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Speculative Whiteness by Jordan S. Carroll

Speculative Whiteness

Science Fiction and the Alt-right

Jordan S. Carroll

University of Minnesota Press · Print & ebook · October 22, 2024

Reveals the alt-right’s project to claim science fiction and—by extension—the future Fascists such as Richard Spencer interpret science fiction films and literature as saying only white men have the imagination required to invent a high-tech future.

Fascism & TotalitarianismSF & Fantasy CriticismRace & Culture in Literaturebook club
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literatureculture
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Who it’s for
Science fiction’s future-facing imagination meets the politics of race and representation.
Themes
Science fiction and white supremacy, Representation in science fiction, Rival claims to the future
Genres
SF & Fantasy Criticism, Race & Culture in Literature, Fascism & Totalitarianism

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About this book

Reveals the alt-right’s project to claim science fiction and—by extension—the future Fascists such as Richard Spencer interpret science fiction films and literature as saying only white men have the imagination required to invent a high-tech future. Other white nationalists envision racist utopias filled with Aryan supermen and all-white space colonies.

Continue reading

Speculative Whiteness traces these ideas through the entangled histories of science fiction culture and white supremacist politics, showing that debates about representation in science fiction films and literature are struggles over who has the right to imagine and inhabit the future. Although fascists insist that tomorrow belongs to them, they have always been and will continue to be contested by antifascist fans willing to fight for the future.

Who Imagines Tomorrow

Science fiction’s future-facing imagination meets the politics of race and representation.

Come here for

  • Science fiction culture entangled with white supremacist politics
  • Representation debates with stakes beyond the page

Expect

  • A history of contested claims on the future
  • Antifascist fans challenging fascist visions

Where it sits

Fascism & Totalitarianism65%
Race & Culture in Literature53%
SF & Fantasy Criticism52%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • SF & Fantasy Criticism
  • Politics in Literature
  • Race & Ethnic Relations
Authors
Jordan S. Carroll
Publisher
University of Minnesota Press
Published
October 22, 2024
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Science fiction and white supremacy · Representation in science fiction · Rival claims to the future
Reading lane
SF & Fantasy Criticism