The Truths of Monsters
Coming of Age with Fantastic Media
Published on 2. April 2021
Book
Paperback/Softback
257 pages
978-1-4766-8348-5 (ISBN)
Description
As monster theory highlights, monsters are cultural symbols, guarding the borders that society creates to protect its values and norms. Adolescence is the time when one explores and aims at crossing borders to learn the rules of the culture that one will fit into as an adult. Exploring the roles of monsters in coming-of-age narratives and the need to confront and understand the monstrous, this work explores recent developments in the presentation of monsters--such as the vampire, the zombie, and the man-made monster--in maturation narratives, then moves on to discuss monsters inhabiting the psychic landscapes of child characters. Finally, it touches on monsters in science fiction, in which facing the monstrous is a variation of the New World narrative. Discussions of novels by M. R. Carey, Suzanne Collins, Neil Gaiman, Theodora Goss, Daryl Gregory, Sarah Maria Griffin, Seanan McGuire, Stephenie Meyer, Patrick Ness, and Jon Skovron are complemented by analysis of television series, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Westworld.
Reviews / Votes
"Explores the historical and contemporary narrative of the monster in fiction...focus[es] on adolescent dealings with monsters, and the different parts of society they occupy...Limpar gives readers familiar references as they read about monster psychology and how the characters' reactions to their circumstances parallel real-life reactions to things out of one's control. This book is an interesting read for all lovers of fantasy and horror, and its academic tone could also make it useful for a freestyle literature course."-Booklist "a wonderful exploration of young adult monster fiction narratives that demonstrates the usefulness, interest and possibilities of monsters. It reminds us what a monster truly is, outside initial appearances. Most importantly, Limpar reminds us what human values we need to save the world from the social monsters: respect, responsibility, compassion and hope."-The Geek AnthropologistMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
notes, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
424 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4766-8348-5 (9781476683485)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Ildiko Limpar is a senior lecturer of English at Pazmany Peter Catholic University in Budapest Hungary.
Content
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Monsters Roaming the Space of Coming of Age
Part I-Monstrous Family Matters
1.?The Monstrous Friend and Lover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga
2.?Apocalyptic Monsters in Need of a Family: Daryl Gregory's Raising Stony Mayhall and M.R. Carey's The Girl with All the Gifts
3.?The Rebellious Child: Jon Skovron's Man Made Boy and Sarah Maria Griffin's Spare and Found Parts
4.?Oppressed Daughters and Oppressing Fathers: Theodora Goss's The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club Series
Part II-The Monstrous Wilderness of the Teenage Mind
5.?Dangerous and Safe Spaces: Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and Coraline
6.?Destructive and Healing Psychic Landscape: Siobhan Dowd and Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls
7.?Spaces of Escape for the Abused: Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children Series
Part III-Inhuman(e) Frontiers of Growing
?8.?Alien New World Wilderness: Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking Trilogy
?9.?"Muttated" New World Garden: The Hunger Games Trilogy
10.?Frankensteinian Wild West for Adults Growing Up: HBO's Westworld
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Works Cited
Index
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Monsters Roaming the Space of Coming of Age
Part I-Monstrous Family Matters
1.?The Monstrous Friend and Lover: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga
2.?Apocalyptic Monsters in Need of a Family: Daryl Gregory's Raising Stony Mayhall and M.R. Carey's The Girl with All the Gifts
3.?The Rebellious Child: Jon Skovron's Man Made Boy and Sarah Maria Griffin's Spare and Found Parts
4.?Oppressed Daughters and Oppressing Fathers: Theodora Goss's The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club Series
Part II-The Monstrous Wilderness of the Teenage Mind
5.?Dangerous and Safe Spaces: Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book and Coraline
6.?Destructive and Healing Psychic Landscape: Siobhan Dowd and Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls
7.?Spaces of Escape for the Abused: Seanan McGuire's Wayward Children Series
Part III-Inhuman(e) Frontiers of Growing
?8.?Alien New World Wilderness: Patrick Ness's Chaos Walking Trilogy
?9.?"Muttated" New World Garden: The Hunger Games Trilogy
10.?Frankensteinian Wild West for Adults Growing Up: HBO's Westworld
Conclusion
Chapter Notes
Works Cited
Index