"The Poetics of Science Fiction explores the language, narrative and poetic strategies of science fiction. Ranging across the genre from its pulp origins to its recent cross-media manifestations, the book uses the insights of modern linguistics, cognition and literary studies to demonstrate the micro-craft and textual impact of this most modern of all literary forms." "Containing chapters on the detailed organisation of science fictional texts, as well as on the general effects of science fiction, the book presents careful analysis and far-reaching argument in an accessible and readable manner. The discussion is enlivened by 'explorations' that invite practical activities, and 'speculations' that offer the reader thought-experiments around main issues. Suggestions for further reading are also included in each chapter."--Jacket.