Once and Future Antiquities in Science Fiction and Fantasy - (Bloomsbury Studies in Classical Reception) by Brett M Rogers & Benjamin Eldon Stevens

Book Synopsis

In 15 all-new essays, this volume explores how science fiction and fantasy draw on materials from ancient Greece and Rome, 'displacing' them from their original settings-in time and space, in points of origins and genre-and encouraging readers to consider similar 'displacements' in the modern world. Modern examples from a wide range of media and genres-including Philip Pullman's His Dark Materialsand the novels of Helen Oyeyemi, the Rocky Horror Picture Showand Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, and the role-playing games Dungeons and Dragonsand Warhammer 40K-are brought alongside episodes from ancient myth, important moments from history, and more.

All together, these multifaceted studies add to our understanding of how science fiction and fantasy form important areas of classical reception, not only transmitting but also transmuting images of antiquity. The volume concludes with an inspiring personal reflection from the New York Times-bestselling author of speculative fiction, Catherynne M. Valente, offering her perspective on the limitless potential of the classical world to resonate with experience today.

Review Quotes

A pioneering, creative and insightful work. Rogers and Stevens' collection of essays offers active, engaging dialogue on how SF&F continually reinvent humankind's future by turning to the past, through exploring themes of 'displacement.'

Reading this new volume from Bloomsbury is to experience the breadth of classical reception in the contemporary world. Hints and allusions to Greek and Roman antiquity abound in texts as diverse as Hayao Miyazaki's animated Studio Ghibli classic Spirited Away and Games Workshop's table top strategy game Warhammer 40K. This volume takes an expansive approach to appreciating and analysing different styles and modes of reception ... Readers considering reception studies will find an encouraging array of examples and ways into approaching the subject.
Bryn Mawr Classical Review

This book would be at home in any secondary school Classics library - not only because of its reasonable price ... but because it demonstrates the wide array of interactions the classical past has with modern entertainment.
Classics for All

About the Author

Brett M. Rogers is Associate Professor of Classics at the University of Puget Sound, USA.

Benjamin Eldon Stevens is Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics at Trinity University, USA.