| Worlds Apart?: Dualism and Transgression in Contemporary Female Dystopias Contributor(s): Mohr, Dunja M. (Author), Palumbo, Donald E. (Editor), Sullivan, C. W., III (Editor) |
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ISBN: 0786421428 ISBN-13: 9780786421428 Publisher: McFarland and Company, Inc. OUR PRICE: $39.55 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: June 2005 Annotation: Literary critics and scholars have written extensively on the demise of the ?utopian spirit? in the modern novel. What has often been overlooked is the emergence of a new hybrid subgenre, particularly in science fiction and fantasy, which incorporates utopian strategies within the dystopian narrative, particularly in the feminist dystopias of the 1980s and 1990s. The author names this new subgenre ?transgressive utopian dystopias.? Suzette Haden Elgin's "Native Tongue" trilogy, Suzy McKee Charna's "Holdfast" series, and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" are thoroughly analyzed within the context of this this new subgenre of ?transgressive utopian dystopias.? Analysis focuses particularly on how these works cover the interrelated categories of gender, race and class, along with their relationship to classic literary dualism and the dystopian narrative. Without completely dissolving the dualistic order, the feminist dystopias studied here contest the notions of unambiguity and authenticity that are generally part of the canon. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Literary Criticism | Science Fiction & Fantasy - Literary Criticism | Women Authors |
| Dewey: 813.509 |
| LCCN: 2005000883 |
| Series: Critical Explorations in Science Fiction and Fantasy |
| Physical Information: 0.76" H x 6.08" W x 9.02" (1 lbs) 320 pages |
| Themes: - Sex & Gender - Feminine |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Literary critics and scholars have written extensively on the demise of the utopian spirit in the modern novel. What has often been overlooked is the emergence of a new hybrid subgenre, particularly in science fiction and fantasy, which incorporates utopian strategies within the dystopian narrative, particularly in the feminist dystopias of the 1980s and 1990s. The author names this new subgenre transgressive utopian dystopias. Suzette Haden Elgin's Native Tongue trilogy, Suzy McKee Charna's Holdfast series, and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale are thoroughly analyzed within the context of this this new subgenre of transgressive utopian dystopias. Analysis focuses particularly on how these works cover the interrelated categories of gender, race and class, along with their relationship to classic literary dualism and the dystopian narrative. Without completely dissolving the dualistic order, the feminist dystopias studied here contest the notions of unambiguity and authenticity that are generally part of the canon. |