Memory. Russia. Empire. Fantasy in the Postcolonial Aspect

Abstract

The author of this paper treats the category of historical memory, memory of the empire as one of the most important factors shaping contemporary Russian fantasy, above all such genres as imperial fantasy, alternative history and social science fiction. This issue is discussed using the concepts and methods developed on the basis of postcolonial theory. The popularity of imperial themes is due to Russian society’s distinctive memory and longing for empire (Russian and Soviet), which is supported by socio-political and economic processes (the structural crisis of 1998, an attempt to rebuild the power of the state in the 21st century). These factors result in the interest of fantasists in Russia’s imperial past and consideration of alternative versions of its history.