Islands in Speculative Fiction: The Functions of Islands in Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Film and Writing

The study of islands in speculative fiction intersects with cultural geography, political theory, and literary futurology. It unfolds within the concept of relational shifts between islands and continents, the deconstruction and reconstruction of the East-West binary, and the dynamic interplay between technology and human knowledge systems. As one of the most technologically and socially imaginative forms of literature, speculative fiction positions humanity within a vast coordinate system spanning the local, the global, and even the interstellar. In so doing, it examines and reflects upon the past, present, and future of human civilization—ultimately offering insights that may contribute to a more harmonious and sustainable future. Building on these themes, this special section explores how islands are represented and imagined in speculative fiction, including science fiction, to uncover the unique qualities that distinguish future-oriented island narratives from their traditional counterparts. The papers included here can be divided into three key thematic categories: (1) islands as liminal spaces for seeking identity and redemption, (2) islands as sites of ecological and economic crisis, and (3) islands as realms of colonial and utopian imaginations.