Nostalgic Futures (Paperback)

Paperback. Speculative fiction imagines impossible futures and alternative pasts, alien species and angelic monsters, technological marvels and magical solutions. In recent years, however, many in its fandoms have protested the inclusion of nonwhite, nonmale, and nonheterosexual characters as betrayals of their beloved media for the sake of "wokeness." Nostalgic Futures: The Reactionary Fantasies of Speculative Fiction Fandoms examines how contemporary fan controversies particularly those surrounding gender, race, and sexuality in speculative fiction mediaintersect with reactionary movements within and beyond fandom. This book explores how the nostalgic fantasies of fans and far-right movements contribute to broader reactionary discourses, shaping not only the past they long for but the future they fear. From the Hugo Awards and PuppyGate to Star Wars' #NotMyJedi to Mass Effect and The Last of Us boycotts, Nostalgic Futures reveals how speculative fiction fandom has become a site of contestation over our visions of the past, present, and future. Nostalgic Futures: The Reactionary Fantasies of Speculative Fiction Fandoms analyzes the connection between reactionary speculative fiction fans and far-right social movements. The nostalgia motivating these seemingly disparate groups is not just a longing for an imagined past, but a desire to punish those whose very existence threatens that past's return. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability.