Peter Lang Companion to Latin American Science Fiction

The Peter Lang Companion to Latin American Science Fiction provides a comprehensive overview of science fiction in Latin America by addressing the history and criticism of the genre in the region. It not only maps the cornerstones of the field (books, comics, magazines, movies) but also studies the specific political, social and cultural concerns that gave rise to its distinctive patterns and ideas. This volume organizes and systematizes the state of the field. In this sense, the aim of the Companion is to analyze Latin American science fiction hand in hand with the literature and culture produced in the rest of the region, providing a proper context for its historic, cultural and political themes. Taking into account the complexity of contemporary debates in the field, the editors have made a point of inviting contributors from a wide variety of countries to provide the most diverse possible set of perspectives on the development of science fiction in Latin America. The volume serves the needs of readers interested in science fiction at large, either in its original language or in translation; students trying to understand the genre; and teachers seeking to address the main issues in the development of the genre in the region by including current approaches to the material. The Companion is an indispensable teaching and learning tool, as well as reference book for critics and interested readers.

About the Author :
Silvia G. Kurlat Ares is an independent researcher and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Postdoc from Johns Hopkins University. She has served as Chair of various LASA Sections and taught at both George Mason University and Johns Hopkins University. Ezequiel De Rosso holds a Ph.D. from the Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires. A researcher at CONICET, he teaches Latin American literature at the Universidad de las Artes, Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Tres de Febrero and Universidad del Cine. His research focuses on different aspects of contemporary Latin American literature, with an interest in the development of genres.

Review :
"This all started about sixty years ago. In Argentina, there were very few science fiction readers: people like Patricio Esteve, Angélica Gorodischer, Héctor R. Pessina, some Latin teachers and me. However, Paco Porrúa was editing the best of the genre, Borges appreciated it, and Bioy Casares practiced it. The academic world, with the notable exception of Raúl H. Castagnino, preferred to ignore it. As a student, I remember being reprimanded for writing about Lovecraft without waiting for the approval of French criticism. A couple of generations later, I found myself participating in international conferences on science fiction, which the university itself now convened. What was once the subject of sarcasm had become a respectable subject. What had happened? Well, the readers, ignoring academic admonitions, had multiplied. The genre tempted writers and mobilized researchers. If there were so many explorers and cartographers, it was because the forest had grown beyond expectations. Perhaps much of what was being written was not liked by veterans like me, but we had always promoted variety. Age can drive us to skepticism or resentment, but it can also give us the pleasure of tasting the fruits of what we once sowed. A book like this one, which explores the rich and multifaceted landscape of Latin American science fiction, is the best proof." --Pablo Capanna, Philosophy Professor, sf specialist, columnist for the Minotauro and El péndulo magazines "The Peter Lang Companion to Latin American Science Fiction is an apt testament to how important this genre is becoming in both Latin American and sf studies. With impressive range and clarity, it covers topics ranging from a chronology of speculative texts in Latin American literary history, to the cultures and communities that sustain sf in institutional publishing and fan contexts, to key themes that capture the distinct identity of Latin American sf--political figurations, the borders of science, and gender difference. The editors have curated an impressive set of essays that consider sf in media beyond print, and which take on the difficult question of how the genre might differ from neighboring aesthetic forms such as magical realism and canonical literature. This ground-breaking volume demonstrates the unique contributions and qualities of Latin American sf, and thus its influence on both Latin American cultural traditions and the global shape of sf today." --Sherryl Vint, Professor, UC Riverside, Editor, Science Fiction Studies, Editor, Palgrave Science and Popular Culture series