"Putting contemporary darkness at a distance is what science fiction is about." Interview with Anne Besson

Abstract

Following his review of Les pouvoirs de l'enchantement, published elsewhere in this issue of Relief, Frédéric Guignard talks to Anne Besson about fantasy and science fiction. A leading specialist on these genres, she discusses didactics, whether in her research career and critical works or in the relationship between works of fiction and the scholarly discourse that underpins them (“hard” sciences in the case of SF, history for fantasy). Emphasising the “pragmatic” nature of her approach, she makes clear her reticence with the naivety of “le laboratoire de l’imaginaire” (ie : believing that speculative fiction somehow introduces new ideas in the mainstream) and other strong opinions on the power and autonomy of literature, especially when dealing with pop culture.