Bücher der Reihe Science Fiction Television

Although it lasted barely more than a season, Dollhouse continues to intrigue viewers as one of Joss Whedon's most provocative forays into television. The program centered on men and women who have their memories and personalities repeatedly wiped and replaced with new ones by a shadowy corporation dedicated to "fulfilling the whims of the rich." This chilling scenario was used to tell stories about big issues-power and resistance, freedom and servitude, class and gender-while always returning to its central themes of identity and individuality.In Joss Whedon's Dollhouse: Confounding Purpose, Confusing Identity, Sherry Ginn, Alyson R. Buckman, and Heather M. Porter bring together fourteen diverse essays that showcase the series' complex vision of the future. Contributors probe deeply into the fictional universe of the show by considering the motives of the wealthy clients and asking what love means when personalities are continually remade. Other essays consider the show's relations to politics, philosophy, and psychology and its representations of race and gender. Several essays explore the show's complex relationship to transhumanism: considering the dark potential for dehumanization and abuse that lurks beneath the promise of turning bodies into temporary vessels for immortal, downloadable personalities.Though a short-lived series, Dollhouse has been hailed as one of television's most thoughtful explorations of classic science fiction themes. As the first serious treatment of this landmark show, this collection will interest science-fiction scholars and Whedon fans alike.

Doctor Who is one of the most enduring British programs over the last 50 years and its success has translated to the U.S., where it has been shown for decades, first on PBS stations and currently on BBC America. This book looks at how the writers and producers of Doctor Who have adapted-and will no doubt continue to do so-various texts to create many episodes throughout the show's history.

In a richly developed fictional universe, Doctor Who, a wandering survivor of a once-powerful alien civilization, possesses powers beyond human comprehension. He can bend the fabric of time and space with his TARDIS, alter the destiny of worlds, and drive entire species into extinction. The good doctorΓÇÖs eleven ΓÇ£regenerationsΓÇ¥ and fifty yearsΓÇÖ worth of adventures make him the longest-lived hero in science-fiction television.In The Language of Doctor Who: From Shakespeare to Alien Tongues, Jason Barr and Camille D. G. Mustachio present several essays that use language as an entry point into the character and his universe. Ranging from the original to the rebooted television seriesΓÇöthrough the adventures of the first eleven DoctorsΓÇöthese essays explore how written and spoken language have been used to define the DoctorΓÇÖs ever-changing identities, shape his relationships with his many companions, and give him power over his enemiesΓÇöeven the implacable Daleks. Individual essays focus on fairy tales, myths, medical-travel narratives, nursery rhymes, and, of course, Shakespeare. Contributors consider how the DoctorΓÇÖs companions speak with him through graffiti, how the Doctor himself uses postmodern linguistics to communicate with alien species, and how language both unites and divides fans of classic Who and new Who as they try to converse with each other.Broad in scope, innovative in approach, and informed by a deep affection for the program, The Language of Doctor Who will appeal to scholars of science fiction, television, and language, as well as to fans looking for a new perspective on their favorite Time Lord.

This book looks at the adaptation of science fiction from literary and film sources for television. The authors examine television as having a separate identity and separate aesthetic principles from film and draw appropriate comparisons.

This book explores a genre of American science fiction television which emerged in the 1990s-that of conspiratorial science fiction.

This book explores how time travel has been used as a plot device in a number of television shows, including iconic programs like Doctor Who, Heroes, Lost, Quantum Leap, Red Dwarf, and the Star Trek franchise, among others. It is organized into three general themes-Origins, Correcting the Past, and Exploring the Future.

Stargate-1's original run overlapped the peak and aftermath of the Science Wars, which allowed for the show to engage questions about the nature of science and technology. This book focuses on how the series depicted science (as an enterprise) and scientists at a time when the Science Wars were raging and the nature of both was sharply contested.

This book explores the multiple types of irony-technological, invasive, martial, sociopolitical, and domestic-that were employed by the classic television show The Twilight Zone. Each of these uses of irony acts as a critique of a specific aspect of American culture, but all inform each other, creating a larger sense of social critique.

A short lived series created by Joss Whedon, Firefly nonetheless developed such a loyal following that Whedon was compelled to write and direct a big screen sequel in 2005. The show continues to generate a life of its own in books and comic books. This collection of twelve essays focuses on a number of themes including colonialism, race, gender, and politics.

Drawing upon her background in Organizational Leadership, the author looks at the various representations of leadership in science fiction programs of the last 50 years. She examines how the various leaders in these programs reflect societal trends in business, religion, spirituality, politics, and the military.