Science fiction cinema has had a dramatic effect on how science is perceived by the general population. At first, science fiction and science may seem diametrically opposed, and in some cases they certainly are, but after a closer analysis, many elements are in common, primarily creativity and imagination. Even though “fiction” is the key word in science fiction, there are many examples of yesterday’s science fiction becoming today’s science.
This book explores the creative and imaginative elements of biology seen in 20th century science fiction films. Written by a professional scientist and science fiction lover, this second edition includes recent updates of biomedical science and science fiction cinema. It covers different categories of biology, biochemistry (or molecular biology), and medicine, each subcategorized into chapters such as cell biology, hematology, and dermatology. Within each chapter are several science fiction cinema examples explaining the biological sciences principles involved, what is right and what is wrong with the science, and what changes could be made for the science of the film to become a reality.

Mark C. Glassy is a professor at the University of California, San Diego; Moores Cancer Center, Translational Neuro-Oncology Laboratory and a member of the advisory board for the University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine.

Mark C. Glassy
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 50 photos, appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2023
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9233-3
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5149-1
Imprint: McFarland

Reviews from the 1st edition

• “Fascinating”—Classic Images
• “Marvelous…fun…fresh, lively, iresistibly informative…a real gem”—Filmfax
• “Fun, appealing and intelligently done”—School Library Journal
• “Detailed…required reading”—C&RL News
• “Remarkable”—Cult Movies
• “Unique and unprecedented…anyone interested in the ‘science’ behind horror films and mad doctor machinations would do well to sample [this] book”—Monsters From the Vault
• “Full of real science…the author shows his indisputable knowledge of the field…painstakingly detailed…deserves respect”—SFRA Review