Modernity as a Project and as Self-Criticism: The Historical Dialogue between Science Fiction and Utopia

TL;DR: The relation between science fiction and utopia has surfaced since the mid-1970s in two major contexts as mentioned in this paper, in the attempt of the first systematic studies of science fiction to determine its generic identity and pedigree, and in the debate that began then and still continues today, about the revival of utopianism in recent science fiction.

Abstract: The relation between science fiction and utopia has surfaced since the mid-1970s in two major contexts. Firstly, in the attempt of the first systematic studies of science fiction to determine its generic identity and pedigree. Secondly, in the debate that began then, and still continues today, about the revival of utopianism in recent science fiction. Either directly or indirectly, a central issue in both contexts concerns the generic character of utopian and science fiction.