This book charts the dimensions of one of the most popular genres in the
cinema. From lurid comic-book blockbusters to dark dystopian visions,
science fiction is seen as both a powerful cultural barometer of our
times and the product of particular industrial and commercial
frameworks. The authors outline the major themes of the genre, from
representations of the mad scientist and computer hacker to the
relationship between science fiction and postmodernism, exploring issues
such as the meaning of special effects and the influence of science
fiction cinema on the entertainment media of the digital age. Over one
hundred films are discussed and the book concludes with an extensive
case study of Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace.