Not only have works of this category just won the Hugo and World Fantasy Award while dominating bestseller lists, but talks on the subject are standing room only. The Own Voices movement has led to a renaissance of Jewish fantasy, even as its authors create imaginary worlds reflecting their unique cultures. This series seeks subtopics of exploration within the massive canon, defining aspects of Jewish genre fiction and its unique qualities. It features both monographs and anthologies focused on trends, tropes, individual authors, beloved franchises, and so on. Scholars of all disciplines are welcome, especially those in Jewish Studies, Literature, and Media Studies, while interdisciplinary and international perspectives are particularly encouraged.
Series Editor: Valerie Estelle Frankel
Produktdetaljer
Om bidragsyterne
Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches at Mission College and San Jose City College.