Bonnie De Angelo

ENGL 112B

Fall 2011

Annotated Bibliography: Science Fiction

�There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call �The Twilight Zone�� – Rod Serling. Quote taken from: http://cis.csuohio.edu/~somos/twizone.html

The greatest thing about science fiction is its ability to transcend genres, to draw new boundaries and found previously unimaginable colonies of creative energies and entities. Science fiction can incorporate adventure, fantasy, humor, mystery, drama, surrealism, satire, and horror to strut along the �middle ground between light and shadow� in the mind of its reader—but the synaptic sequence of synchronicity that can be found in all science fiction are the quasi-realistic, science-based themes. These science-based themes typically involve a �futuristic� world—though not necessarily set in the future—where human-technology relationships go terribly wrong. Sometimes the stories include time-travel and extraterrestrials as well.

Through exposure to science fiction, readers are exposed to real-world problems in allegorical form, and stories rife with metaphor are prime material for meaningful discussions to explore both typical and taboo topics. Because science fiction has the ability to incorporate elements from other genres, it has the potential to reach a vast array of readers, with books like 1984 appealing to both young adults and well-established bookworms. Books like The City of Ember was written for children age ten to thirteen, but can easily be appreciated by an older audience as well. Both of these examples were made into movies, making them that much more accessible. Science fiction is also a popular genre in film, with The Twilight Zone being a fun way to explore the way sci-fi themes translate on-screen. This annotated bibliography explores an array of science fiction books and film to stimulate readers of various reading, age, and interest levels.

Annotated Bibliography

Bradbury, Ray. I Sing the Body Electric! Stories. New York: Knopf, 1969. Print.

Bradbury�s eccentric compilation of fourteen short stories encompasses numerous shades of science-fiction, blending mystery, horror, satire, and adventure. The short story of the same name is about a family who receives an �Electric Grandmother� when their mother dies. The three children experience both horror and fascination when they visit the Fantoccini factory to �build� their Grandmother. When the children question the Grandmother about her paradoxical nature—being a nurturing machine—she proposes the idea of a machine being more than a machine, a question that can be applied metaphorically to cultural issues of the value of personhood and the role of technology in culture. Young adults might be surprised to read about how the children in the story come to truly love their Electric Grandmother, but they will surely find themselves faced with the conundrum of judging a machine when human hearts are involved.

Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Game. New York: Tor, 1991. Print.

With the threat of being destroyed by aliens, humans have devised a defensive strategy of training people through �games� that teach them �the arts of war�. For the young protagonist, Ender, whose skills set him apart from his peers, the intergalactic battle rivals that of his emotional and psychological struggles as a young person. This book reminds readers of the value of personhood and individuality, especially during times of chaos when attentions are diverted from personal spheres of influence.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/375802.Ender_s_Game

DuPrau, Jeanne. The City of Ember. New York: Random House, 2003. Print.

In Ember, children leave school at age twelve and begin working. Young Lina and Doon are new to the workforce—each has been assigned the other�s desired position, so they switch. With Doon working underground and Lina as a messenger, they begin to find mysterious clues that lead them to wonder what is beyond their world. This book, written for ages 10-13, is exciting and relatively easy-to-read. It would be good to introduce a reader to the sci-fi genre as its storyline isn�t overwhelmed with eccentric elements.

Independence Day. Dir. Roland Emmerich. Perf. Will Smith. 20th Century Fox, 1996. Film.

This Hollywood movie is reminiscent of H.G. Wells� War of the Worlds and would be an appropriate complement as a classroom unit. In the movie, present-day Earth is invaded by violent aliens that are rapidly destroying large cities around the world and threatening the existence of humankind. The President, played by Bill Pullman, is a gentle but conflicted character, who gets the help of a scientist (Jeff Goldblum), an Marine (Will Smith), and an eccentric ex-Air Force Pilot (Randy Quaid) to construct a plan that will save the Earth.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116629/

Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. Print.

The Giver is about a utopian society that controls its population through identity. Jonas is chosen to hold all of society�s memories—a daunting task that proves challenging and insightful for the young protagonist. This book, highly readable and accessible, is appropriate for readers age 12 and up. The Giver would work well in a classroom, with discussions structured around questions about social expectations and norms, censorship, and the cyclical influence of culture on humankind.

Orwell, George. 1984: a Novel. New York, NY: Signet Classic, 1977. Print

A classic dystopian about a government that controls every aspect of the population, this book is disturbingly well-detailed. Winston, the main character, struggles with squeezing into the mold that society is perpetually forcing him into. 1984 presents myriad questions about the influence of government and culture, censorship and thought-control. 1984 is a fantastic piece to use in the classroom because of its metaphorical relevance to present-day political and cultural issues.

Testa, Dom. The Comet's Curse: a Galahad Book. New York: Tor Teen, 2005. Print.

In this book, a deadly comet sickens Earth�s population, and only those under eighteen are immune. A ship, the Galahad, is created to safely house a group of teens as they are endowed with the mission to save the human race. This book has �great character development, lots of suspense and an intriguing plot. The story is unique and moves along at a fast pace� (back of book).

"The Twilight Zone: Number Twelve Looks Just Like You Episode Summary�. TV.com. Web. 06 Dec. 2011. <http://www.tv.com/shows/the-twilight-zone/number-twelve-looks-just-like-you-12722/>.

This episode of The Twilight Zone looks into the �future�—the year 2000, where at the age of 19 everyone goes through �The Transformation� to make them beautiful. Marilyn is a young girl who does not want to be transformed. What the common people do not know, and what Marilyn is shocked to discover, is that The Transformation makes people the �same� on the inside as well—they are emotional robots, incapable of generating original thoughts. This episode of The Twilight Zone is allegorically relevant to the present. Its issues of censorship and the predatory nature of the saturated market of cosmetic-surgery are two central themes that underscore the ideas of self-acceptance and tolerance.

Wells, H. G. The Time Machine. New York: Scholastic, 2002. Print.

Originally written over a hundred years ago, The Time MachineI takes place in the far future. It is a story about a �Time Traveller� and his �encounters [with] the shadowy, carnivorous Morlocks, inhabitants of the Underworld� (back of book). The Morlocks pose a threat to the Time Traveller and his access to the Time Machine, threatening his life. This book, though exceedingly original, would be best for older teens because there is some challenging language in the book (teens would be encouraged to keep a post-it and pencil handy to look words up in the dictionary).

Wells, H. G., and Orson Scott. Card. The War of the Worlds. New York: Scholastic, 2003. Print.

This timeless classic of interplanetary battles is the original �Martians versus Earthlings� epic. In this story, inhabitants of Mars invade planet Earth in an attempt to acquire the planet as a valuable resource for the preservation of Martian-kind. The canonical status of the book, as well as the now-iconic nature of the plot has the potential to spark interest in even the most skeptical of young adult readers. This book would be great in a high-school classroom paired with a viewing of the movie, Independence Day.

Westerfeld, Scott. Leviathan. Illustrated by Keith Thompson. New York: Simon Pulse, 2009. Print.

Prince Aleksander is on the run. Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. Her secret is in constant danger of being discovered. With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way�taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever� (goodreads.com). �This is a zippy, high-spirited novel�with clear appeal for an even younger audience. As far as characterization and narrative go, there is not much here that will surprise or challenge the reader...but the novel does have charm� (mark monday).

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6050678-leviathan

Whyman, Matt. Icecore: a Carl Hobbes Thriller / Matt Whyman. New York: Atheneum for Young Readers, 2007. Print.

Carl is a seventeen-year-old computer hacker whose prank on the American government lands him in military prison. Though he isn�t a �criminal mastermind,� he dares to escape the prison. This book is part cyberpunk, part thriller, and is culturally-relevant to a modern audience with its themes of computer technology and the threat of terrorism (e.g. al-Qaeda)—themes that young adults are aware of in the real world, and that can be explored with the help of books like Icecore.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1522312.Icecore