Lost in the Fray: discovering mimesis in an estranged world

Dystopian fiction achieves its creative and social-political goals when it resolves its unique tension between mimesis and estrangement. The writer must simultaneously create a world that is plausible to the reader but also unfamiliar. Not only must the tension between mimesis and estrangement be resolved, but both mimesis and estrangement must be present in dystopian fiction. This inquiry began by seeking to resolve the tension between familiarity and alienation through a close reading of the techniques of canonical SF works (Dick, Le Guin, More) in order to see if they worked as a model for my own writing. The process required constant reflection: on the craft of writing in general; on the craft of world creation; on the process of character development; and on my interpretation of the ‘real world.’ My approach to the inquiry has resulted in an understanding of how these writers have combined techniques of realism with fantasy story-craft to render a plausible and unfamiliar world. An unexpected outcome of the writing was the discovery of the importance of experiences of masculinity to my reading habits and writing goals.