Speculative Wests: Popular Representations of a Region and Genre

Speculative Wests explores the fusion of the Western genre with other speculative genres, such as science fiction, fantasy, horror, and alternate history, to create hybrid forms known as "changeling westerns," "weird westerns," or "speculative westerns." This book investigates the emergence of these hybrid genres in contemporary literature, film, and television, focusing on works from 2016 to 2020, and offers new visions of the American West.

Format: Hardback
Length: 286 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2023
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press

The cultural landscape of the twenty-first century is a rich tapestry of literature, film, television, comic books, and other media, showcasing a diverse array of genres and subgenres that have emerged and evolved over time. Among these, one notable trend is the emergence of "changeling westerns," "weird westerns," and "speculative westerns," which are hybrid forms of the western genre that blend elements of speculative fiction, fantasy, horror, and alternate history. These innovative narratives redefine the traditional Western narrative and offer fresh perspectives on the American West.

Speculative Wests: An Exploration

Speculative Wests is a project that delves into the world of speculative westerns and other speculative texts that feature western settings. It seeks to understand the ways in which these hybrid genres are shaping the narrative and cultural landscape of the twenty-first century.

One of the key aspects of Speculative Wests is its focus on the study of both genre and place. As noted by Michael K. Johnson, the western genre encompasses not only a specific set of narrative conventions and tropes but also a particular geographic region, namely the American West. Speculative Wests recognizes the importance of studying the interplay between these two elements and how they are being reimagined in contemporary texts.

In his narrative, Johnson explores the emergence of "speculative Wests" in contemporary texts such as Justina Ireland's Deathless Divide (2020), Rebecca Roanhorse's Sixth World series (2018–19), and Alfredo Véa's time travel novel The Mexican Flyboy (2016). These works take the traditional Western narrative and infuse it with elements of speculative fiction, fantasy, horror, and alternate history, creating new visions of the American West that challenge our preconceptions and expand our understanding of the region.

One of the striking features of Speculative Wests is its ability to create new visions of the American West. By merging the western genre with other speculative genres, these texts offer a fresh perspective on the region's history, culture, and identity. They challenge the traditional Western narrative by exploring alternative histories, alternative futures, and alternative realities, allowing readers and viewers to see the American West in a new light.

Speculative Wests also highlights the importance of diversity and representation in the genre. The American West has a rich and complex history, and it is essential to represent the diverse voices and experiences of the people who have lived and worked in the region. Speculative Wests seeks to promote diversity and representation by featuring characters and narratives from a wide range of backgrounds, including Indigenous peoples, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Speculative Wests is a project that explores the world of speculative westerns and other speculative texts that feature western settings. It recognizes the importance of studying both genre and place, and it seeks to create new visions of the American West that challenge our preconceptions and expand our understanding of the region. By promoting diversity and representation, Speculative Wests contributes to the ongoing conversation about the future of the western genre and the role of speculative fiction in shaping our cultural landscape.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496233509