Ciclos y élites: patrones recurrentes en la literatura de Asimov
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2019-03-26
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Universidad EAFIT
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La repetición de patrones es, junto a la riqueza transtextual de su obra, un elemento característico en la literatura de Isaac Asimov. Ambos configuran un estilo muy particular, criticado en ocasiones, pero indudablemente interesante, pues permite una lectura palimpséstica que los aficionados al género de la ciencia ficción siempre han valorado. En el caso concreto de los patrones, hay dos que se repiten con gran frecuencia en sus distintos trabajos: los ciclos y las élites gobernantes. Respecto al primero, Asimov usa una y otra vez la idea de ciclo histórico, insistiendo en una suerte de palingenesia, en ocasiones de un modo sutil, y en otras casi según la interpretación literal que hacían los estoicos, como sucede en el relato “Nightfall”. Acerca del segundo, las élites gobernantes, inspiradas en gran medida en La República de Platón, observamos claras semejanzas intertextuales entre sus obras, con esquemas extraordinariamente similares. En este trabajo profundizamos en ambos patrones, recorriendo algunas de sus principales novelas y relatos para esclarecer los diseños que Asimov repetía con asiduidad.
The repeating patterns, along with the transtextual richness, are characteristic elements in the writings of Isaac Asimov. Both make up a very particular style, criticized at times, but undoubtedly interesting, because they enable a palimpsest-like reading that fans of science fiction enthusiasts have always appreciated. Regarding patterns, there are two that are often repeated in his different works: the cycles and the governing elites. As for the first pattern, Asimov uses over and over again the idea of the historical cycle, insisting on a sort of palingenesis, sometimes in a subtle way, and others almost in line with the literal interpretation by the Stoics, as in the story "Nightfall". About the second pattern, the governing elites, inspired largely by Plato's Republic, clear intertextual similarities can be observed among his works, with extraordinarily similar schemes. In this paper we delve into both patterns, exploring some of his main novels and stories in order to shed light on the schemes assiduously repeated by Asimov.
The repeating patterns, along with the transtextual richness, are characteristic elements in the writings of Isaac Asimov. Both make up a very particular style, criticized at times, but undoubtedly interesting, because they enable a palimpsest-like reading that fans of science fiction enthusiasts have always appreciated. Regarding patterns, there are two that are often repeated in his different works: the cycles and the governing elites. As for the first pattern, Asimov uses over and over again the idea of the historical cycle, insisting on a sort of palingenesis, sometimes in a subtle way, and others almost in line with the literal interpretation by the Stoics, as in the story "Nightfall". About the second pattern, the governing elites, inspired largely by Plato's Republic, clear intertextual similarities can be observed among his works, with extraordinarily similar schemes. In this paper we delve into both patterns, exploring some of his main novels and stories in order to shed light on the schemes assiduously repeated by Asimov.