Cover image for The black mirror and other stories : an anthology of science fiction from Germany & Austria
Title:
The black mirror and other stories : an anthology of science fiction from Germany & Austria
Author:
Mitchell, Mike (Translator)
Publication Information:
Middletown, Conn. : Wesleyan University Press, [2008]

©2008
Physical Description:
xxxix, 377 pages ; 23 cm.
Summary:
Handsomely equipped with a comprehensive introductory historical essay, editor's notes and selected bibliography, this distinguished anthology is a model of genre research. These previously untranslated stories, published from 1871 onward, offer reading virtually unknown to most American (and many German) readers. Some authors combine scientific and philosophical issues, like Kurd Lasswitz in his witty tale "To the Absolute Zero of Existence: A Story from 2371, " while others, as in Erik Simon's 1983 title story, pose psychological puzzles involving alien phenomena. Though the earlier stories in particular demand painstaking reading, all of them repay it with rewarding insights into German and Austrian culture and the many possible uses and misuses of science.
General Note:
Translated from the German.
Language:
English
Contents:
Introduction : a short history of science fiction in German -- The pioneers: science fiction before World War I. To the absolute zero of existence (Germany, 1871) ; Apoikis (Germany, 1882) / Kurd Lasswitz -- Jules Vern in hell (Austria, 1906) / Ludwig Hevesi -- The Martian spy (Germany, 1908) / Carl Grunert -- Malvu the Helmsman (Germany, 1912) / Paul Scheerbart -- Between the World Wars. The missing clock hands (Germany, 1929) / Otto Willi Gail -- Is the earth inhabited? (Austria, 1931) / Egon Friedell -- A free flight in 2222 (Germany, 1934) / Hans Dominik -- German science fiction comes into its own after World War II. Thought control (Austria, 1961) ; Welcome home (Austria, 1961) ; Meteorites (Austria, 1961) / Herbert W. Franke -- Say it with flowers (Austria, 1980) / Ernst Vlecek -- Just one summer (Germany, 1985) / Carl Amery -- The age of the burning mountains (Germany, 1989) / Horst Pukallus -- Science fiction from the German Democratic Republic. A visit to Parsimonia (1981) / Johanna Braun & Günter Braun -- The black mirror (1983) / Erik Simon -- The eye that never weeps (1984) / Angela Steinmüller & Karlheinz Steinmüller -- The current generation: from the 1990s to the present. A letter from the other side (Austria, 1994) / Peter Schattschneider -- Partners for life (Germany, 1996) / Wolfgang Jeschke -- Astrosapiens (Germany, 1998) / Michael Marrak -- Project 38 or The game of small causes (Germany, 2003) / Thorsten Küper -- Planck time (Germany, 2004) / Michael K Iwoleit -- Hitler on the campaign trail in America (Germany, 2004) / Oliver Henkel -- Habemus Papam (Austria, 2005) / Helmuth W. Mommers -- Mother's flowers (Germany, 2008) / Andreas Eschbach.
ISBN:
9780819568304

9780819568311
Format :
Book