The Cambridge Companion to Literature and the Posthuman Cambridge Companions to Literature Series

The Cambridge Companion to Literature and the Posthuman is the first work of its kind to gather diverse critical treatments of the posthuman and posthumanism together in a single volume. Fifteen scholars from six different countries address the historical and aesthetic dimensions of posthuman figures alongside posthumanism as a new paradigm in the critical humanities. The three parts and their chapters trace the history of the posthuman in literature and other media, including film and video games, and identify major political, philosophical, and techno-scientific issues raised in the literary and cinematic narratives of the posthuman and posthumanist discourses. The volume surveys the key works, primary modes, and critical theories engaged by depictions of the posthuman and discussions about posthumanism.

Preface: literature, posthumanism, and the posthuman Bruce Clarke and Manuela Rossini; Part I. Literary Periods: 1. Medieval Karl Tobias Steel; 2. Early modern Kevin LaGrandeur; 3. Romantic Ron Broglio; 4. Modern Jeff Wallace; 5. Postmodern Stefan Herbrechter; Part II. Posthuman Literary Modes: 6. Science fiction Lisa Yaszek and Jason W. Ellis; 7. Autobiography Kari Weil; 8. Comics and graphic novels Lisa Diedrich; 9. Film Anneke Smelik; 10. E-literature Ivan Callus and Mario Aquilina; Part III. Posthuman Themes: 11. The nonhuman Bruce Clarke; 12. Bodies Manuela Rossini; 13. Objects Ridvan Askin; 14. Technologies R. L. Rutsky; 15. Futures Claire Colebrook.

Bruce Clarke is Chair of the Department of English and the Paul Whitfield Horn Professor of Literature and Science at Texas Tech University. His widely published research areas focuses on nineteenth- and twentieth-century literature and science, with special interests in systems theory, narrative theory, and ecology. Since 2011 he has been the Advisor for the European Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts (SLSA-EU).
Manuela Rossini works in the Vice Rectorate for Research at the University of Basel, Switzerland, where she is also an associated researcher in the Department of English. She is the current President and Executive Director of the European Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts (SLSA-EU). Her research focuses on critical posthumanism, animal studies, feminist materialism, cultural studies of science, and inter- and transdisciplinary methodology.