Non-Fiction Archives - Page 4 of 5 James Gunn's Ad Astra

Science Fiction Goes to College: Jack Williamson, James Gunn, and the Early Years of Academic SF

By Michael R. Page — Science fiction became a subject for academic study and a regular part of the college curriculum in the early 1970s. Writers Jack Williamson and James Gunn were at the center of this blossoming of SF into academia and they helped shape the future of science fiction scholarship and teaching. This article examines the legacies and impacts Williamson and Gunn have had on academe.

admin2019-10-24T15:45:26-05:00June 10th, 2013|Articles, Issue #2, Non-Fiction|

Philosophical Concepts in Star Trek: Using Star Trek as a curriculum guide introducing fans to the subject of Philosophy

By Victor Grech — Star Trek is a popular cultural phenomenon and each series reinvents cast and plot, providing a unique backdrop with which to study the evolution of philosophy as a curricular subject. This paper identifies philosophical concepts explored through the various series and movies set in the Star Trek universe, which are deontological and invoke Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Kant and Regan.

admin2019-10-24T15:45:27-05:00June 10th, 2013|Articles, Issue #2, Non-Fiction|

Philosophical Concepts in Star Trek References

References for "Philosophical Concepts in Star Trek: Using Star Trek as a curriculum guide introducing fans to the subject of Philosophy"

admin2016-08-15T13:12:30-05:00June 10th, 2013|Article References, Issue #2, Non-Fiction|

Editorial – To the Stars, Through Difficulties

by Isaac Bell, Issue Editor —I wasn’t aware of the danger when I sat down to dinner with friends at the end of our two-week writing workshop...

admin2019-10-24T15:45:28-05:00June 28th, 2012|Editorials, Featured, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|

Editorial – The Universal Motivator

by Douglas McKinney — In sum, James Gunn’s Ad Astra presents you with thirteen Featured Selections dealing with a broad spectrum of themes centered on communication and information. Just as I did when reading these works for the first time, I hope you will find within them plenty to think about.

admin2019-10-24T15:45:28-05:00June 28th, 2012|Editorials, Featured, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|

Mutation and Infertility References

By Victor Grech, et al. These are the articles referenced in "Mutation and Infertility in Science Fiction" Aldiss B. W. (1973). Billion Year Spree: The True History Of Science Fiction. Garden City: Doubleday. Althusser L. (1976). Reply to John Lewis (self-criticism). Essays in self-criticism. (Grahame Lock Trans.). London: New Left. Anderson P. (1989). “Iron.” Man-Kzin wars [...]

admin2016-08-15T11:56:19-05:00June 20th, 2012|Article References, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|

Fantastic Journeys References

By Sheila Finch These are the sources referenced in Sheila Finch's "Fantastic Journeys of the Mythic Kind by Sheila Finch ." Benford, G. (1987). Great sky river. New York: Bantam. Benford, G. (1989). Tides of light. New York: Bantam. Campbell, J. (1949). The hero with a thousand faces. N.J.: Princeton University Press. Clement, H. (1954). [...]

admin2019-10-24T15:45:28-05:00June 20th, 2012|Article References, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|

Human Evolution References

By Jean Asselin These are the articles referenced in Jean Asselin's "Human Evolution As a Framework for the Themes of Science Fiction." Antón, S. C., & Swisher, C. C., III. (2004). Early dispersals of Homo from Africa. Annual Review of Anthropology, 33, 271-296. Barthell, R. J. (1971). SF: A literature of ideas. Extrapolation, 13, 56-63. [...]

admin2019-10-24T15:45:29-05:00June 20th, 2012|Article References, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|

Mutation and Infertility in Science Fiction

by Victor Grech, et al. — Mutation in the Science Fiction (SF) genre is viewed with revulsion as it results in strange beings, threatening monsters and alien others. Infertility is a common problem, worldwide, that will eventually affect up to a third of couples. This paper will discuss the role of mutation in nature and provide an overview of mutations resulting in infertility in SF. The science behind some of the narratives will be explained while extrapolations that exceed reasonable poetic license will be pointed out.

admin2019-10-24T15:45:29-05:00June 20th, 2012|Articles, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|

Fantastic Journeys of the Mythic Kind

by Sheila Finch — Much of the best science fiction draws on mythic themes and tropes, sometimes consciously on the part of the author, to apply this wisdom to its dreams about tomorrow. In doing so, science fiction acknowledges that while the environment we find ourselves in may change, the element that makes us human will not. This paper concentrates on one core myth, the Hero’s fantastic journey, as it is used or referred to in science fiction from Jules Verne to the recent work of Mary Doria Russell.

admin2019-10-24T15:45:29-05:00June 20th, 2012|Articles, Issue #1, Non-Fiction|