Representations of Technology in Science Fiction for Young People

by Noga Applebaum

In this new book, Noga Applebaum surveys science fiction novels published for children and young adults from 1980 to the present, exposing the anti-technological bias existing within a genre often associated with the celebration of technology. Applebaum argues that perceptions of technology as a corrupting force, particularly in relation to its use by young people, are a manifestation of the enduring allure of the myth of childhood innocence and result in young-adult fiction that endorses a technophobic agenda. This agenda is a form of resistance to the changing face of childhood and technology's contribution to this change. Further, Applebaum contends that technophobic literature disempowers its young readers by implying that the technologies of the future are inherently dangerous, while it neglects to acknowledge children's complex, yet pleasurable, interactions with technology today. The study looks at works by well-known authors including M.T. Anderson, Monica Hughes, Lois Lowry, Garth Nix, and Philip Reeve, and explores topics such as ecology, cloning, the impact of technology on narrative structure, and the adult-child hierarchy. While focusing on the popular genre of science fiction as a useful case study, Applebaum demonstrates that negative attitudes toward technology exist within children's literature in general, making the book of considerable interest to scholars of both science fiction and children's literature.

214 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Amy H. Sturgis]

In an accessible, easy-to-read style, Applebaum argues that an anti-technological bias exists within contemporary young adult science fiction. Such technophobic literature, she explains, can disempower young readers and strengthen adult power and authority by suggesting that the technologies of the future are by their very nature negative forces, while neglecting to appreciate young peoples' often positive interactions with technology today (which tend to be more sophisticated than their adult counterparts'). Applebaum does a great job of putting this phenomenon in a larger cultural and sociological context in terms of popular -- and generation-specific -- understandings of childhood, innocence, technology, and the future. She backs up her compelling argument with very detailed case studies of a number of contemporary science fiction novels for young adult audiences. This in-depth study is important, thought-provoking, even troubling (in a useful way) reading for anyone who cares about the genre of science fiction and/or the literature and status of young adult readers. It also marks a significant contribution to scholarship on young adult science fiction, especially young adult dystopian fiction. Highly recommended!

[Phoebe]

Yeah we get it. Basically, the idea is this..."Although a new theoretical and legal discourse is emerging in which the rights of the child and her empowerment are campaigned for, surveys show that public opinion is still influenced by the notion of the innocent child, as well as by adults' fear of losing control."

Maybe to counter this claim I need to look at the early Vernes novels.

Still haven't been able to hunt down any novels by the steampunk trio published in the 80s. Nooo.

Ok enough procrastinating, back to work.

[Ferne Merrylees]

This text has assisted me greatly in my studies, offering new ideas on the representations of technology in young adult fiction specifically in science fiction.