The A to Z of Science Fiction Literature

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Overview

Science Fiction literature, also known as sci fi and sf, is one of the more recent genres, and also one of the more popular. It only truly emerged during the 20th century, and has not stopped growing in terms of authors, titles and readers. It has also evolved into a variety of subgenres, ranging from hard sf to soft sf, from Utopias to dystopias, with more than a smattering of horror, detective, war and feminist titles. Stableford covers all these aspects and more, taking a close look at what has become a ...

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Overview

Science Fiction literature, also known as sci fi and sf, is one of the more recent genres, and also one of the more popular. It only truly emerged during the 20th century, and has not stopped growing in terms of authors, titles and readers. It has also evolved into a variety of subgenres, ranging from hard sf to soft sf, from Utopias to dystopias, with more than a smattering of horror, detective, war and feminist titles. Stableford covers all these aspects and more, taking a close look at what has become a booming industry, with its specialized writers, publishers, and fan magazines. The compendium includes not only sf from the United States and United Kingdom, but also France, Russia, and many others. While the chronology charts the genre's dazzling growth, and the dictionary section looks at writers, books, themes, and other specifics, the introduction provides exceptional insight into what Science Fiction Literature is all about.

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Editorial Reviews

American Reference Books Annual
...a handy reference book for those who are looking for quick sketches of major authors, ideas, and movements in science fiction....an illuminating piece on the history and development of science fiction as a genre....a very useful starting point for students doing science fiction research.
Reference and Research Book News
Stableford (creative writing, U. College, Winchester, England), himself a prolific author of novels and short stories, offers a dictionary of the writers, genres, and history of science fiction. Authors were selected for annotation according to the historical significance of their contributions; the necessarily bare-bones biographical information includes mention of other professions and particular experiences with a direct bearing on the contents of the writer's science fiction. The dictionary is followed by an extensive bibliography.
American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)
...a handy reference book for those who are looking for quick sketches of major authors, ideas, and movements in science fiction....an illuminating piece on the history and development of science fiction as a genre....a very useful starting point for students doing science fiction research.
VOYA
Scarecrow's A to Z series covers a number of topics, most of them historical or religious in nature. This series entry appears to be a departure in terms of subject matter, but it is certainly a valuable one. Beginning with a list of acronyms and abbreviations and a detailed chronology running from 1726 to the present, the front matter also includes an exhaustive scholarly introduction that treats the problem of definition that plagues the genre, as well as science fiction's relation to fantasy. It also includes reflection on aesthetics and economy. The dictionary itself, alphabetically organized, is a concise treatment of names and concepts that are frequently cited or used. Authors are selected based on their historical contributions to the genre, and annotations focus on works rather than on the life. Significant authors and broad terms receive relatively more coverage. An extensive bibliography completes the volume. Although this volume hardly provides pleasure reading, it gives significant, succinct information on the genre. Less useful for those working with young adults than Diana Tixier Herald's Strictly Science Fiction (Libraries Unlimited, 2002/VOYA December 2002), this title is nonetheless a valuable reference for larger collections. 2005, Scarecrow Press, 441p.; Biblio. Further Reading. Chronology., $40 pb. Ages adult professional.
—Ann Welton
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780810853973
  • Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
  • Publication date: 9/1/2005
  • Series: A to Z Guides
  • Pages: 492
  • Product dimensions: 0.99 (w) x 8.50 (h) x 5.50 (d)

Meet the Author

Brian Stableford is a part-time lecturer in creative writing at University College, Winchester, England. A professional writer since 1965, he has published more than fifty novels and two hundred short stories, several nonfiction works, and thousands of articles for periodicals and reference books.

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Table of Contents

Part 1 Acknowledgments Part 2 Acronyms and Abbreviations Part 3 Chronology Part 4 Introduction Part 5 THE DICTIONARY Part 6 Bibliography Chapter 7 General Reference Works Chapter 8 Historical Studies Chapter 9 Aesthetic and Theoretical Studies Chapter 10 Miscellaneous Anthologies and Essay Collections Chapter 11 Bibliographies Chapter 12 Thematic Studies Chapter 13 Nations and Regions Chapter 14 Studies of Individual Authors Chapter 15 Writing Guides and Manuals Chapter 16 Speculative Nonfiction Chapter 17 Journals Chapter 18 Fanzines Chapter 19 Websites Part 20 About the Author

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