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xii Preface confined to one medium and in which quality exploration of “the alien” exists for all age groups, so that there is consideration of picture books, cartoons, long- running series (TV and novel), and intensely complex and philosophical writings. Because some authors have gathered a reputation specifically for the aliens they have created, there is a lengthy series of author entries. For (almost) every entry there is a short list of further reading to aid expansion. The collection begins with five introductory essays. The first, by the award- winning science-fiction author Gregory Benford, provides an overview of the con- versation that science fiction has been having about the alien for over one hundred years. The second, by Sean Guynes-Vishniac, considers the invention of the idea of the alien in early science fiction. The third, by Joan Gordon, considers one of the worst aspects of the “alien” story, the role it has played in the propensity of humans to commit genocide. This is followed by an essay by Emily Midkiff on “the alien child” that explores the ways in which the alienness of our own past as children has come under scrutiny and become material for the construction of the alien. The final essay, by Michael Levy, focuses on video games, a platform that is only now being taken seriously as material for critical and political analysis. EDITOR’S NOTE This book was originally commissioned from Michael M. Levy. He died in 2017, of a fast-moving cancer, before it could be completed. The proposal was his, and many of the articles began with his drafts. Many of the essays in this volume have been written by Mike’s friends and colleagues to honor his legacy. Thank you to the editorial team who supported me through this project: Edward James, Maureen Kincaid Speller, Susan A. George, and Rich Erlich.