Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Riverside, CA: RIVERSIDE: Science fiction lecture set for Feb. 23

From The Press Enterprise: RIVERSIDE: Science fiction lecture set for Feb. 23
George Slusser, curator emeritus of the Eaton Collection of Science Fiction and Fantasy at UC Riverside, will lecture on Belgian science fiction writer J.H. Rosny aîné from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Special Collections & Archives on the fourth floor of Rivera Library at UCR.

The presentation, “J.H. Rosny: Science Fiction’s Unknown Precursor,” is part of the “Afternoons in Special Collections & Archives” series. It is free and open to the public. Parking costs $6.

Slusser, professor emeritus of comparative literature at UCR, and Danièle Châtelain-Slusser, an associate professor of French at the University of Redlands, have written “Three Science Fiction Novellas: From Prehistory to the End of Mankind” (Wesleyan University Press, 2012), a translation of three Rosny novellas with an introductory essay that explains the writer’s place in the science fiction canon and within the context of evolutionary biology.

Rosny aîné (1856-1940) was the first to attempt to narrate the workings of aliens and alternate life forms. Until now, his work — which scholars consider crucial for an understanding of the science fiction genre — has been virtually unknown and unavailable in the English-speaking world.

Slusser has written numerous books and articles in science fiction studies. Châtelain-Slusser is the author of several books and articles on the narrative form in science fiction.

A copy of their book will be available to view along with fliers regarding purchase.

Special Collections & Archives is home to the renowned Eaton Collection of Science Fiction & Fantasy, considered the world’s largest publicly accessible repository of science fiction and related genres.

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