Heróis ex-cêntricos, gêneros retorcidos e discursos irreais: fantasia e ficção científica desconstruídos nas obras de Angela Carter e China Miéville

Abstract

This research aims at exploring shared themes in works from two British authors, Angela Carter (1940-1992) and China Miéville (1972- ). The novels chosen are Nights at the circus (1984) and The infernal desire machines of Doctor Hoffman (1972), from Angela Carter, and Perdido Street Station (2000) and The city & the city (2009), from China Miéville. As a starting point, both authors exhibit strong links with genre fiction, expressed by the chosen works. In investigating parallels between the novels the focus is going to remain on revising thematic and stylistic intersections, as well as divergences and contradictions. Among explored themes, Alterity and Hybridity are used by both authors in portraying ex-centric characters, Hybridity being used in order to emphasize the Alterity distinctive of the Other. The approach both authors direct towards genre fiction and how they deal with tropes and clichés of Science Fiction and Fantasy is also going to be examined. Finally, the research is going to deal with the concept both authors share that discourses might not be a mere reflection of reality but instead they might create and shape what we accept as real. All themes are going to be studied under the lens of postmodern theory and critic, as well as specific criticism on Speculative Fiction, Fantasy and Science Fiction