Australia has long been thought of by Europeans as an exotic and mysterious land. During the nineteenth century, it was envisioned much as the moon and Mars are today: a distant and uncharted place with hidden possibilities for explorations and adventures. The continent captured the imagination of European writers in the 1800s, and with its settlement, Australia became the setting for tales of lost worlds and ancient civilizations. Australia has since developed a rich national literature, and perhaps because of its novelty and wilderness, it has inspired numerous science fiction writers. This book provides a critical survey of the history of Australian science fiction from its nineteenth century origins to the present. The volume proceeds chronologically, with an introductory section on the origins of Australian science fiction before 1925. It then turns to the rise of traditional science fiction in Australia from 1926 to 1959, with discussions of such writers as James Morgan Walsh, Norma Hemming, and Wynne Whiteford. A section on the period from 1960 to 1974 examines the growing national recognition given to such Australian science fiction writers as David Rome and Jack Wodhams, while a section on science fiction between 1975 and 1984 reviews the rise of small presses and the growth of literary criticism of the genre in Australia. A final section addresses the maturation of Australian science fiction from 1985 to 1998 with attention to Aussiecon Two. Extensive bibliographic information concludes the volume.
I am an Australian philosopher, literary critic, and sometimes a creative writer - specializing in fantasy and science fiction. You might like to check out my trilogy of novels for the TERMINATOR franchise, collectively known as TERMINATOR 2: THE NEW JOHN CONNOR CHRONICLES, or my thriller KONG REBORN (a modern-day sequel to the original 1933 KING KONG movie).
My most recent books are 50 VOICES OF DISBELIEF: WHY WE ARE ATHEISTS, edited with Udo Schuklenk, and, just off the presses in 2012, FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND THE SECULAR STATE - which deals with many of the hot-button issues that arise when religion and politics meet. I examine the nature of religion and secularism, and the classical idea of liberalism, offering a philosophical and historical perspective. Among other things, I present a strong case for freedom of speech, including the freedom to criticize religion or particular religions.
However, this is not an anti-religious book. I am openly an atheist, and have argued forthrightly in favour of atheism elsewhere, but the main arguments of FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND THE SECULAR STATE should appeal to many religious people as well as to secular humanists and other non-believers. Indeed, they largely update the views of John Locke for the twenty-first century, and Locke was himself a religious believer.
I am also editor-in-chief of an online peer-reviewed journal, THE JOURNAL OF EVOLUTION AND TECHNOLOGY, and a columnist with FREE INQUIRY (watch out for my first column soon!).
After living in Melbourne for 30 years, I'm now back in Newcastle (north of Sydney), where I grew up. I was born in Sydney, which is a city that I love, so I have connections to all these places.
I'm a conjoint lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Newcastle. I'm married to Jenny Blackford, whose bio you might also want to check out!
