Explores themes and motifs in post-1945 science fiction series for children.
Much literature for children appears in the form of series, in which familiar characters appear in book after book. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, authors began to write science fiction series for children. These early series generally had plots that revolved around inventions developed by the protagonist. But it was the development and use of rocket and atomic science during World War II that paved the way for interesting and exciting new themes, conflicts, and plots. While much has been written about the early juvenile science fiction series, particularly the Tom Swift books, comparatively little has been written about children's science fiction series published since 1945. This book provides a broad overview of this previously neglected topic.
The volume offers a critical look at the history, themes, characters, settings, and construction of post-1945 juvenile science fiction series, including the A.I. Gang, the Animorphs, Commander Toad, Danny Dunn, Dragonfall Five, the Magic School Bus, and Space Cat. The book begins with an introductory history of juvenile science fiction since 1945, with chapters then devoted to particular topics. Some of these topics include the role of aliens and animals, attitudes toward humor, the absence and presence of science, and the characterization of women. A special feature is an appendix listing the various series. In addition, the volume provides extensive bibliographical information.
Preface
Introduction
That Spark of Subversion: Robots, Androids, and Artificial Intelligence
The Celestial Barnyard: The Familiar and the Strange
No Business in Space?: The Female Presence
Science Is Serious Business: The Role of Humor
But What Is a Superconductor, Anyway?: The Absence and Presence of Science
The City of Gold and the City of Lead: Utopias and Dystopias
We Must Learn to Get Along: Aliens and Others
Juvenile Science Fiction Series and the Coming of Age
Appendix: Annotated Bibliography of Juvenile Science Fiction Series
Bibliography
Index
Reviews
Libraires that have science fiction clubs or readerships may want to invest in it.—School Library Journal
This survey of juvenile science fiction series since 1945 is recommended for scholary collections with a focus on young adult science fiction. Such collections will find this an important survey which fills in many gaps in literature, providing a broad review of the history, themes, characters and settings of post-1945 series titles from ^ISpace Cat^R to the ^IMagic School Bus^R of modern times.—The Bookwatch
The authors contribute to the possible creation of a canon of accepted YA texts with their by identifying other important critics of series and citing specific, well-known authors. They also have presented us with an introduction that goes into the history of series publishing and its relationship to science fiction which can be explaned with readings of F.J Molson's articles on the subject....The work is eminently readable as thumbnail sketches of the series under consideration.—The Midwest Book Review
