A collection of essays which explores the potential connections between speculative narrative in fictional works and actual social change. This book explores whether consumers of science fiction and fantasy narratives can experience a real shift in their worldviews or ideologies as a result of that consumption.

This collection of essays examines the potential connections between speculative fiction and actual social change. Through a variety of approaches, the contributors explore whether consumers of science fiction and fantasy narratives can experience a real shift in their worldviews as a result of that consumption. Topics include the utopian vision of California in Ursula K. LeGuin's Always Coming Home, the changing role of women in science fiction pulp magazines, and the representation of progress and social change in popular graphic novels.