Sheila Finch's Myths, Metaphors, and Science Fiction

I'm pleased to announce the release of the 39th volume in Aqueduct's Conversation Pieces series, Myths, Metaphors, and Science Fiction: Ancient Roots of the Literature of the Future, by Nebula-award winning Sheila Finch.It's available now through Aqueduct's website in both print and e-book editions, and will be soon be available in all the usual places.  Here's a bit from the introduction:

"The great myths seek to explain us to ourselves--our exploits, passions, triumphs, and failures. They can be found all over the world, often displaying remarkable similarity.

"Nobody--scientist, seer or science fiction writer-- can reliably predict what will happen two days from now, let alone two millennia. Science fiction is really about us as humans--living, loving, fighting, raising families-- but set in another place and time so that the message may get through without being censored by the self-protective function of our egos."


“This welcome discussion of the connections between future fiction and stories about human inception emphasizes how mythic roots contribute to the emotional power of narrative. Finch investigates the inexplicable awe and wonder that emanates from close encounters between myth and science fiction. This juxtaposition emphatically indicates that science fiction is the predominant mythic metaphor of our time.” –Marleen S. Barr, author of Feminist Fabulation and Oy! Pioneer

James Gunn, author of The Listeners and Transcendental, writes: “The gifted writer Bob Sheckley once told me that when he was hard up for a story idea he opened his book of fairy tales. Now the gifted and insightful Sheila Finch tells us why.”