American science fiction - in both literature and film - has played a key role in the portrayal of the fears inherent in the Cold War. Working through a series of key texts, this work investigates the political inflexions put on American narratives in the post-war decades by Cold War cultural circumstances. American society is a key element in the author’s exploration of science fiction narratives which include Fahrenheit 451 , Invasion of the Body Snatchers and Dr Strangelove .