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Amer Shore: Meditations on a Tale of Science Fiction

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Delany devotes an entire book of literary criticism to a thoughtful and thorough examination -- some would term it deconstruction -- of Thomas Disch's science fiction short story "Angouleme". He's taken his approach from literary critic Roland Barthes' well-known book on Balzac, S/Z. Delany, of course, now has an established reputation as a well-read and intelligent commentator on the ways in which genre literature (he is most interested in science fiction, perhaps obviously, but also in erotic writings and comics) informs the reader's knowledge of the world the author is creating in language, as well as the world the reader lives in. This book helped establish that reputation early on. It's probably important to note that THE AMERICAN SHORE might be tough-going for those without at least a nodding acquaintance in literary criticism and semiotics, however. But for those willing to devote the concentration, THE AMERICAN SHORE can shed a lot of light on the inner workings of how narrative, character, and detail in a sf story communicate new ideas and comment on current culture at the same time.