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Title From Superhuman to Posthuman: A Comparative Study of Selected Classical Eastern Fantasy and Contemporary Western Science Fiction

Author(s) Sameen Shahid

Abstract This research focuses on the comparison between narrative techniques used to portray superhuman and the posthuman in selected classical Eastern fantasy, Hoshruba: The Land and the Tilism and contemporary Western science fiction, Sea of Rust by conducting a textual analysis in the light of theoretical lens provided by Nick Bostrom and Robert Pepperell. The research reviews literature and traces that humans have always imagined and textualized presences beyond and above the human world, changing only its forms over the years particularly in fantasy and science fiction genres. The study uses the terms superhuman and transhuman interchangeably for representing the same core idea of ‘being more than human’ and tracks the examples of transhuman in ancient literature. The research explores that the superhuman in classical Eastern fantasy literature has progressed and evolved into the potential posthuman presented in modern science fiction. For centuries, the liberal humanist subject has been recognized as a distinct human position. However, philosophical orientations such as poststructuralism, postmodernism, and most recently, posthumanism have challenged this position by defying the ideologies of humanism.

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

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Department English

Language English

Publication Date 2021-09-08

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