Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #511595 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

theological analaysis of the big questions using ScFi models
Its a brave woman who'll boldly evaluate a book decribing a new discipline.Remember the Ghia Hypothesis? Where the original idea was to find out the characteristics of the planet that could support life, leading to the study of what that would mean, leading to the recognition of earth as a living system. Mike Alsford's questions about cyborgs, androids and aliens similarly take us to a richer range of questions about what we are. He seamlessly merges theology and ScFi to lead us to an examination of the biggies - who we are, where we're going, what did you say your name was? -using theological analysis of the gods-out-there (or here, depending where you happen to be) without pushing religion or frightening you with rare texts.

What a narrative
As a student of doctor Mike Alsford I was intrugued when I heard that he had written this book. It also being my intention to do this course that I read the book to see what I was getting myself in for.

The narrative is delightful, I could hear Mike talking as though it was one of his lectures combining great academic knowledge with his quirky sense of humour.

The book allows one to engage in various philosophical and theological issues while being able to refer to elements in science (future) fiction. It offers references to a range of materials including books and films allowing one to take on these issues with a more popular basis.

I am very much looking forward to this course, although I might have to come back and edit this review, depending on my final grade!

The book with the odd cover
As a student of Mike's I find reading this book just like sitting in front of him in a lecture watching him bounce about arguing (constructively) very much into his subject. The language is very accessible and conversational in style, the book interesting in its ability to make you argue with the person next to you about what you have just read. All round a great starter to complement anyone interested in future fiction and how it relates to other subjects such as philosophy and theology

The Referencing section at the back of the book holds a diverse suggested watching list from the classic `Blade runner' to the not so classic, `God told me to'. Also included is a nice big list of books which are referred to in the sections of the text so you know what genre you are in for when you later order them from amazon.