Grandes relatos de ciencia ficción: Asimov, Bujold, Le Guin y Keyes

Science fiction as a genre has a long history with the medium of short story.  It also has a long history wrestling with difficult and sensitive topics.  As a kind of speculative fiction, SciFi asks questions that might otherwise be taboo.  Come and join me to read four great short stories from 1941-1989.  Each one has deep and disturbing themes which may lead us to question our own society and our role in it. 

Week 1: Students should read "Nightfall" by Isaac Asimov before coming to class.  In class we will learn about Asimov's place in Science Fiction history. We will discuss the structure of the story, the role religion plays in the story (ie the cultist) and the idea of the "what if" in science fiction.  For homework everyone should write 1-2 paragraphs on what might happen next in the story. 

Week 2: Students should read "Those Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula Le Guin before coming to class.  In class we we will learn about Le Guin's place in Science Fiction history.  We will discuss the structure of the story with a focus on the ethics of the society and the questions posed by the ending.  For homework everyone should write a 1st person narrative as if they were walking away from the cell. 

Week 3: Students should read "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes before coming to class. (Please be sure to get the SHORT story not the novel!)  In class we will discuss Keyes vision of low vs high intelligence and how it was relayed through word choice, insight and writing style.  We will discuss the modern concept of "bullying" and "becoming a victim" in light of the story. For homework everyone should write 2 journal entries about the same day (about 1 paragraph each) one from the early Charlie Gordon and another from the very intelligent Charlie Gordon.

Week 4: Students should read the "Mountains of Mourning" by Lois McMasters Bujold before coming to class. In class we will discuss the constraints that the author's world put on her characters. We will discuss population/economic pressures and the question of infanticide and briefly consider how it is practiced today. We will also discuss the role that mercy plays or does not play in the story.  There is no homework following this class. 

This is a discussion intensive course. All students are expected to interact with respect and civility.  I understand that the material is controversial and expect and welcome disagreement, but kindness facilitates productive and persuasive conversation.  If a student finds reading and writing difficult, I am willing for them to access the material in audio format and to submit their homework in video form.  Please contact me with any questions concerning accommodations.