‘Do androids dream of electric sheep?’ Isomorphic relations in reading science fiction

Abstract

A principle of isomorphism is identified as a feature of the reception of texts in the reading process. Principally a mapping of elements or domains, this can be seen to underlie the textual features of explicit surface metaphors, implied metaphors, metaphoric readings of texts, perceived co-operation and coherence. The latter two levels are less obvious examples of isomorphic phenomena, and a model is adapted and developed to explain the pattern-matching involved in resolving meaning from a reading of a text. This resolution of meaning is seen as an effortful activity on the part of the reader, which is balanced against the likely pay-off in terms of satisfaction gained from the reading. The theoretical perspective of reader reception is supported by practical reader-response experiments on science fictional texts. The results of these are reported in terms of the isomorphic procedures already outlined. It is observed that the characteristics of readers determine readings as much as the characteristics of texts.