Defying Dystopia

Defying Dystopia
Author: Ed Ayres
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2018-02-06
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1351523112

To most, the collapse of modern civilization is the stuff of fiction. Yet, science confirms that misuse of technology and environmental abuse places our world in grave danger of ruin. The World Scientists' Warning to Humanity places our civilization on a collision course. Defying Dystopia analyses how we have come to this, and what options remain for far-seeing people to take control of their own destiny and survive the future. Ed Ayres, who has worked with some iconic environmental scientists of the past half-century, argues that technology was originally used to augment the natural strengths of humans, but has been increasingly used in ways that weaken us—shifting from useful work to the industries of distraction, entertainment, convenience, pain-relief, and sedation. Ayres advises on how at least some of us can avoid that collision. The most critical task, for those of us who want humanity to survive and thrive, is to disengage from our tech thraldom, and shift to a conscious management of our evolution in which we use technology to enhance our skills and strengths rather than erode or supplant them. Ayres provides insightful, actionable suggestions we can use to increase our odds of survival. He asks far-seeing individuals to take on a mission that the dominant governments and institutions demonstrably cannot: the epic task of shepherding a low-profile, resilient transition to a new kind of human future.

Survive and Resist

Survive and Resist
Author: Shauna L. Shames
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2019-08-06
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0231548060

Authoritarianism is on the march—and so is dystopian fiction. In the brave new twenty-first century, young-adult series like The Hunger Games and Divergent have become blockbusters; after Donald Trump’s election, two dystopian classics, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, skyrocketed to the New York Times best-seller list. This should come as no surprise: dystopian fiction has a lot to say about the perils of terrible government in real life. In Survive and Resist, Amy L. Atchison and Shauna L. Shames explore the ways in which dystopian narratives help explain how real-world politics work. They draw on classic and contemporary fiction, films, and TV shows—as well as their real-life counterparts—to offer funny and accessible explanations of key political concepts. Atchison and Shames demonstrate that dystopias both real and imagined help bring theories of governance, citizenship, and the state down to earth. They emphasize nonviolent resistance and change, exploring ways to challenge and overcome a dystopian-style government. Fictional examples, they argue, help give us the tools we need for individual survival and collective resistance. A clever look at the world through the lenses of pop culture, classic literature, and real-life events, Survive and Resist provides a timely and innovative approach to the fundamentals of politics for an era of creeping tyranny.

The Story Grid

The Story Grid
Author: Shawn Coyne
Publisher: Black Irish Entertainment LLC
Total Pages: 459
Release: 2015-05-02
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 1936891360

WHAT IS THE STORY GRID? The Story Grid is a tool developed by editor Shawn Coyne to analyze stories and provide helpful editorial comments. It's like a CT Scan that takes a photo of the global story and tells the editor or writer what is working, what is not, and what must be done to make what works better and fix what's not. The Story Grid breaks down the component parts of stories to identify the problems. And finding the problems in a story is almost as difficult as the writing of the story itself (maybe even more difficult). The Story Grid is a tool with many applications: 1. It will tell a writer if a Story ?works? or ?doesn't work. 2. It pinpoints story problems but does not emotionally abuse the writer, revealing exactly where a Story (not the person creating the Story'the Story) has failed. 3. It will tell the writer the specific work necessary to fix that Story's problems. 4. It is a tool to re-envision and resuscitate a seemingly irredeemable pile of paper stuck in an attic drawer. 5. It is a tool that can inspire an original creation.

Progressive Dystopia

Progressive Dystopia
Author: Savannah Shange
Publisher: Duke University Press
Total Pages: 126
Release: 2019-11-15
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1478007400

San Francisco is the endgame of gentrification, where racialized displacement means that the Black population of the city hovers at just over 3 percent. The Robeson Justice Academy opened to serve the few remaining low-income neighborhoods of the city, with the mission of offering liberatory, social justice--themed education to youth of color. While it features a progressive curriculum including Frantz Fanon and Audre Lorde, the majority Latinx school also has the district's highest suspension rates for Black students. In Progressive Dystopia Savannah Shange explores the potential for reconciling the school's marginalization of Black students with its sincere pursuit of multiracial uplift and solidarity. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and six years of experience teaching at the school, Shange outlines how the school fails its students and the community because it operates within a space predicated on antiblackness. Seeing San Francisco as a social laboratory for how Black communities survive the end of their worlds, Shange argues for abolition over revolution or progressive reform as the needed path toward Black freedom.

Welcome to Dystopia

Welcome to Dystopia
Author: K. G. Anderson
Publisher: OR Books
Total Pages: 440
Release: 2018-01-23
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1682191273

In this diverse and vigorous mix of stories by newcomers and luminaries, writers offer their takes on what life might hold for us in the next few years. The resulting visions of war, oppression, and daily struggle are sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying (and occasionally both), but always thought-provoking.

Dystopia in Arabic Speculative Fiction

Dystopia in Arabic Speculative Fiction
Author: Wessam Elmeligi
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Total Pages: 169
Release: 2023-08-29
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 1000925382

Dystopia in Arabic Speculative Fiction: A Poetics of Distress unpacks the nuanced Arabic contribution to speculative fiction. Part of a larger project by Elmeligi to formulate a poetics of literary theory to read Arabic literature, this book examines Arabic dystopian fiction from the lens of social causes of psychological distress. The selected novels combine works by authors already established in studies by Western scholars and many that have not been translated before or have not received enough scholarly attention, yet. The novels represent an array of Arab countries, including Algerian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Kuwaiti, Mauritanian, Syrian, and Tunisian authors. It also highlights the contribution of women authors to Arabic speculative fiction. This book enriches the conversation about what is quite possibly a significant speculative fiction turn in the Arabic novel, as well as provides a new theoretical approach to read such complex and innovative literature.

AFTER THE END – Dystopia Box Set: 34 Dystopias and Post-Apocalyptic Works

AFTER THE END – Dystopia Box Set: 34 Dystopias and Post-Apocalyptic Works
Author: Edgar Allan Poe
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 5627
Release: 2023-11-18
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

AFTER THE END Dystopia Box Set: 34 Dystopias and Post-Apocalyptic Works presents an unparallelled assembly of speculative fiction that probes the darkest corners of the human psyche and society. Including seminal works from Edgar Allan Poe to George Orwell, and Mary Shelley to Aldous Huxley, this collection offers a comprehensive exploration of dystopian literature's evolution. It showcases a range of literary styles, from the gothic horror of Poe to the sharp social satire of Swift, encapsulating the genre's ability to reflect societal anxieties and critique contemporary issues through imagined, often starkly grim futures. The inclusion of less universally recognized pieces alongside these towering works enriches the collection, inviting readers to delve into the multifaceted landscape of dystopian narrative. The authors represented in AFTER THE END - Dystopia Box Set are not only luminaries in their own right but also pioneers who shaped and defined the contours of dystopian literature and speculative fiction. From H.G. Wells' scientific romances to Orwell's prescient visions of surveillance states, each author contributes to a rich tapestry that maps the psychological and sociopolitical terrains of their times. Collectively, they reflect a variety of cultural and historical contexts, incorporating critiques on imperialism, technology, authoritarianism, and human resilience. Their diverse backgrounds and periods provide a panoramic view of how dystopian visions have evolved, offering insights into the universal human condition and the perennial quest for utopia amidst dystopia. AFTER THE END Dystopia Box Set is essential reading for those who wish to navigate the complexities of future imaginings and their implications on the present. It promises an enlightening journey through the labyrinth of fear and hope that characterizes humanity's relationship with its potential futures. Scholars, students, and general readers alike will find rich material for study, reflection, and debate, making it a valuable addition to any collection on dystopian literature, speculative fiction, or cultural studies. This anthology not only stands as a monument to human imagination but also as an invitation to contemplate the paths that lie ahead for societies worldwide.

Dystopia on Demand: Technology, Digital Culture, and the Metamodern Quest in Complex Serial Dystopias

Dystopia on Demand: Technology, Digital Culture, and the Metamodern Quest in Complex Serial Dystopias
Author: Laura Winter
Publisher: Narr Francke Attempto Verlag
Total Pages: 432
Release: 2024-01-29
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 3381112236

Serial storytelling has the advantage of unlocking rather than simplifying the complexities of digital culture. With their worldbuilding potential, TV series open up new artistic horizons, particularly for the dystopian genre. Situated at the nexus of dystopia, complex TV, and a metamodern cultural logic, Dystopia on Demand: Technology, Digital Culture, and the Metamodern Quest in Complex Serial Dystopias offers readers novel insights into the dynamics of serial dystopias in the contemporary streaming landscape. Introducing the term 'complex serial dystopias' to describe series that allow audiences to engage with the dystopian premise from multiple angles, the book examines four Anglo-American series, including Black Mirror, Mr. Robot, Westworld, and Kiss Me First. The in-depth analyses trace the variety of ways in which these series offer critical reflections on the human-technology entanglement in digital culture.

Dystopia Boxed Set: 18 Dystopian Classics in One Edition

Dystopia Boxed Set: 18 Dystopian Classics in One Edition
Author: Jack London
Publisher: Good Press
Total Pages: 3589
Release: 2023-11-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

The 'Dystopia Boxed Set: 18 Dystopian Classics in One Edition' offers readers a profound exploration of dystopian literature, showcasing a wide range of literary styles from the speculative to the allegorical. This collection highlights the diversity and significance of dystopian narratives, from the eerily prescient to the hauntingly allegorical, providing an encapsulating overview of societal concerns throughout different periods. The works included not only represent landmarks in the genre but also serve as a testament to the evolution of dystopian themes, from authoritarian control to the erosion of individual freedom, making it an essential compilation for understanding this genre's complexities and depths. The assortment of standout pieces, each uniquely contributing to the canon of dystopian literature, promises to engage readers with their visionary insights and stylistic innovations. The contributing authors, including Jack London, H.G. Wells, Aldous Huxley, and George Orwell, among others, bring a remarkable breadth of experiences and perspectives to the anthology. Their cumulative contributions reflect significant historical, cultural, and literary movements, from the unsettling prophecies of early 20th-century writers to the critically introspective works of the mid-century. By weaving together narratives that reflect on authoritarian regimes, technological domination, and societal decay, this collection aligns with pivotal moments in history and various literary movements, providing a kaleidoscopic view of mankind's dark imaginations and potential futures. The backgrounds of these authors, from journalists to philosophers, enrich the collection with a diversity of thought and theory, grounding their speculative worlds in the tangible fears and concerns of their times. 'Dystopia Boxed Set: 18 Dystopian Classics in One Edition' is recommended for readers seeking to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of dystopian literature. This anthology presents a unique opportunity to explore a broad spectrum of dystopian visions and themes, offering educational value through its exploration of societal fears and utopian ideals turned nightmarish. Engaging with this collection promises not just a journey through the storied landscapes of dystopian fiction but also an invitation to ponder the direction of our own world. Readers are encouraged to delve into these pages for a comprehensive understanding of dystopian literature's evolving narrative and historical significance, fostering a dialogue between different epochs and ideologies within the genre.

Greek Dystopia in British Women Travellers’ Discourse

Greek Dystopia in British Women Travellers’ Discourse
Author: Dimitrios Kassis
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 122
Release: 2018-04-18
Genre: Travel
ISBN: 1527509648

Greece has always occupied a prevalent position in European philosophy. During the Enlightenment, the Greco-Roman culture gained a new impetus, which paved the way for the surge of the Grand Tour and established Italy as a popular travel destination amongst European travellers who yearned to be in close communion with its ancient sites. Unlike Italy, Greece still posed a challenge to the average travel writer, since it functioned as a bridge between Europe and the Orient. The gradual shift of focus from Neoclassical ideals to Northernism, which conveniently conformed to the nation-building Anglo-Saxon paradigm, marked a parallel reversal of cultural order, which resulted in the view of Greece as a land of piracy and banditry, conditions which intensified its perception as the Oriental Other and led British intellectuals to associate the Greek nation with nearby countries on various levels. Considering the parallel emergence of the “pseudosciences”, which venerated the image of the Nordic race and persistently viewed other nations as the Other, Greece was automatically placed as an alien culture in the light of Social Darwinism. During its war of independence, Greece became the subject of ardent political and cultural debates, which favoured its autonomy from the Ottoman yoke, yet undermined its complete transformation into an independent state. The focal point of this book is British women travellers’ perceptions of Greece and the Orient from the late-eighteenth century until the late-Victorian era. The construction of a Greek dystopia will be explored in relation to the historical background that fuelled the negative conceptualisation of the Greek nation as mongrel, unruly, indolent and perilous to the British imperialist agenda. This book, therefore, sheds light on British women travellers’ efforts to subvert patriarchal authority and engage in predominantly male activities, during which they are purposefully or unconsciously led to several misconceptions regarding the Greek cause.