Nursery Realms: Children in the Worlds of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

by Richard Hardack (Contribution by), Gary Westfahl (Editor), George Slusser (Editor), Eric S. Rabkin (Contribution by), Alida Allison (Contribution by)

Overview

Child characters are surprisingly common in horror, fantasy, and science fiction literature and films. Children represent innocence and virtue and symbolize the classic question of fantastic literature: What is the future of the human race, and how will science and society improve or impair that future? This collection of essays explores the roles of children in the literature and film of the fantastic. The works vary in critical approach from textual analyses to psychological, historical, and gender- and ethnicity-based interpretations and draw their subject matter from contemporary and classic literary and film pieces.

"The Triumph of Teen Prop: Terminator II and the End of History" is a playful discussion of teen propaganda movies and social issues. "E.T. as Fairy Tale" examines how Stephen Spielberg's combination of science fiction, fantasy, and fairy tale elements blends logic and childhood magic. Howard M. Lenhoff connects mythical creatures with biology in "A Real-World Source for the 'Little People': A Comparison of Fairies to Individuals with Williams Syndrome." The literary selection ranges from Alida Allison's study of childhood in Isaac Bashevis Singer's writings to Bud Foote's interpretation of childhood roles in the characters of selected Stephen King works. Other essays consider Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, Anne Rice's The Witching Hour, and the childhood classic Peter Pan.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780820321448
Publisher:	University of Georgia Press
Publication date:	09/02/1999
Series:	Proceedings of the J. Lloyd Eaton Conference on Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature Series
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

GEORGE SLUSSER is a professor comparative literature and director of the Eaton Program for Science Fiction and Fantasy Studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author or editor of nineteen books, including Styles of Creation (Georgia).

ERIC S. RABKIN is a professor of English and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan. He has written or edited twenty books, including The Fantastic in Literature and Teaching Writing That Works.

Gary Westfahl (Editor)
GARY WESTFAHL teaches at the University of California, Riverside.

George Slusser (Editor)
GEORGE SLUSSER is a professor comparative literature and director of the Eaton Program for Science Fiction and Fantasy Studies at the University of California, Riverside. He is the author or editor of nineteen books, including Styles of Creation (Georgia).

Editorial Reviews

Quickly and astutely . . this book makes its case that 'children' transcend a simple classification as a subaltern group of culture and society, placing them more in the context of a 'genesis' site for mankind's wonder, fear and imagination. Nursery Realms is clearly a thoughtful and deliberate exploration of an important theme, and as such is definitely a must for any scholar interested in expanding the conversation of cultural understanding of mankind's place in the universe and, more importantly, in relationship between man and himself.

Louisiana State University - John W. Wright

"Quickly and astutely . . this book makes its case that 'children' transcend a simple classification as a subaltern group of culture and society, placing them more in the context of a 'genesis' site for mankind's wonder, fear and imagination. Nursery Realms is clearly a thoughtful and deliberate exploration of an important theme, and as such is definitely a must for any scholar interested in expanding the conversation of cultural understanding of mankind's place in the universe and, more importantly, in relationship between man and himself."--John W. Wright, Louisiana State University

From the Publisher