The "Murdering twinmaker": putting into context an overlooked icon of science fiction.

Abstract

The concept of instantaneous travel by imaginary technologies has been a key trope in science fiction from the late nineteenth century to the present day, made iconic by Star Trek’s imperative ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ but under-examined in critical literature. This exegesis examines the rise (and fall) of the matter transmitter as a motif and metaphor in British and American science fiction, and its implications for reflecting upon social, scientific and technological change. The exegesis concludes with an analysis of my past and present usage of the trope, putting into context the creative component of this thesis.