"Adam Roberts examines the history of science fiction and the critical debate which surrounds this, providing beginners with a springboard for further study, but also challenging more advanced students with original interpretations of key SF texts. These range from Ursula Le Guin's 1969 feminist SF novel The Left Hand of Darkness, to Barry Sonnenfeld's 1997 blockbuster film Men in Black. Roberts introduces essential critical terminology, looking in detail at concepts of alien, cyborg, spaceship and robot, and tackling issues such as gender, race, technology and science fiction/science fact."--Jacket.