Product Description: The language of science fiction, and of fantasy, has a steep challenge: that of the creation of other worlds, societies and characters that are alien to us in diverse and fundamental ways, but still compelling and knowable. This exciting book steps away from the issues of race, gender and politics that have saturated sci-fi and fantasy criticism...read more

Product Description: In this volume, Susan Mandala seeks to reconcile the work of linguists and literary critics, bringing the work of both to bear in her interdisciplinary study of dramatic dialogue. Beginning with an account of the often-heated debates between linguists and drama critics concerning the analysis of drama dialogue as talk, Mandala considers five plays that engage with and exploit naturalistic models of speech: Pinter's "The Homecoming", Friel's "The Communication Cord", Rattigan's "In Praise of Love", Ayckbourn's "Just Between Ourselves", and Wesker's "Roots"...read more