This new collection of critical essays on science fiction and fantasy literature features the following pieces: "Setting Ideas in Space, Time, and Infinity," "The Necessity of Science Fiction," "The British and American Traditions of Speculative Fiction," "The Biology and Sociology of Alien Worlds," "Cosmic Perspectives in Nineteenth-Century Literature," "An Introduction to Alternate Worlds," "Adolf Hilter: His Part in Our Struggle: (A Brief Economic History of British SF Magazines)," "The Battle of Dorking and Its Aftermath," "The Science in Science Fiction," "The Siren Song of Sexuality:...

This new collection of critical essays on science fiction and fantasy literature and media features the following pieces: "Slaves of the Death Spiders: Colin Wilson and Existential Science Fiction," "Is There No Balm in Gilead? The Woeful Prophecies of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale," "A Few More Crocodile Tears?" "The Adventures of Lord Horror Across the Media Landscape," "Filling in the Middle: Robert Silverberg's The Queen of Springtime," "Rice's Relapse: Memnoch the Devil," "Field of Broken Dreams: Michael Bishop's Brittle Innings," "The Magic of the Movies," "H. G. Wells and the...

The system of "seven states of consciousness" articulated by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi forms the basis of this unusual critique of modern literature. In seven chapters, "Invitation to the Dance," "Absurdity," "Transcendence," "Enlightenment," "Celebration," "Unity," and "The Enlightened Artist," Douglas Mackey here examines fourteen well-known writers and their equally well-known works.