The University of Reading

Departments of English and History

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MA in Science Fiction: Histories, Texts, Media

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Please note that because of the absence of Professor James on a visiting professorship in the USA and of Professor Parrinder on a Leverhulme Fellowship, this course cannot be offered in the years 2001-2002 or 2002-2003. Please address all queries to Christine MacLeod, of the English Dept: e-mail here.

This new MA took its first students in October 1997, and started its fourth year in October 2000. It is intended to introduce students to the history of science fiction and to the whole gamut of its various cultural manifestations. Students will be expected to understand a range of critical and cultural theory, and to comprehend the different approaches that are possible to the historical and critical study of science fiction. Tuition will be given in research methods, as well as the close analysis of texts and problems, in preparation for the dissertation which forms a major part of the course. This MA course aims to prepare students for further postgraduate research in the relevant disciplinary fields.

This is an interdisciplinary course, which looks at science fiction from the perspective of cultural history and of film and media studies, as well as discussing the written literary texts; two members of staff from English and one member of staff from History are involved in the teaching of this course. Applicants should normally hold a good first degree in a relevant subject (such as Cultural Studies, English, Film and Drama, History, Media Studies, or other Humanities subject). Serious consideration will also be given to applicants with science or social science backgrounds, and to those with non-traditional qualifications at an appropriate level.

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Structure of Course

The full-time course is of twelve months' duration; it may also be studied part-time over two years. Full-time students are expected to attend weekly seminars in two core units in the Autumn Term and seminars in four special topics in the Lent Term. Assessment of these units is by means of an essay of 5000 words arising from one of the two core units and two essays (5000 words each) on two out of the four special topics. For full-time students the last five months of the course, to the end of August, is taken up with the writing of a dissertation of some 20,000 words; for part-time students the writing of the dissertation occupies the second year of the course.

Autumn Term
There are two core units, as well as a series of seminars on research methods. The first unit, "Theories and Methods", is taught be several members of the course team, and discusses the various theoretical approaches to science fiction which can be utilised by scholars from different disciplines: there are seminars on such subjects as genre theory, fictional narrative, SF and utopian thought, feminist theory, film theory, and TV and popular culture. The second unit, "Introducing Science Fiction", runs in parallel: it offers a series of seminars on science-fictional texts, including short stories, novels and films, from the early nineteenth century down to the present day. See details of the Autumn seminars being taught in 2000; and the short stories which serve as the basis for discussion.

Lent Term
Students take two special topics. These will vary from year to year, according to staff availability, but may be drawn from the following list:
Utopia in science fiction
The science fiction film
Feminist science fiction
Counter-factuals and alternative history
Science fiction and fantasy for young people
Science fiction on British television

Summer Term
There are occasional seminars, particularly some given by visiting speakers (resources permitting). Most of the period is taken up with the dissertation, which full-time students submit by the end of August.

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Staff Involved

Professor Edward James (History)
Ms Chris Macleod (English)
Professor Patrick Parrinder (English)

Professor James is the Director of Studies for the course. Author of Science Fiction in the Twentieth Century (Oxford University Press, 1994), he has been editor for the last fourteen years of Foundation: The International Review of Science Fiction, one of the leading academic journals in the field. His most recent books are collections, one edited with Farah Mendlesohn -- The Parliament of Dreams: Conferring on Babylon 5 -- and one edited with Andrew M. Butler and Farah Mendlesohn, Terry Pratchett: Guilty of Literature. Professor Parrinder is the author of Science Fiction: Its Criticism and Teaching (1980), the editor of Science Fiction: A Critical Guide (1979), and the author of several books on H.G. Wells, most recently Shadows of the Future: H.G. Wells, Science Fiction and Prophecy (Liverpool University Press, 1995). Ms Macleod teaches American literature, and is especially interested in feminist SF and feminist utopias.

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SF Resources

All students are expected to be, or to become, familiar with the use of e-mail and the World Wide Web. Through e-mail, they may able to observe and take part in the debates that happen on such mailing-lists as "sf-lit" (moderated at the Library of Congress) and "uk-sf-books", and to communicate with other sf scholars around the world. Through the World Wide Web they have access to a vast array of research resources in the field of written and media SF.

You may click here for a list (under continual construction) of some of these resources.

Brief bibliographical guides to the study of science fiction at the University of Reading may be accessed here under a variety of headings:

• 1. Reference
• 2. Additional Reference
• 3. Critical Journals
• 4. Additional Critical Journals
• 5. General Critical Works
• 6. Additional General Critical Works
• 7. Significant Story Anthologies
• 8. Science Fiction Magazines

One major research resource which is held at the University of Reading is the Publishers Archive, containing material deposited by numerous UK publishers from the late nineteenth century onwards, and including material relating to sf authors from H.G. Wells to J.G. Ballard.

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This page is maintained by Edward James: e-mail him for further information.

Last updated November 2000

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