El. knyga: May the Armed Forces Be with You: The Relationship Between Science Fiction and the United States Military

"Science fiction and the U.S. military often inhabit the same imaginative space. Some science fiction creators willingly cooperated with the military; others were conscripted. Some have used the genre as a forum for protest. This book examines the relationship between the U.S. military and science fiction through more than 80 years of novels, comics, films and television series"--

Science fiction and the United States military often inhabit the same imaginative space. Weapons technology has taken inspiration from science fiction, from the bazooka and the atomic bomb to weaponized lasers and drones. Star-spangled superheroes sold war bonds in comic books sent to GIs during World War II, and adorned the noses of bombers. The same superheroes now appear in big-budget movies made with military assistance, fighting evil in today's war zones. A missile shield of laser satellites--dreamed up by writers and embraced by the high command--is partially credited with ending the Cold War. Sci-fi themes and imagery are used to sell weapons programs, military service and wars to the public. Some science fiction creators have willingly cooperated with the military; others have been conscripted. Some have used the genre as a forum for protest. This book examines the relationship between the U.S. military and science fiction through more than 80 years of novels, comics, films and television series, including Captain America, Starship Troopers, The Twilight Zone, Dr. Strangelove, Star Trek, Iron Man, Bill the Galactic Hero, The Forever War, Star Wars, Aliens, Ender's Game, Space: Above and Beyond and Old Man's War.

Dedman discusses themes historically present in the literary sub genre of science fiction as they relate to the ongoing history of the United States armed forces. He covers the meaning of the advent of nuclear weapons to science fiction and science fiction authors, Ender’s Game and the use of killing machines in the military and in science fiction, the relationship between “The Punisher” comics series and the Gulf Wars, and a wide variety of other related subjects. The author is a faculty member of the University of Western Australia and a novelist. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)