Globalisation, Science Fiction and the Poetics of Residue

Globalisation, Science Fiction and the Poetics of Residue turns to science fiction as an unexpected guide for mapping globalisation’s true impact. The relentless pace of global capitalism has been creating a bewildering array of changes, leaving us often disoriented and unable to fathom its true dimensions or what is at stake. Yet this book argues that possible answers lie not in chasing the latest developments but in examining what gets discarded along the way.

Science fiction has always been fascinated with the new and the futuristic. But what if we shifted gears to look instead at what gets thrown away or left behind in these imagined worlds? This book argues that by focusing on the waste and remnants of globalisation in science fiction, we can better understand how global processes actually work. The residue becomes a powerful lens for seeing patterns that traditional approaches miss. This perspective transforms how we read science fiction itself, revealing the genre’s ability to illuminate the hidden costs of progress under globalisation.

Drawing on popular contemporary works, including stories that have reached mainstream audiences and are enjoying successful adaptations like Netflix’s The Three-Body Problem, this book bridges academic research with broader cultural conversations. In our current moment of climate crisis and mounting environmental concerns, examining what civilisations choose to leave behind has never been more relevant.