Spaceships and Politics

The marriage of science fiction and political theory is a long and complex one, but it has seldom been laid out in such detail and with as much analytical smarts as in Professor Feldman's study of Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone. Both fans of this popular series and students of political theory will find much here about their main interest while learning new ways to think and talk about it. I was particularly struck by the great variety of examples of alienation in Serling's work cast in the light of Marx's theory of alienation. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. -- Bertell Ollman, NYU, Author of Alienation: Marx's Conception of Man in Capitalist Society More than a study of Rod Serling's Hobbesian political theory, Spaceships and Politics is an encounter with political theory's fundamental questions via the ultimate Cold War television series, The Twilight Zone. Clear writing and engaging episode summaries make this book invaluable for anyone interested in reflecting on inhumanity, fear, loneliness, and the persistence of hope. A great choice for classroom use. -- Jodi Dean, Hobart and William Smith Colleges Spaceships and Politics: The Political Theory of Rod Serling packs in a fine examination of the political themes in The Twilight Zone!.His use of aliens to understand the human psyche made for an original, contemplative show analyzed here in a fine general survey perfect for science fiction and general collections alike. The Midwest Book Review