This chapter introduces the volume and chapters to come. It begins by noting how science fiction is entwined with thinking about law, and especially how the sense of time – of pasts, futures and alternatives – resonates with legal thinking. Having briefly considered some of the founding works on law and science fiction, this chapter then turns to the remaining chapters in this volume. The book is divided into four parts. Part I: ‘Foundation – science fiction as legal theory’ manifests the archive of how science fiction has materialised within and through legal discourses. Part II: ‘High castle – science fiction as legal theory’ is a collection of chapters that take science fiction seriously as popular jurisprudence, and as containing critiques of, and alternatives to, core concepts from the received traditions of legal theory. Part III: ‘The shadow proclamation – fevered legality in sci-fi franchises’ contains chapters that examine the law and legality within three globally successful televisual popular science fiction franchises. Part IV: Others’ presents contributions that use science fiction to think about forms of legality required to empower, entreat and make well others who are often the object and not the subject of law.