English 339/539
Modern Science Fiction

Crucial Info for Spring 2022:

Facilitator (Your Primary Instructor): Prof. Brian McShane

Supervising Instructor: Dr. Loren R. Schmidt

Prof. McShane's Telephone: (609) 709-8949

Dr. Schmidt's Telephone: (509) 865-8542 or Ext. 2112 (Work); (509) 307-0104 (Cell); (509) 574-8486 (Home)

Prof. McShane's E-mail: McShane_B@heritage.edu

Dr. Schmidt's E-Mail: schmidt_l@heritage.edu or loren@llschmidt.net

Dr. Schmidt's Office: 2112 Simkins, Heritage University, 3240 Fort Rd., Toppenish, WA 98948 WA 98948-

Schmidt Virtual Office Hours on Zoom: W 6-8 pm PDT/PST, F 130-3 pm PDT/PST, or by appointment

Schmidt Physical Office Hours (available by phone): F 130-3 pm PDT/PST or by appointment. Also on campus most TWThF afternoons when not in meetings or class.

McShane Virtual Office Hours on Zoom: Th 4-6 pm PDT/PST or by appointment

Time and Place:

Spring 2022, Only Asynchronous Option Available.

Weekly online office hours with Prof. McShane and Dr. Schmidt for those who have questions.

1. Class for online students will meet via Internet on Heritage University Virtual Campus (AKA MyHeritage). Students will also have the opportunity to make their Seminar Leader presentation LIVE online. See "Schedule" and "Evaluation" pages or watch your weekly emails for more information.

2. Class will have weekly office hours available via Zoom on TBA. Dr. Schmidt or Prof. McShane will discuss the reading materials and answer questions. SOME SESSIONS WILL BE RECORDED FOR LATER PLAYBACK, BUT NOT ALL.

3. Online students may use a headset or built-in microphone or phone when attending Zoom sessions IF they desire to speak instead of typing questions. Cheap headsets work just fine; webcam not required.

Texts (any editions are fine):

Science Fiction Hall of Fame Vol. 1 (Short stories), ed. Robert Silverberg

Dune, Frank Herbert

The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin

Kindred, Octavia Butler

Neuromancer, William Gibson

Watchmen, Alan Moore

The City and the City, China Miéville

The Martian, Andy Weir

Station Eleven, Emily St. John Mandel

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Course Description and Objectives

Grading: Elements of Evaluation

Course Policies

Course Schedule

© Dr. Loren R. Schmidt, 1999-2022
No part of this syllabus may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written permission.