Creative Writing Genre III: Science Fiction and Fantasy

The Creative Writing Genre III: Science Fiction and Fantasy Course introduces students to the specific appeal and techniques of science fiction and fantasy, including “hard” science fiction, space opera, epic fantasy, speculative fiction, alternative history, and more. Students will learn about the appeal of escapist fiction and how these speculative genres draw attention to human nature and the human condition, often in ways that are difficult to do in more “realistic” genres. The special affinity of games and comics for sci-fi and fantasy will also be considered.

Course Outline

• The Golden Age of Science Fiction and Fantasy
• From Myth to Tolkien
• New Worlds and Peoples, Old Problems
• Speculative Fiction On-Screen
• Sci-Fi Stories in “Sci-Fi” Media