Sociology Through Science Fiction

This exciting new anthology uses contemporary science fiction to add a fresh dimension to the study of sociology. A general introduction by the editors explains the major concepts of sociology and relates science fiction to these concepts. Each of the six sections of the book begins with a brief introduction that discusses the specific sociological concepts embodied in the stories that follow. The stories -- by eighteen of the most perceptive and thoughtful writers of contemporary science fiction -- draw readers into alternate social systems and, at the same time, raise fundamental questions about the real social world. The book challenges the reader to undertake imaginative yet serious inquiry into the nature of society, social differentiation, and social organization and institutions.