Surreal Entanglements: Essays on Jeff VanderMeer's Fiction

This edited collection explores the Anthropocene and posthumanist culture through the surreal lens of Jeff VanderMeers fiction, re-imagining human subjectivity and other collectivities in light of ecological, technological, aesthetic, epistemological, and political challenges. It measures VanderMeers work as a new kind of speculative surrealism, capturing the strangeness of navigating a world in which nature has become radically uncanny.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This edited collection delves into the most pressing discourses of the Anthropocene and posthumanist culture through the surreal yet instructive lens of Jeff VanderMeer's fiction. In contrast to universalist and essentializing approaches to responding to new material realities, VanderMeer's work invites us to re-imagine human subjectivity and other collectivities in the light of historically unique entanglements we face today: the ecological, technological, aesthetic, epistemological, and political challenges of life in the Anthropocene era. By situating these messy, multi-scalar, material complexities of life in close relation to their ecological, material, and colonialist histories, his fiction renders them both troublingly familiar and strangely generative of other potentialities and insight. The collection measures VanderMeer's work as a new kind of speculative surrealism, his texts capturing the strangeness of navigating a world in which nature has become radically uncanny due to global climate change and powerful bio-technologies.

The first collection to survey academic engagements with VanderMeer, this book brings together scholars from various fields, including environmental literature, science fiction, genre studies, American literary history, philosophy of technology, and digital cultures, to reflect on the environmentally, culturally, aesthetically, and politically central questions his fiction poses to predominant understandings of the Anthropocene.

Through his imaginative storytelling, VanderMeer challenges our preconceived notions of human nature, technology, and the relationship between the two. His novels explore the consequences of human actions on the environment, the role of biotechnology in shaping our world, and the ethical dilemmas that arise as we navigate the rapidly changing landscape of the Anthropocene.

One of the key themes in VanderMeer's work is the concept of the "surreal," which he defines as "a world in which nature has become radically uncanny due to global climate change and powerful bio-technologies." This surreal world is characterized by strange and unexpected phenomena, such as the emergence of new species, the destruction of ecosystems, and the blurring of the boundaries between human and non-human entities.

VanderMeer's fiction also explores the idea of "posthumanism," which refers to the emergence of new forms of life that are not entirely human or non-human. These posthuman beings may be created through genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, or other bio-technologies, and they may possess abilities and characteristics that are beyond our traditional understanding of what it means to be human.

In addition to these themes, VanderMeer's work examines the impact of colonialism and globalization on the environment and human societies. His novels often depict the devastating effects of these processes on indigenous cultures, as well as the ways in which they have shaped the modern world.

One of the most striking features of VanderMeer's fiction is his ability to blend science fiction, fantasy, and realism seamlessly. His novels are filled with intricate details and scientific explanations, yet they never lose sight of the emotional and psychological dimensions of the characters. This combination of genres allows VanderMeer to explore complex themes in a way that is accessible and engaging to a wide range of readers.

In conclusion, this edited collection offers a valuable insight into the most pressing discourses of the Anthropocene and posthumanist culture through the surreal yet instructive lens of Jeff VanderMeer's fiction. By exploring the complexities of human subjectivity, technology, and the environment, VanderMeer's work challenges us to re-imagine our place in the world and the potential for a more sustainable and equitable future.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032003740