Lab Lit

This unique collection of contributed essays explores the cultural representation of science and scientists through literary texts. Its chapters provide creative, thought-provoking, and carefully curated observations about lab lit, bookended by a welcoming introduction to the genre by Olga Pilkington (Dixie State Univ.): "There is humor ... drama ... suspense ... [and] there is love—a life of science is a full one," she asserts. The final essay ("Illuminating a Hidden World through the Medium of Fiction") offers a case study, recounting contributor Rohn's decision to "name the nameless genre" through creation of the related website (http://www.lablit.com/), and featuring a short piece of the author's fiction ("Latent"), with a thoughtful afterword reflecting on the investigation of viruses, cautioning that "science is not ... confined to the laboratory," but that "the messages soon escape," evidently into literature. In conclusion, Pilkington rightly observes that while lab lit offers "possible ways into science" for the uninitiated, "just as a bridge can be crossed in either direction, lab lit works as an introduction to literature for scientists" as well. With her caveat that it is "not intended as a teacher's guide," Pilkington frames this collection as a direct invitation, beckoning new readers to the lab lit genre itself. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

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Mixing discussions of science fiction and science in fiction (also known as “lab lit”), the anthology provides thoughtful analyses of print and visual texts that reference scientific ideas and practices. Lab Lit’s accessible prose makes it an ideal source for students interested in considering the roles sciences play in a range of literary works from Frankenstein to Flight Behavior and in appreciating critical approaches to the scientific imaginary. Both students and scholars can also benefit from the useful bibliographies provided with the essays. -- Carol Colatrella, Georgia Institute of Techno