Vonnegut belongs to what Emerson called the party of hope but hope clearly restricted to this world. This book is the first scholarly study to discuss all of Vonnegut's novels against the background of his other writing, events of the 20th century, and the vast array of Vonnegut scholarship. In his novels he speaks eloquently and succinctly for his generation of Americans--the central generation of 20th-century Americans--thus making him the representative 20th-century American writer. His novels reflect the major traumatic public and private events that have gone into imagining being an...

In this unique exploration of Nietzsche's life and behavior, Dr. Richard Schain challenges the widely held view that this important philosopher's actions and erratic writings were due to general paresis, or syphilis of the brain. The author offers a detailed biography of Nietzsche's life, at each major turning point offering his own thoughts regarding why the diagnosis of syphilis is unsatisfactory to explain Nietszche's behavioral and thought patterns. With an accessible writing style and close attention to detail, Schain offers important reasons for one to reevaluate the claims made...

The idea of human cloning has fascinated writers and philosophers for centuries and has been dramatized in myths and fiction. This volume traces these fictional illustrations of human cloning from some of the earlier manifestations to more contemporary responses. Using a feminist and psychoanalytic perspective, this book examines parthenogenesis and other related fantasies, and argues that cloning could be an important tool in helping women achieve a more egalitarian status. Ferreira contemplates the new psychological implication for humanity that will arise as a result of the development...

Although the odyssey has long been recognized as a crucial characteristic of the epic, scant attention has been paid to it as a telling device within other forms of the fantastic. "Fantastic Odysseys" supports the long-held awareness of the odyssey metaphor as an integral function within literary discourse, one that demonstrates a continuum of essential change in human cultural experience. By shifting the focus of that awareness from the epic narrative to a range of other fantastic narratives, this collection challenges critical and literary boundaries while it expands the meaning and...

Having participated in the First World War, and having seen two of his sons serve in the Second, Tolkien was concerned with many of the same themes that interested other writers in the post-war period. The rhythm of war flows through his writings, but his own interpretation of the themes, symbols, and motifs of war, however, were influenced by his religious views and his interest in fantasy, which add another layer of meaning and a sense of timelessness to his writing. Croft explores the different aspect of Tolkien's relationship with war both in his life and in his work from the early...

Few subjects in contemporary philosophical and political debate are more cloaked in ambiguity than the issue of coercion -- whether on an individual or global scale or in areas as diverse as family relations, employment, and international finance. In this first full-length treatment of the topic, Professor Rosenbaum carefully reviews previous thinking on this question and develops a persuasive original theory focusing on the conceptual relationship between human social autonomy and coercion.

Taken to extremes, social organization--however necessary in itself--leads to the creation of what editors Erlich and Dunn label Clockwork Worlds. This anthology has been organized to define and expand that concept for the reader. Arthur O. Lewis provides a comprehensive overview of clockwork worlds and sets them in their political and literary contexts. Following Lewis' introduction are two series of essays which show how the theme of mechanized environments has been developed in classic works of dystopian fiction, and how it has been treated by some of the major contemporary science...