Radiant Girl

Radiant Girl
Author: Andrea White
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2008
Genre: Chernobyl Nuclear Accident, Chornobylʹ, Ukraine, 1986
ISBN: 9781933979236

A young girl's birthday is usually full of surprises and joy, but for Katya Dubko, it is truly the end of the world as she knows it. Combining history and fantasy, this coming-of-age story follows the life of Katya, an 11-year old Ukrainian girl whose life is turned upside down after the Chernobyl disaster. Katya lives in a village near Chernobyl and her father works at the nuclear power station. Her family is steeped in Ukrainian folklore and Soviet patriotism and she believes that the station is a magical factory, full of angels who push buttons to create electricity. When Katya is sent into the forest to play while her family prepares for her birthday, she meets a mysterious, other-worldly boy named Sammy, who tells her about the meltdown at Chernobyl. Sammy helps reveal the truth not only about the station, but about blind Soviet patriotism as well, and Katya's innocent world is destroyed. With Sammy's help, she realises she is no longer a little girl in a fairy tale but has become the author of her own life.

The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics

The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics
Author: Jules Verne
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 3904
Release: 2023-12-02
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics anthology brings together an unprecedented assemblage of narrative ingenuity, showcasing the evolution and diversity of the science fiction genre. Within its pages, readers will traverse a landscape of literary experimentation, from the gothic futurism of Mary Shelley to the riveting adventures of Jules Verne, and the dystopian visions of H.G. Wells. This collection highlights the genres capacity to critique societal norms, explore philosophical quandaries, and imagine the uncharted territories of the future, making it a significant compendium for both its historical breadth and its thematic depth. The anthology not only celebrates the well-known pioneers but also illuminates the contributions of lesser-known authors whose works have been foundational to the genres development, creating a rich tapestry of speculative fiction. This selection of authors represents a wide array of backgrounds, from the groundbreaking scientific romances of H.G. Wells to the psychological depth of Edgar Allan Poe, and the feminist utopias of Charlotte Perkins Gilman. These authors, drawn from the 19th and early 20th centuries, collectively contributed to the shaping and challenging of the boundaries of the genre. Their works, reflecting the technological optimism and anxieties of their times, engage with themes of imperialism, science, morality, and identity, offering insights into the complex relationship between humanity and its creations. The anthology thus serves as a dialogue among some of the most influential voices in science fiction, mapping the genres evolution in response to shifting cultural landscapes. The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics is essential reading for anyone interested in the origins and development of science fiction. It invites readers to explore a multitude of perspectives, narrative techniques, and thematic explorations, making it an invaluable resource for scholars and enthusiasts alike. This anthology provides a unique opportunity to engage with the works that have not only entertained but also profoundly influenced our understanding of the world and the myriad possibilities of the future. Through its comprehensive scope and the variety of its contributions, this collection encourages a deeper appreciation and critical engagement with the science fiction genre.

A Small Price to Pay

A Small Price to Pay
Author: Graham Broad
Publisher: UBC Press
Total Pages: 301
Release: 2013-10-21
Genre: History
ISBN: 0774823666

We often picture life on the Canadian home front as a time of austerity, as a time when women went to work and men went to war. A Small Price to Pay, the first full-length study of consumer culture in wartime Canada, explodes this myth of home front sacrifice by bringing to light the contradictions of consumer society during the Second World War. Wartime governments pressured Depression-weary citizens to save for the sake of the nation, but Canadians had money in their pockets after years of want, and the fantasy realm of advertisements promised them fresh groceries, glamorous movies, and new cars and appliances. Graham Broad reveals that our “greatest generation” was not impervious to temptation but rather embarked on one of the biggest spending booms in our nation’s history. Cutting through the fog of patriotic enthusiasm, this richly illustrated book reveals that the consumer-spending boom of the 1950s and 1960s was not a “postwar” phenomenon after all.