The authors of this volume consider the alien in the context of race, sex, nationality, ethnic minorities, epidemic diseases and the Third World to assess what such images reveal about our humanity. A wide range of texts and films are discussed, from historical narratives to horror, and from sixties superspies to science fiction. The contributors cover early science fiction, from the gothic aliens of Dracula and H.G. Wells, to the classic fifties Cold War sci-fi movies, such as "War of the Worlds", 20th-century reworking of various "alien" metaphors, such as the "Fly" movies and the "Alien" series, and comic variations on the theme such as "Mars Attacks!".
