Robert Markley Book order

Award-winning epics like the Mars Trilogy and groundbreaking alternative histories like The Days of Rice and Salt have brought Kim Stanley Robinson to the forefront of contemporary science fiction. Mixing subject matter from a dizzying number of fields with his own complex ecological and philosophical concerns, Robinson explores how humanity might pursue utopian social action as a strategy for its own survival. Robert Markley examines the works of an author engaged with the fundamental question of how we—as individuals, as a civilization, and as a species—might go forward. By building stories on huge time scales, Robinson lays out the scientific and human processes that fuel humanity's struggle toward a more just and environmentally stable world or system of worlds. His works invite readers to contemplate how to achieve, and live in, these numerous possible futures. They also challenge us to see that SF's literary, cultural, and philosophical significance have made it the preeminent literary genre for examining where we stand today in human and planetary history.

Focusing on the interplay between East Asia's wealth and English identity, Robert Markley examines how seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century literature reflects shifting perspectives on national and personal identity. By analyzing the works of notable authors like Milton, Dryden, Defoe, and Swift, he challenges traditional Eurocentric narratives, revealing how these writers grappled with England's marginalized position in a world economically influenced by powerful Far Eastern empires until 1800.

The book delves into the portrayal of powerful Asian empires in the writings of Milton, Dryden, Defoe, and Swift. It explores how these authors reflect and critique the dynamics of imperialism and cultural perceptions of the East during their time. By analyzing their literary contributions, the work sheds light on the complex relationships between Europe and Asia, revealing underlying themes of power, identity, and colonial discourse within the context of early modern literature.