Journal of Digital Humanities and Science Fiction Studies
DHSFS, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2026, pp. 181-185.
Print ISSN: 3105-1278; Online ISSN: 3105-1286
Journal homepage: https://www.dhsfs.com
DOI: Https://doi.org/10.64058/DHSFS.26.1.17
Two-way Innovation of Science Fiction and History of Science—
A Review of New History of Science: Science Fiction Studies
Zhang Sirui
Abstract: The core contribution of the joint work by Jiang Xiaoyuan and Mu Yunqiu, A New History of Science: Science Fiction Studies, lies in its adoption of an “anti-Whig historiography” as a theoretical framework. The book systematically critiques winner-centered narratives in traditional histories of science. It reintroduces into scholarly focus the long-neglected speculative hypotheses, failed scientific explorations, and science fiction narratives. The book argues that science fiction is not merely a popular adjunct to scientific knowledge. It functions as a public reproduction mechanism for scientific hypotheses, but rather a mechanism through which scientific hypotheses are reproduced and circulated in public cultural spaces, serving as a public extension of scientific thought experiments. While offering a model of historically self-aware interdisciplinary research, the book also leaves room for further exploration in its treatment of life science themes and literary narrative analysis.
Keywords: A New History of Science: Science Fiction Studies; History of science; Anti-Whig historiography; Science fiction
Author Biography: Zhang Sirui, Ph.D. candidate at the College of Humanities, Shenzhen University. Research Area: Comparative Literature and World Literature. E-mail: zsrmq2023@126.com.
题目：科幻与科学史的双向革新——评《新科学史：科幻研究》
摘要：江晓原、穆蕴秋合著《新科学史：科幻研究》的核心贡献在于以“反辉格史学”为理论出发点，系统批判了传统科学史的胜利者书写，将长期被遮蔽的幻想性假说、失败的科学探索及科幻叙事重新纳入科学史的研究视域。该著论证了科幻并非科学知识的通俗附庸，而是科学假说在公共文化空间中的再生产机制，是作为科学思想实验的公共延展。该著为跨学科研究提供高度自觉的史观示范的同时，其在生命科学主题覆盖及文学叙事分析层面亦有可拓展空间。
关键词：《新科学史：科幻研究》；科学史；反辉格史学；科幻文学
作者简介：张思睿，深圳大学人文学院博士研究生，研究方向：比较文学与世界文学。电邮：zsrmq2023@126.com。
Received: 02 Mar 2026 / Revised: 09 Mar 2026 / Accepted: 13 Apr 2026 / Published online: 30 Apr 2026 / Print published: 30 May 2026.
