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Jews in Popular Science Fiction

Marginalized in the Mainstream

Edited by Valerie Estelle Frankel - Contributions by Mara W. Cohen Ioannides; Matthew Diamond; Ari Elias-Bachrach; Valerie Estelle Frankel; Erin Giannini; Arthur S. Harrow; Caleb Horowitz; Sarah Katz; Judy Klass; Ellen Levitt; Miriam Eve Mora; Matthew Nover; Heather Nover; Jonathan Sexton and Fraser Sherman

This book analyzes Jewish tropes in popular science fiction ranging from Star Trek and Marvel to other prominent franchises. Sometimes the representation is subtle and thought-provoking; other times, it is limited to cliché and oversimplification of characters. The chapters in this collection examine the representation of Jewish characters in films and franchises including Superman, Lord of the Rings, The Mandalorian, The Twilight Zone, and more to shed light on the broad range of representations of the Jewish experience in popular science fiction and fantasy.

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  • Author
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  • Reviews
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Lexington Books
Pages: 296 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
978-1-66690-145-0 • Hardback • September 2022 • $126.00 • (£97.00)
978-1-66690-147-4 • Paperback • January 2023 • $39.99 • (£30.00)
Series: Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy
Subjects: Social Science / Jewish Studies, Social Science / Popular Culture, Literary Criticism / General

Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches at Mission College and San Jose City College.

Chapter 1. “Discovery Requires Experimentation”: Centering Nazi-Fighting Ideology Without Judaism in Genre Television

Erin Giannini

Chapter 2. Destroyer, Defender, AI, Lover: The Golem in Speculative Fiction Prose and Comics

Fraser Sherman

Chapter 3. “The Golem was Built to go to War”: The Golem in TV Fiction

Mara W. Cohen Ioannides

Chapter 4. The Origins of Superman: An Unlikely Window into the Jewish American Experience

Matthew Diamond

Chapter 5. Bats & Mitzvahs: Judaism in Modern Batman Comics

Jonathan Sexton

Chapter 6. Have Onscreen Superheroes Lost their Faith? Considering Marvel, Magneto, the Arrowverse, and Harley Quinn

Valerie Estelle Frankel

Chapter 7. Making a Jewish Case for Ferengi: Redeeming Star Trek’s Worst Archetypes

Miriam Eve Mora

Chapter 8. Who Brings The Messiah: Klingon Messianism and Anti-messianism in Star Trek: TNG

Ari Elias-Bachrach

Chapter 9. Across Galaxies: How Science Fiction Echoes the Jewish Experience Under Colonization

Sarah Katz

Chapter 10. Mandalorian Midrash: Space Jews and Ancient Exegetical Analysis in Star Wars’ The Mandalorian

Caleb Horowitz

Chapter 11. Zombies and Educating Jewish Brains

Rabbi Matthew Nover and Heather Nover

Chapter 12. The Quest for the Kosher Dragon: Who’s the Mensch in Middle-Earth?

Arthur S. Harrow

Chapter 13. Avatar: The Last Airbender and Judaism: Several Curious Connections

Ellen Levitt

Chapter 14. The Twilight Zone as Jewish Science Fiction

Judy Klass

Jews in Popular Science Fiction: Marginalized in the Mainstream offers a fascinating series of Jewish-tinted lenses through which to view some of our most widely known science fiction franchises. If you’ve ever wondered about topics such as whether the Ferengi are good for the Jews, or what rabbinic attitudes about zombies are (and where Mel Brooks’s son’s opinions fit into the discussion), then this is the book for you.


— Danny Fingeroth, author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee


Jews in Popular Science Fiction is a pointed look at the Jewish roots of science fiction, historically and thematically, and why, unlike with Hollywood, stand-up, and comics, this contribution has largely gone unrecognized. A collection of voices and topics worthy of the Talmud, there’s something in here for everyone. Some chapters are provocative and some are lighthearted, but all ask worthwhile questions about the nature of identity, imagination, and how one is reflected in and shaped by the other.


— Roy Schwartz, pop culture journalist for The Forward and CNN.com, author of Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero


Jews in Popular Science Fiction

Marginalized in the Mainstream

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
Summary
Summary
  • This book analyzes Jewish tropes in popular science fiction ranging from Star Trek and Marvel to other prominent franchises. Sometimes the representation is subtle and thought-provoking; other times, it is limited to cliché and oversimplification of characters. The chapters in this collection examine the representation of Jewish characters in films and franchises including Superman, Lord of the Rings, The Mandalorian, The Twilight Zone, and more to shed light on the broad range of representations of the Jewish experience in popular science fiction and fantasy.

Details
Details
  • Lexington Books
    Pages: 296 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜
    978-1-66690-145-0 • Hardback • September 2022 • $126.00 • (£97.00)
    978-1-66690-147-4 • Paperback • January 2023 • $39.99 • (£30.00)
    Series: Jewish Science Fiction and Fantasy
    Subjects: Social Science / Jewish Studies, Social Science / Popular Culture, Literary Criticism / General
Author
Author
  • Valerie Estelle Frankel teaches at Mission College and San Jose City College.

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Chapter 1. “Discovery Requires Experimentation”: Centering Nazi-Fighting Ideology Without Judaism in Genre Television

    Erin Giannini

    Chapter 2. Destroyer, Defender, AI, Lover: The Golem in Speculative Fiction Prose and Comics

    Fraser Sherman

    Chapter 3. “The Golem was Built to go to War”: The Golem in TV Fiction

    Mara W. Cohen Ioannides

    Chapter 4. The Origins of Superman: An Unlikely Window into the Jewish American Experience

    Matthew Diamond

    Chapter 5. Bats & Mitzvahs: Judaism in Modern Batman Comics

    Jonathan Sexton

    Chapter 6. Have Onscreen Superheroes Lost their Faith? Considering Marvel, Magneto, the Arrowverse, and Harley Quinn

    Valerie Estelle Frankel

    Chapter 7. Making a Jewish Case for Ferengi: Redeeming Star Trek’s Worst Archetypes

    Miriam Eve Mora

    Chapter 8. Who Brings The Messiah: Klingon Messianism and Anti-messianism in Star Trek: TNG

    Ari Elias-Bachrach

    Chapter 9. Across Galaxies: How Science Fiction Echoes the Jewish Experience Under Colonization

    Sarah Katz

    Chapter 10. Mandalorian Midrash: Space Jews and Ancient Exegetical Analysis in Star Wars’ The Mandalorian

    Caleb Horowitz

    Chapter 11. Zombies and Educating Jewish Brains

    Rabbi Matthew Nover and Heather Nover

    Chapter 12. The Quest for the Kosher Dragon: Who’s the Mensch in Middle-Earth?

    Arthur S. Harrow

    Chapter 13. Avatar: The Last Airbender and Judaism: Several Curious Connections

    Ellen Levitt

    Chapter 14. The Twilight Zone as Jewish Science Fiction

    Judy Klass

Reviews
Reviews
  • Jews in Popular Science Fiction: Marginalized in the Mainstream offers a fascinating series of Jewish-tinted lenses through which to view some of our most widely known science fiction franchises. If you’ve ever wondered about topics such as whether the Ferengi are good for the Jews, or what rabbinic attitudes about zombies are (and where Mel Brooks’s son’s opinions fit into the discussion), then this is the book for you.


    — Danny Fingeroth, author of A Marvelous Life: The Amazing Story of Stan Lee


    Jews in Popular Science Fiction is a pointed look at the Jewish roots of science fiction, historically and thematically, and why, unlike with Hollywood, stand-up, and comics, this contribution has largely gone unrecognized. A collection of voices and topics worthy of the Talmud, there’s something in here for everyone. Some chapters are provocative and some are lighthearted, but all ask worthwhile questions about the nature of identity, imagination, and how one is reflected in and shaped by the other.


    — Roy Schwartz, pop culture journalist for The Forward and CNN.com, author of Is Superman Circumcised? The Complete Jewish History of the World's Greatest Hero


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