SF Fans Have Much to Cherish from Jewish Authors
The Jewish literary tradition has always been open to and accepting of thematic exploration, often serving as a way to examine and consider ethical issues and philosophical concerns. That willingness to creatively approach the big questions of life has fostered a rich tradition of science fiction within the Jewish community. In fact, the first known “science fiction magazine,” Amazing Stories, was the brainchild of Hugo Gernsbacher, an American editor and publisher of Jewish heritage. Gernsbacher, who subsequently changed his name to Gernsback, is credited with coining the term “science fiction.” For that reason, the annual awards bestowed by the World Science Fiction Convention are still referred to as the “Hugos.“
The Classics of Jewish Science Fiction
Many of the most storied writers in the science fiction genre are Jewish. Isaac Asimov, one of the most well-recognized names in SF, was the son of Russian Jewish parents. Harlan Ellison, credited with writing some of the best episodes of Star Trek ever written, was born to Jewish parents in Cleveland, Ohio in 1934. Award-winning author Robert Silverberg, the recipient of a number of Nebula awards for his fiction, grew up Jewish in Brooklyn, New York.
Among the classics of Jewish science fiction are:
- Wandering Stars, an anthology compiled by Jack Dunn and published in 1974, with all the works included being penned by Jewish authors (many of whom had previously been forced to use Gentile pen names to get published). Though the anthology focused on science fiction, it also included fantasy fiction by the likes of Isaac Bashevis Singer and Bernard Malamud.
- Pebbles In The Sky, Asimov’s first novel, published in 1950, where the author explores time travel through the adventures of Joseph Schwartz, a retired tailor in Chicago. The novel was published before the Hugo Awards were established, but was nominated for a “Retro-Hugo” in 2001, finishing second to Robert A. Heinlein’s Farmer In The Sky.
- Dying Inside, by Silverberg, published in the early 1970s and nominated for Nebula, Hugo and Locus awards. Originally appearing in serial form in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine, it tells the tale of a common man born with the ability to read minds. Throughout the course of the novel, as the protagonist increasingly uses his power for selfish pursuits, his gifts fades away. The Washington Post called it “a superb novel about a common human sorrow…the recognition that we are all dying inside and that all of us face the eventual disappearance of the person we have been.”
- He, She and It, also published as Body Of Glass, a 1991 novel by Marge Piercy about a romance between a cyborg and a human female, examining not only themes related to technology, but issues related to environmentalism, politics and gender identities/roles.
Combining Wit with Fantasy—Playfulness in Jewish Science Fiction
The historic Jewish sense of humor and play can often be found among Jewish science fiction authors. Here are a few examples:
- Father of the Bride of Frankenstein, by Daniel M. Kimmel—Imagine, if you will, that Mary Wollstoncraft’s “creature” decides to convert to Judaism and wants to marry your daughter. This hilarious retelling of the Frankenstein story from the perspective a Jewish father. Questions arise regarding “Frank’s” body parts, as well as his soul.
- Kaddish.com, by Nathan Englander—This satire imagines a 21st century Jewish mourner who, after the death of his father, hires a proxy to recite the daily Kaddish for him, instead of doing it himself, humorously looking at the ways that religious tradition and modern technology coexist.
- Mount Chicago, by Adam Levin, where the protagonist, a Jewish comedian, must cope with the impact of a natural disaster on his city
- Danielle: Chronicles of a Superheroine, by Ray Kurzweil—This “young adult science fiction” favorite follows the exploits of a young girl on a mission to change the world around her. Reminded by her father of the Talmud’s admonition that anyone who saves one life saves the whole world, Danielle embarks on a successful campaign to overthrow governments and secure peace in the Middle East, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in the process.
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