Martians in the Plaza de la Martians in the Plaza de la Revolución:Revolución:

The history and future of The history and future of Cuban science fictionCuban science fiction

Daniel W. KoonDaniel W. Koon

SLU Physics Dept.SLU Physics Dept.

QUESTIONS ABOUT CUBAN QUESTIONS ABOUT CUBAN SF:SF:

► Is there such a thing?Is there such a thing?► Is there very much of it?Is there very much of it?► Is it any good?Is it any good?►What futures are dreamed in Cuban SF?What futures are dreamed in Cuban SF?►What futures are permitted in Cuban SF?What futures are permitted in Cuban SF?►What characterizes Cuban SF?What characterizes Cuban SF?►Does Does anythinganything characterize Cuban SF? characterize Cuban SF?

(i.e. Is there a Cuban SF, or is it just (i.e. Is there a Cuban SF, or is it just SF made in Cuba?)SF made in Cuba?)

►Why is a physicist giving this talk?Why is a physicist giving this talk?

A WORD FOR MY SPONSORSA WORD FOR MY SPONSORS

►Bruno HenríquezBruno Henríquez►Gerardo ChavezGerardo Chavez►Vladimir HernándezVladimir Hernández► Juan Carlos ToledanoJuan Carlos Toledano► Ilia Casanova & Steven WhiteIlia Casanova & Steven White► Judy and ElitoJudy and Elito

HISTORY OF A GENRE HISTORY OF A GENRE

0.0. InfluencesInfluencesI.I. PrehistoryPrehistoryII.II. First Golden Age: 1964 - 1973First Golden Age: 1964 - 1973III.III. Second Golden Age: 1978 - 1989Second Golden Age: 1978 - 1989IV. IV. Third Golden Age?: 1999 - presentThird Golden Age?: 1999 - present

Reference: “Martians in Bartolo’s banana field: Reference: “Martians in Bartolo’s banana field: historical analysis and perspectives of SF historical analysis and perspectives of SF in Cuba”, Yoss, in Cuba”, Yoss, StardustStardust, Dec. 12, 2002., Dec. 12, 2002.

http://it.stlawu.edu/~koon/cuba/CFCubana/History.htmlhttp://it.stlawu.edu/~koon/cuba/CFCubana/History.html

LITERARY INFLUENCESLITERARY INFLUENCESON CUBAN SFON CUBAN SF

► Anglo-American SF Anglo-American SF ► Soviet SF: The Ivan Soviet SF: The Ivan

Efremov, Arkady & Boris Efremov, Arkady & Boris StrugatskyStrugatsky

►Latin American Latin American

““magical magical realism”realism”

►Latin American SFLatin American SF

LATIN AMERICAN SF INFLUENCELATIN AMERICAN SF INFLUENCE”Science fiction in Latin America and Spain”: ”Science fiction in Latin America and Spain”:

Introduction to Introduction to Cosmos LatinosCosmos Latinos

► ““Soft” SFSoft” SF► Role of Christian motifs and Role of Christian motifs and

iconographyiconography► Use of allegory and humorUse of allegory and humor

Issues of GenderIssues of Gender

I. PREHISTORYI. PREHISTORY

Juan Francisco Calcagno Juan Francisco Calcagno MonzMonzón (1827-1903) ón (1827-1903)

1875: 1875: Historia de un muerto Historia de un muerto [[Story of a dead manStory of a dead man]]

http://www.circuloguinero.org/figures.htmhttp://www.circuloguinero.org/figures.htm

Esteban Borrero (1849-1906) Esteban Borrero (1849-1906) Aventura de las hormigasAventura de las hormigas

[[Adventure of the antsAdventure of the ants]]http://www.cubaliteraria.com/autor/juana_borrero/galeria.htmhttp://www.cubaliteraria.com/autor/juana_borrero/galeria.htm

THE FIRST GOLDEN AGETHE FIRST GOLDEN AGE19641964

►La Ciudad Muerta de KoradLa Ciudad Muerta de Korad [ [The Dead The Dead City of KoradCity of Korad], Oscar Hurtado (1919-], Oscar Hurtado (1919-1977), Cuadernos R. 1977), Cuadernos R.

►Cuentos de Ciencia-ficciónCuentos de Ciencia-ficción [ [Science Science fiction storiesfiction stories (collection)], Oscar (collection)], Oscar Hurtado, ed. Cuadernos R.Hurtado, ed. Cuadernos R.

►¿A dónde van los cefalomos?¿A dónde van los cefalomos? [ [Whither Whither go the cephalomos?go the cephalomos?], Ángel Arango ], Ángel Arango (1926 - ), Cuadernos R.(1926 - ), Cuadernos R.

OSCAR HURTADO, “El OSCAR HURTADO, “El Dragón”Dragón”

(1919-1977)(1919-1977)

► Fisherman, journalist, poet, lecturer, criticFisherman, journalist, poet, lecturer, critic► Lived in USA, returned to Cuba after Triumph of Lived in USA, returned to Cuba after Triumph of

the Revolution.the Revolution.► Traveled to USSR, interviewing SF writers, Traveled to USSR, interviewing SF writers,

1962.1962.

Malathar’s Dragons: http://dragonneo.com/Malathar/animgifs.htmlMalathar’s Dragons: http://dragonneo.com/Malathar/animgifs.html

THE DEAD CITY OF KORADTHE DEAD CITY OF KORAD► Blank verse twin to Blank verse twin to The papers of Valencia the The papers of Valencia the

MuteMute► Origins in Edgar Rice Burrough’s Origins in Edgar Rice Burrough’s Princess of MarsPrincess of Mars

““I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her I loved Dejah Thoris. The touch of my arm upon her naked shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not naked shoulder had spoken to me in words I would not mistake, and I knew that I had loved her since the first mistake, and I knew that I had loved her since the first moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in the moment that my eyes had met hers that first time in the plaza of the dead city of Korad.”plaza of the dead city of Korad.”

► Cosmonaut-narrator travels to Mars to save Cosmonaut-narrator travels to Mars to save Dejah Thoris from “the methane vampires of Dejah Thoris from “the methane vampires of Jupiter”Jupiter”

► Quotes and allusions to multitude of worksQuotes and allusions to multitude of works► Inspiration for the world’s first SF ballet, 1980Inspiration for the world’s first SF ballet, 1980

ÁNGEL ARANGOÁNGEL ARANGO(1926 - present)(1926 - present)

THE END OF THE FIRST GOLDEN THE END OF THE FIRST GOLDEN AGEAGE

► The "quinquennio gris", the gray five-year-planThe "quinquennio gris", the gray five-year-plan► Suspicion of the genre as politically unreliable: Suspicion of the genre as politically unreliable:

"pessimistic, antisocial literature, heretically "pessimistic, antisocial literature, heretically foreign to the sacred models of socialist realism foreign to the sacred models of socialist realism imported from the USSR" – Yoss, “Martians…”imported from the USSR" – Yoss, “Martians…”

"Its place as a privileged genre within the national "Its place as a privileged genre within the national literature passed to the detective story of a new literature passed to the detective story of a new variety: investigators (who are always trying to quit variety: investigators (who are always trying to quit smoking...sad trick of the creators to avoid making smoking...sad trick of the creators to avoid making the heroes totally, boringly perfect) as eternal the heroes totally, boringly perfect) as eternal positive heroes, who always managed, with the help positive heroes, who always managed, with the help of the people and their CDR, to capture the thief, spy of the people and their CDR, to capture the thief, spy or enemy saboteur, albeit after a long and bloody or enemy saboteur, albeit after a long and bloody manhunt.“ – Yoss, “Martians…”manhunt.“ – Yoss, “Martians…”

HIBERNATIONHIBERNATION

► Comic books: Matías Pérez by Luis Comic books: Matías Pérez by Luis Lorenzo Lorenzo

► SF magazine: Oscar Hurtado’s SF magazine: Oscar Hurtado’s "Colección Dragón", nominally SF, "Colección Dragón", nominally SF, detective, and horror stories, but detective, and horror stories, but mostly detective storiesmostly detective stories

► SomeSome English-language SF: "The English-language SF: "The Space Merchants" by Pohl and Space Merchants" by Pohl and Kornbluth, "The Naked Sun" by Kornbluth, "The Naked Sun" by Asimov, "The Martian Chronicles“ by Asimov, "The Martian Chronicles“ by Bradbury Bradbury

► Soviet SF and “the Soviet style”Soviet SF and “the Soviet style”

THE SECOND GOLDEN AGETHE SECOND GOLDEN AGE

19781978► Two children’s books: Two children’s books: Siffig y el vramontono 45-Siffig y el vramontono 45-

AA by Antonio Orlando Rodríguez; and by Antonio Orlando Rodríguez; and De Tulán, De Tulán, la lejanala lejana [ [From Tulan, the distantFrom Tulan, the distant] by Giordano ] by Giordano Rodríguez, Rodríguez,

► Honorable mention in David Prize for Honorable mention in David Prize for Aventura Aventura en el laboratorioen el laboratorio [ [Adventure in the laboratoryAdventure in the laboratory] ] by Bruno Henríquez (1947 - ). by Bruno Henríquez (1947 - ).

19791979► SF gets its own David Prize: SF gets its own David Prize: Los mundos que Los mundos que

amoamo [ [The worlds I loveThe worlds I love] by Daína Chaviano ] by Daína Chaviano (1957 - )(1957 - )

THE SECOND GOLDEN AGETHE SECOND GOLDEN AGE

► Five anthologies of Five anthologies of CubanCuban SF SF Cuentos cubanos de ciencia ficciónCuentos cubanos de ciencia ficción [ [Cuban Cuban

science fiction storiesscience fiction stories]] Juegos planetariosJuegos planetarios [ [Planetary gamesPlanetary games]] Recurso extremoRecurso extremo [ [Last resortLast resort] ] Astronomía se escribe con GAstronomía se escribe con G [ [Astronomy is Astronomy is

spelled with a Gspelled with a G]] ContactosContactos [ [ContactsContacts]]

►Humor, parody, e.g. in the buffoonish work Humor, parody, e.g. in the buffoonish work of F. Mond (Felix Móndejar)of F. Mond (Felix Móndejar)

► Sometimes lax editorial standardsSometimes lax editorial standards

BRUNO HENRÍQUEZBRUNO HENRÍQUEZ

► Environmental physicistEnvironmental physicist► Director of popular Director of popular

science magazinescience magazine► Organizer of literary Organizer of literary

workshop/fanclub i+Realworkshop/fanclub i+Real► Organizer of annual Organizer of annual

Cuban SF conventionCuban SF convention► Cuban Summer TV SF film Cuban Summer TV SF film

series host, 2001/2series host, 2001/2Picture by Scott Edelman, Picture by Scott Edelman,

http://www.scottedelman.com/cuba.htmlhttp://www.scottedelman.com/cuba.html

DAÍNA CHAVIANODAÍNA CHAVIANO

► ““Estila rosada" or "suave"Estila rosada" or "suave"► Moderator weekly for two Moderator weekly for two

months in summer TV months in summer TV schedule of socialist and schedule of socialist and capitalist SF film series.capitalist SF film series.

► Organized Oscar Hurtado Organized Oscar Hurtado literary workshopliterary workshop

► Living in US since 1991Living in US since 1991► The Occult Side of HavanaThe Occult Side of Havana

story cyclestory cyclehttp://www.dainachaviano.com/http://www.dainachaviano.com/

AGUSTÍN DE ROJASAGUSTÍN DE ROJAS

► 1980 David for 1980 David for EspiralEspiral [ [SpiralSpiral]]►Hard SF style vs Chaviano’s “suave”Hard SF style vs Chaviano’s “suave”► Considered one of the best by his fellow Considered one of the best by his fellow

writers. writers. ► Professor of Theatre at Manuel Ascunce Professor of Theatre at Manuel Ascunce

Domenech School for Art Instructors in Domenech School for Art Instructors in Santa Clara. Santa Clara.

►Has retired from SF following "the fall of Has retired from SF following "the fall of real socialism", devoted himself to more real socialism", devoted himself to more religious writings, even though he is a religious writings, even though he is a nonbeliever.nonbeliever.

JOSÉ MIGUEL SÁNCHEZ JOSÉ MIGUEL SÁNCHEZ ("YOSS")("YOSS")

► TimshelTimshel: David Prize : David Prize co-winner, 1988.co-winner, 1988.

► Realist novels in Realist novels in 1990s1990s

► Anthology, Anthology, Reino Reino eternoeterno, 1999, 1999

► Se alquila un Se alquila un planetaplaneta [ [Planet for Planet for rentrent], 2002], 2002

Cover work courtesy of Equipo Sirius homepage

http://www.equiposirius.com/sirius/libros/tau/alquilaplaneta.html

THE END OF THE END OF THE SECOND GOLDEN AGETHE SECOND GOLDEN AGE

The fall of European socialism, the end The fall of European socialism, the end of subsidized Siberian paper and East of subsidized Siberian paper and East German inkGerman ink

HIBERNATION IIHIBERNATION II

► i+Reali+Real: literary workshop, SF fan club, : literary workshop, SF fan club, electronic SF magazine.electronic SF magazine.

►SF ConventionsSF Conventions IBEFICCIÓN 94, IBEFICCIÓN 94, QUASAR-DRAGÓN in 1995 QUASAR-DRAGÓN in 1995 CUBAFICCIÓNs from 1996 to the presentCUBAFICCIÓNs from 1996 to the present

A THIRD GOLDEN AGE: A THIRD GOLDEN AGE: THE EXTRAMUROS YEARSTHE EXTRAMUROS YEARS

(1999-present)(1999-present)

► AnthologiesAnthologies 19991999 Polvo en el vientoPolvo en el viento [ [Dust in the windDust in the wind] -- Bruno ] -- Bruno

Henríquez, ArgentinaHenríquez, Argentina 19991999 Horizontes probablesHorizontes probables [ [Probable horizonsProbable horizons] -- ] --

Vladimir Hernández, MexicoVladimir Hernández, Mexico 19991999 Reino eternoReino eterno [ [Eternal kingdomEternal kingdom (fantasy and (fantasy and

SF)] -- Yoss, CubaSF)] -- Yoss, Cuba

► Publication by Cuban writers abroad and at Publication by Cuban writers abroad and at homehome

► Success by Cuban writers in international Success by Cuban writers in international competitionscompetitions

NEW BLOODNEW BLOOD

►Michel Encinosa Fú – epic Michel Encinosa Fú – epic fantasy and SFfantasy and SF

► Vladimir Hernández Vladimir Hernández –“space opera techno”–“space opera techno”

► Ariel Cruz Vega Ariel Cruz Vega

► Raúl Aguiar – “ficción Raúl Aguiar – “ficción dark”dark”

CUBAN SF ON LINECUBAN SF ON LINE

►Guaicán literario Guaicán literario websitewebsite NewsNews Author biographies, interviewsAuthor biographies, interviews HistoryHistory SF stories in the original SpanishSF stories in the original Spanish

►Axxón: Argentine SF Axxón: Argentine SF e-zinee-zine ( (Vol. 144Vol. 144))►Alfa Erídiani: Spanish? SF Alfa Erídiani: Spanish? SF e-zinee-zine ( (Vol. 6Vol. 6

of Erídano: all Cuban authors)of Erídano: all Cuban authors)

CUBAN SF IN ENGLISHCUBAN SF IN ENGLISH

► 17 Stories by 9 authors, 20 Interviews with 17 Stories by 9 authors, 20 Interviews with 12, Bios of 17.12, Bios of 17.

►History of the genreHistory of the genre► BibliographyBibliography►Google: “Cuban science fiction”Google: “Cuban science fiction”►Google: “Cuban cyberpunk”Google: “Cuban cyberpunk”

INCONCLUSIONSINCONCLUSIONS

► IsIs there a Cuban SF, or is it just SF there a Cuban SF, or is it just SF made in Cuba?made in Cuba?

►What, if anything, characterizes Cuban What, if anything, characterizes Cuban SF?SF?

► Is it any good?Is it any good?►Will any of it be coming to a bookstore Will any of it be coming to a bookstore

near you any time soon?near you any time soon?