Spanning six centuries, this survey of the interplay between science and literature in the West begins with Chaucer's "Treatise on the Astrolabe" and includes commentary on key trends in contemporary literature.

Beginning with the birth of science fiction, the authors examine the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne as well as Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" within the context of a wider analysis of the impact of major historical developments like the Renaissance, the scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, and Romanticism. The book balances readings of literature with explanations of...