The “Fantastic & Strange: Reflections of Self in Science Fiction Literature” exhibit in The Oviatt Library at Cal State Northridge begins September 18 and runs through July 26, 2013:

Science fiction literature, one of the most popular and entertaining genres in modern fiction, has been read and loved by children and adults for decades. From the earliest pulp publications to modern masterpieces, science fiction short stories and novels have often functioned as a lens through which we express our sense of wonder, marvel at the possibilities of new technologies, and engage in our wildest imaginings.

Photos of the exhibit are available online, the items in each case covering a theme such as “Alien Encounters: Defining Ourselves vs. ‘The Other’,” “Invasion: When Aliens Are Among Us,” “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: Changing Roles of Women, 1920-1950,” “Liberation and Redefinition: Changing Roles of Women, 1960s-1980s,” “Heroes and Supermen: Masculinity and the Alpha Male,” etc.

David Brin will speak at at the opening event on September 18.

[Thanks to John King Tarpinian for the story.]