The SciArtist—Carl Djerassi's Science-in-Literature in Transatlantic and Interdisciplinary Contexts

Carl Djerassi seems to have had more than his fair share of lives, some lived sequentially, others simultaneously: world famous research chemist, innovative teacher, birth control guru, successful businessman, art collector, patron of artists, poet, novelist and playwright. That's nine, and I have probably left out some. Surveying Carl Djerassi's remarkable achievements, what most interests me is the shift in the focus of his career from cutting-edge scientific research to writing prose fiction and drama, relatively late in life. I can't think of another example of such a shift that is truly comparable. David Lodge, in The SciArtist *** Carl Djerassi - an Austrian-American chemist, novelist, and playwright - is best known for his contribution to the development of oral contraceptive pills. Djerassi is also the author of several novels in the "science-in-fiction" genre, including Cantor's Dilemma, in which he explores the ethics of modern scientific research through his protagonist, Dr. Cantor, as well as Chemistry in Theatre: Insufficiency, Phallacy or Both, which demonstrates the potential pedagogic value of using dialogic style and plot structure of plays with a special focus on chemistry. The SciArtist presents criticism, commentaries, and creative responses to Carl Djerassi's literary texts, taking the author's achievements far beyond "the Pill." It represents a complex conversation between the inhabitants of Djerassi's many - and very different - worlds. (Series: Transnational and Transatlantic American Studies - Vol. 11)