De-Westernizing Science Fiction Studies and Centering Chinese Visions: A Review of Chinese Science Fiction: Concepts, Forms, and Histories

Abstract

This book review examines Chinese Science Fiction: Concepts, Forms, and Histories, edited by Song Mingwei, Nathaniel Isaacson, and Li Hua. Rejecting Western-centric interpretations of Chinese science fiction as a derivative form, the volume presents it as a distinct cultural production rooted in traditional Chinese philosophy and shaped by China’s modernization, thereby contributing to global conversations on technological progress, ecology, and posthumanism. Organized into three major sections, the book brings together literary criticism, film studies, and critical theory to explore Chinese science fiction’s historical origins, cross-media development, and contemporary philosophical concerns. The collection’s greatest strength lies in its effort to de-westernize science fiction studies and foreground Chinese perspectives. Although the volume has certain limitations, it remains a well-researched and significant contribution that encourages a more inclusive understanding of non-Western science fiction. By synthesizing historical, cultural, and media-based approaches, it offers an important framework for rethinking the global contours of Chinese science fiction and the role of non-Western traditions in shaping the genre’s future.