Russian and East European Science Fiction
RUSS 026/LITR 026R
Spring 2011
Tuesday, Thursday 1:15-2:30
Martin 213
Sibelan Forrester
Kohlberg 340
610-328-8162
Office Hours:
- Tuesday 11:00-12:00
- Wednesday 10:00-11:00
- Thursday 11:00-12:00
- ...or by appointment
| Course Blog
In this course we will read a selection of the best science fiction from Russia and East Europe with attention to
its cultural, historical, and literary context and its literary and philosophical quality. Course assignments
will combine written papers (or equivalent web development), projects driven by students' interests, and written examinations.
Students will have opportunities for individual or group work. Anyone who knows Czech, Polish, Russian or
Serbian is welcome to read (at least some works) in the original. The goals of the course are to explore the nature of science
fiction, to learn about the particular nature of Russian and East European science fiction (and become more informed about
its historical and cultural context), and to read a lot of excellent, thought-provoking literature.
This online syllabus will be updated regularly during the semester. Please refer to it regularly for changes,
additional readings, information on writers, questions for reading, et cetera.
Concurrent with this course, there will be a film series focusing on Russian and East European science fiction, and you're
welcome both to attend those screenings and to refer to the films in your work for this course. Keep an eye out for posters.
Last updated: Wednesday, April 1
Readings (some to be purchased in the Bookstore):
- Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, “On the Moon: A Fantastical Story” – online at
https://forrester.domains.swarthmore.edu/translations/Tsiolkovsky.html>
- Aleksander Bogdanov, Red Star (in Bookstore)
- Nikolai Fyodorov, “The Question of Brotherhood…” (on Blackboard)
- Alexander Levitsky, Worlds Apart: An Anthology of Russian Fantasy and Science Fiction (in Bookstore)
- Karel Čapek, R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots) (in Bookstore)
- Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Grand Inquisitor (in Bookstore)
- Evgenii Zamyatin, We (in Bookstore)
- Vladimir Nabokov, Invitation to a Beheading (in Bookstore)
- Karel Čapek, The War with the Newts (in Bookstore)
- Josef Nesvadba, stories (on Blackboard)
- Stanisław Lem, Solaris (in Bookstore)
- Kirill Bulychëv, stories (on Blackboard)
- Various Soviet SF writers, stories (on Blackboard)
- Arkadii and Boris Strugatsky, "Escape Attempt" (on Blackboard)
- Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Far Rainbow (purchase on line)
- Various authors, science fiction criticism (on Blackboard)
- Stanisław Lem, The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age (in Bookstore)
- Stanisław Lem, Futurological Congress (in Bookstore)
- Viktor Pelevin, OMON Ra (in Bookstore)
- Zoran Živković, Time Gifts (in Bookstore)
- Vladimir Sorokin, Ice
Acknowledgements: Thanks to Lenka Pánková for suggesting War with the Newts, and to Kevin Reese for
an interesting and informative conversation on Soviet SF at AATSEEL in San Francisco.
Assignments:
- A weekly contribution to the course blog, equivalent to
about 1 or 1 1/2 pages in a word processor. If you feel shy about sharing, give me a page or two of written
or typed notes, due each Thursday at the beginning of class.
- Short paper (5-7 pp.) or equivalent web presentation, due February 22. See TOPICS here.
- Short answer exam, self-scheduled, due March 22.
- One longer paper (10-12 pp.) or equivalent web presentation, due April 12. Topic: compare/contrast one
work we’re reading to one we aren’t; OR to a similar work from the Western tradition; OR to a TV or film
adaptation.
- One additional project, chosen from the following possibilities, due on April 28:
* Imaginary translation: make up a science fiction writer and cwrite a 5-6 page story by him or her, accompanied
by a brief (and not implausible!) biography;
* If you know one of the relevant languages well enough, a genuine translation (5-6 pages plus a brief biographical/critical
introduction of the author;
* A 5-6 page definition of SF, citing examples of the traits you identify as necessary and sufficient from the
works we read. amd reacting to definitions you have found (Suvin, others). (Include a bibliography.)
* A 5-6 page review of a work we read, or a film from the series (or of some other work - consult first with the
instructor).
- Final examination (short answer and essay): a 3-hour self-scheduled exam, due to me by May 16 (OR
by the end of Bi-Co finals).
- Extra credit: collect and prepare info on a writer of SF from Russia, East Europe or Central Asia (who’s
available in English translation) for use in future editions of this course. To be arranged after talking
with the instructor.
Percentages:
| Blog contributions (or reading notes): |
10% |
| Short paper: |
10% |
| Midterm exam: |
10% |
| Longer paper: |
20% |
| Special project: |
10% |
| Final examination: |
20% |
| Attendance and participation: |
20% |
| (Extra credit: |
+5%) |
Outside Reading:
Some criticism and pre-texts will be on Blackboard. Not all of these additional sources are in Tripod, but
they could all be helpful for this course. Check the Reference section (under PG especially) for
info on authors you don't know well.
- Thomas M. Disch, The Dreams Our Stuff Is Made of: How Science Fiction Conquered the World (1998) —
about movies and television as well as books.
- Loren R. Graham, The Ghost of the Executed Engineer: Technology and the Fall of the Soviet Union (1993) -
a biography of Pëtr Palchinsky, executed in 1929 as alleged head "wrecker" of the "Industrial Party."
- John Griffiths, Three Tomorrows: American, British and Soviet Science Fiction (1980) — helpful
plot summaries, interesting juxtapositions of authors, some opinionated commentary. Despite its publication date,
most of the book was written in the late 1960s.
- Yvonne Howell, Apocalyptic Realism: The Science Fiction of Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (1994) —
places the two authors in a broader Russian literary and cultural context.
- Frederic Jameson, Archaeologies of the Future: The Desire Called Utopia and Other Science Fictions
(2005/2007) — Jameson is a hotshot Marxist literary theorist. The book touches lightly on some EE stuff – mentions
Lem, Čapek, Zamyatin, and the book is dedicated to Darko (Suvin?), among others.
- Stanisław Lem, Microworlds (1984) — essays and criticism by the great, cranky Polish author.
- Carl D. Malmgren, Worlds Apart: Narratology of Science Fiction (1991) — This (barely) post-Soviet
study includes consideration of some works by Zamyatin and Lem.
- Rosalind J. Marsh, Soviet Fiction Since Stalin: Science, Politics and Literature (1986) — about
science and fiction as well as (a bit of) science fiction.
- Patrick Parrinder, ed., Learning from Other Worlds: Estrangement, Cognition, and the Politics of
Science Fiction and Utopia (2001) — a collection of articles and other materials.
- Steven M. Sanders, The Philosophy of Science Fiction Film (2008) — only about Western
films, but a selection of interesting chapters.
- David Seed, American Science Fiction and the Cold War: Literature and Film (1999) — interesting
analysis and list of works, perhaps useful for formulating a second (longer) paper topic. (And he
clarifies why Philip K. Dick was paranoid about Lem.)
- Darko Suvin, Metamorphoses of Science Fiction (1979) — Suvin is East European himself (from
Croatia), and the book is an erudite, ground-breaking classic of science fiction scholarship. The book treats
SF in general, but has chapters on Russian SF and Čapek in particular.
- J. P. Telotte, A Distant Technology: Science Fiction Film and the Machine Age (1999) — has
chapters on Soviet science fiction film, as well as French, German, American, and British.
Let me know if you find sources I should add!
Collections of Russian and/or East European Science Fiction in Tripod:
- Leland Fetzer, ed. and trans., Pre-Revolutionary Russian Science Fiction: An Anthology (Seven Utopias
and a Dream) (1982) — some of the same things we’ll read in Worlds Apart.
- Mirra Ginsburg, trans. and ed., The Ultimate Threshold: A Collection of the Finest in Soviet Science
Fiction (1970)
- Russian Science Fiction 1969, comp. and ed. Robert Magidoff (1969)
Not surprisingly, there’s a lot of information on EE and Russian science fiction online – if you start
research on the web no one will make scornful noises. On the other hand, don’t ignore the books.
Movies to consider as you consider your papers and presentations:
- Yakov Protazanov, Aèlita, Queen of Mars (1924)
- Andrei Tarkovsky, Solaris (1972; from Lem’s book)
- More recent version of Solaris (2002)
- Andrei Tarkovsky, Stalker (1980, from the Strugatskys’ book)
- Vzlyot (“The Take-Off”), 1979, with Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko playing Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
(see http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0173432/)
Some of our authors have inspired multiple TV and film treatments:
For background on Russian and EE Literature:
- Neil Cornwell, ed., Reference Guide to Russian Literature (PG2940 .R44 1998, in McCabe Reference)
- Victor Terras, ed., Handbook of Russian Literature (PG2940 .H29 1985 in McCabe Reference)
- Harold B. Segel, ed., The Columbia Guide to the literatures of Eastern Europe since 1945 (PN849.E9 S44
2003 in McCabe Reference)
- Robert B. Pynsent, ed., Reader's Encyclopedia of Eastern European Literature ( PN849.E9 R38 1993 in McCabe
Reference)
I’ve included the call numbers in part because there are other useful reference sources beside these on the shelves;
PG is the Library of Congress code for Slavic literatures.
Other Swat professors interested in SF:
- Timothy Burke (History), among other things, co-wrote the book Saturday Morning Fever: Growing Up With Cartoon
Culture and has taught a course on History of the Future with lots of great SF readings.
- Gregory Frost (English Literature) writes science fiction and teaches creative writing (prose)
.
- William Gardner (Japanese Language and Literature) works on modernism, cinema and anime. He translates
from Japanese into English, including some science fiction (Tsutsui Yasutaka).
- Bob Rehak (Film and Media Studies) is a specialist in animated cinema, including science fiction.
- Sunka Simon (German Studies; Film and Media Studies; Gender and Sexuality Studies) works on popular
culture and has taught a class on Cyborgs.
- Craig Williamson (English Literature) has taught science fiction as well as a course on Beowulf and Tolkein.
Other Swat professors who teach about Russia and East Europe:
- David Harrison in Linguistics
- Pieter Judson in History
- Allen Kuharski in Theater (especially Polish)
- Barbara Milewski in Music
- Matt Murphy in Political Science
- Jill Neuendorf in Russian
- Michael Pesenson in Russian
- Marina Rojavin in Russian
- Robert Weinberg in History
Syllabus:
WEEK 1
January 18: Background, reading list, syllabus; final reading
January 20: Konstantin Tsiolkovskii, "On the Moon: A Fantastic Tale," plus Nikolai Fyodorov, "The Question
of Brotherhood..." - both on Blackboard.
Information on Tsiolkovsky and
questions for reading
WEEK 2
January 25: Aleksandr Bogdanov, Red Star introduction, pp. 1-16, and 17-140
Information and Questions
on Bogdanov and Fyodorov
January 27: Valery Briusov, "The Republic of the Southern Cross," WA, 303-17; Alexander Kuprin, "The
Toast" and "Liquid Sunshine," WA, 348-92. (For backgropund, if you wish, read Alexander Levitsky, "Modern
Russian Fantasy, Utopia, and Science Fiction" and "Russia's Silver Age and the Fantastic of the 20s and 30s" in
Worlds Apart, pp. 291-297; "Russia’s Modernist and Post-Symbolist Prose," WA, 345-47.)
Information and Questions
on Briusov and Kuprin
WEEK 3
February 1: Karel Čapek, R.U.R.
Information and Questions on
Čapek and R.U.R.
February 3: Fyodor Dostoevsky, "The Grand Inquisitor" (Bookstore) and "Dream of a Ridiculous Man," Worlds
Apart, pp. 276-90.
WEEK 4
February 8: Nikolai Chernyshevsky, "Vera Pavlovna’s Dream," Worlds Apart, pp. 248-58; Evgenii Zamiatin,
We
Information and Questions on We
February 10: Alexei N. Tolstoy, from "Aèlita, Queen of Mars," Worlds Apart, pp. 555-83;
clip from Yakov Protazanov’s Aèlita
Information and Questions
on Aèlita
Possible topics for the first
paper, due February 22
WEEK 5
February 15: Mikhail Bulgakov, "The Fatal Eggs," Worlds Apart, pp. 471-529
Information and Questions
on Bulgakov's "Fatal Eggs"
February 17: Vladimir Nabokov, Invitation to a Beheading, Foreword and Chapters 1-9
Information and Questions on Nabokov and
Invitation to a Beheading
WEEK 6
February 22: Nabokov, Invitation to a Beheading, Chapters 10-20
More Questions for Reading.
FIRST PAPER DUE!
February 24: Karel Čapek, War with the Newts, Book One, pp. 9-114
Information and Questions
on Čapek's War with the Newts
Big Issues in the course to
date
WEEK 7
March 1: Karel Čapek, War with the Newts, Books Two and Three, pp. 117-241
March 3: Josef Nesvadba, "Expedition in the Opposite Direction," pp. 50-84, and "Inventor
of His Own Undoing," pp. 142-164 (on Blackboard)
Information and Questions
on Nesvadba
SPRING BREAK
WEEK 8
March 15: Andrei Platonov, from "The Sun, the Moon, and the Ether Channel," in Worlds Apart,
pp. 584-615; Ivan Efremov, from The Andromeda Nebula, in Worlds Apart, pp. 616-46;
Sofya Khagi, "On Contemporary Russian Fantasy and Science Fiction," WA, pp. 647-50 and also scanned
for your convenience on Blackboard.
Information and Questions on
Platonov and The Sun, the Moon, and the Ether Channel
Information and Questions
on Efremov
March 17: Kirill Bulychëv, "I Was the First to Find You," pp. 50-63, "May I Please Speak to
Nina?" pp. 78-90, "Snowmaiden," pp. 103-13, "The Empty House," pp. 156-68 (on Blackboard)
Information and Questions
on Bulychëv
WEEK 9
March 22: Stanisław Lem, Solaris
Information and Questions
on Lem and Solaris
Big Issues in Solaris
March 24: Several Soviet SF stories: Vladlen Bakhnov, "The Fifth on the Left," pp. 142-55; Sever
Gansovsky, "Vincent Van Gogh," pp. 52-118; Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, "Old-Timer," pp. 41-47; Ilya
Varshavsky, "No Alarming Symptoms," pp. 1-14 (on Blackboard)
Information and Questions
on these writers and stories
WEEK 10
March 29: Arkadii and Boris Strugatsky, Escape Attempt pp. 3-100 (on Blackboard)
Information and
questions about the Strugatskys and Escape Attempt
March 31: Arkadii and Boris Strugatsky, Far Rainbow
Information and questions about
Far Rainbow
WEEK 11
April 5: Stanisław Lem, The Cyberiad: Fables for the Cybernetic Age
Information and
questions about Cyberiad
April 7: Russian and EE Science Fiction Theory and Criticism (on
Blackboard)
WEEK 12
April 12: Lem, Futurological Congress, pp. 1-149
Information and
questions on Lem's Futurological Congress
April 14: Viktor Pelevin, Omon Ra
Information about Pelevin and questions on
Omon Ra
WEEK 13
April 19: Zoran Živković, Time Gifts
Information and questions on Živković
and Time Gifts
April 21: Vladimir Sorokin, Ice, pp.
Information and questions on Sorokin and Ice
WEEK 14
April 26: Sorokin, Ice, pp.
April 28: Final discussion.
Final Examination will be a three-hour self-scheduled written exam, due to me no later than May
14 (or the end of BiCo finals, if you are a senior at Bryn Mawr or Haverford).