The Fire in the Stone: Prehistoric Fiction from Charles Darwin to Jean M. Auel (The Wesleyan Early Classics of Science Fiction Series)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.60 (761 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0819569003 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 292 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-04-04 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
The book includes illustrations that trace the changing popular images of cave men and women over the past 150 years.. Nicholas Ruddick explains why prehistoric fiction could not come into being until after the acceptance of Charles Darwin’s theories, and argues that many early prehistoric fiction works are still worth reading even though the science upon which they are based is now outdated. Rosny Aîné, Jack London, William Golding, Arthur C. Wells, Jules Verne, J.-H. Auel and reminds us of some unjustly forgotten landmarks of prehistoric fiction. Exploring the history and evolution of the genre, Ruddick
Don Sky said As I write this, the book is already on back order--for a reason. My favourite line comes in the second, thematic half of the book's discussion of prehistoric fiction. The author says that blaming (Darwin's bulldog) Huxley for sexism making as little sense as blaming Orville and Wilbur for 9/11. It's a brilliant, wickedly funny non sequitur that well summarized the charm, eloquence and sensibility of this study. The author must have read an astounding amount of fiction for that book. My interest was piqued by seeing numerous well-researched references to all matters Darwinian from the turn of the 19-"As I write this, the book is already on back order--for a reason" according to Don Sky. My favourite line comes in the second, thematic half of the book's discussion of prehistoric fiction. The author says that blaming (Darwin's bulldog) Huxley for sexism making as little sense as blaming Orville and Wilbur for 9/11. It's a brilliant, wickedly funny non sequitur that well summarized the charm, eloquence and sensibility of this study. The author must have read an astounding amount of fiction for that book. My interest was piqued by seeing numerous well-researched references to all matters Darwinian from the turn of the 19-20th centuries. One critical comment: the abbreviation of prehistoric fiction t. 0th centuries. One critical comment: the abbreviation of prehistoric fiction t. Why Can't English Professors Write English? Because, first and foremost, they're professors who have spent their whole lives talking only to each other and their long-suffering students. Go to any page in this very disappointing work and you'll find the dead hand of turgid academic prose. The author may be using English words, but this is lit'ry criticism at its most obscure and self-referential. I found his point that you couldn't have prehistoric fiction until you had the concept of evolution to be interesting, but if you love to read Jean Auel and her compatriots (nonewithstanding the crushingly disappointing Land of Painted Caves which played her fans . "The best part of books like these" according to Michael Valdivielso. is they can become a source of information about more authors and books. Yes, I knew about H.G. Wells, and Jean M. Auel and Baxter and Rosney. But never heard of some of the stories, even if I know the authors. The field is just so huge. Not only does he show that fiction and science effect each other more than we would like to think but he also showed me just how little I understood about The Clan of The Cave Bear - frankly I was missing a lot of the finer details.If you enjoy this book may I also suggest Prehistoric Humans in Film and Television: 581 Dramas, Comedies and Documentaries, 1905-200The best part of books like these Michael Valdivielso is they can become a source of information about more authors and books. Yes, I knew about H.G. Wells, and Jean M. Auel and Baxter and Rosney. But never heard of some of the stories, even if I know the authors. The field is just so huge. Not only does he show that fiction and science effect each other more than we would like to think but he also showed me just how little I understood about The Clan of The Cave Bear - frankly I was missing a lot of the finer details.If you enjoy this book may I also suggest Prehistoric Humans in Film and Television: 581 Dramas, Comedies and Documentaries, 1905-2004, in which we se. , in which we se
“I think this is a very good book, with rich meanings; and it takes its place well in this growing series of books from Wesleyan University Press on early science fiction.”—Donald M. Hassler, Science Fiction Studies