A re-examination of the theoretical and historical connections between science fiction and critical theory, the book explores how to move beyond established theories to approach the genre from a post-critical perspective. Challenging predominant critical trends that limit science fiction to a collection of symbols and metaphors representing underlying cultural issues, Simona Bartolotta demonstrates how studies of the genre can be enriched by the notion of 'affordative estrangement'. A postcritical reconfiguration of previous attempts to theorize meaning-making in science fiction, Bartolotta employs the method to show the potential of any textual element (be it structure, characters, objects, or events) to aid readers in constructing novel, unexpected, and hard-to-conceptualize forms of meaning – thus expanding the interpretative possibilities of a work.

Drawing on theorists such as Darko Suvin, Carl Freedman, Samuel R. Delany, Istvan Csicsery-Ronay, and Rita Felski, the book examines the recent research positioning postcritique as a productive framework for bringing forth the unique cognitive potential of science fiction. Discussing a wide array of texts, Mystery, Science Fiction and the Postcritical covers work from fin-de-siècle occult detective stories to Isaac Asimov's Robot series, from Stanislaw Lem's diverse oeuvre (detective fiction, satirical speculative short stories, experimental "fictional nonfiction) to contemporary cyber-noir novels. Tracing a counter-history of science fiction from the late 19th century to the present day, Bartolotta offers an innovative take on the history of science fiction criticism and a novel understanding of science fictional poetics.