Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction

by David G. Hartwell

Overview

Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction gives an insider's view of the strange and wonderful world of science fiction, by one of the most respected editors in the field, David G. Hartwell (1941-2016).

David G. Hartwell edited science fiction and fantasy for over twenty years. In that time, he worked with acclaimed and popular writers such as Robert A. Heinlein, Poul Anderson, Frank Herbert, Roger Zelazny, Robert Silverberg, Gene Wolfe, Nancy Kress, L.E. Modesitt, Terry Bisson, Lisa Goldstein, and Philip Jose Farmer, and discovered hot new talents like Kathleen Ann Goonan and Patrick O'Leary. Now in Age of Wonder, Hartwell describes the field he loved, worked in, and shaped as editor, critic, and anthologist.

Like those other American art forms, jazz, comics, and rock 'n' roll, science fiction is the product of a rich and fascinating subculture. Age of Wonder is a fascinating tour of the origins, history, and culture of the science fiction world, written with insight and genuine affection for this wonder-filled literature, and addressed to newcomers and longtime SF readers alike.

Age of Wonder remains "the landmark work" Roger Zelazny called the first edition. The book contains sections that offer advice on teaching courses in science fiction, disquisitions on the controversial subgenre of hard SF, and practical explanations of the economics of publishing science fiction and fantasy. Age of Wonder still lives up to Hugo and Nebula Award winner Vonda McIntyre's description: "An entertaining and provocative book that will inspire discussion and argument for years to come."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765393319
Publisher:	Tor Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/24/2017
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

David G. Hartwell, called "an editor extraordinaire" by Publishers Weekly, is one of science fiction's most experienced and influential editors. As an editor with Berkley Books, Pocket Books, William Morrow, and Tor Books, he has worked with many of the field's best authors and edited many award-winning works. He is the author of Age of Wonders, a nonfiction study of the science fiction field. Among his many anthologies are the bestselling World Treasury of Science Fiction and the World Fantasy Award winner The Dark Descent. He is the holder of a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Columbia University, a winner of the Eaton Award, and has won three Hugo Awards for his editorial work.

Table of Contents

Part I: The Source and Power of SF's Appeal

1. "The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve"

2. "I Have a Cosmic Mind. Now What Do I Do?"

3. Worshipping at the Church of Wonder

Part II: Exploring the Worlds of Science Fiction

4. Running Away from the Real World

5. When It Comes True, It's No Fun Anymore

6. Where Do You Get Those Crazy Ideas?

Part III: Writers, Fans, Critics

7. Why "Science Fiction" Is the Wrong and Only Name for It

8. Science Fiction Writers Can't Write for Sour Apples

9. New Wave: The Great War of the 1960s

10. Fandom

Part IV: The Future of SF

11. "Let's Get SF Back in the Gutter Where It Belongs"

12. Crawling Home from the Future

Select Bibliography

Select Glossary of Fan Language

Appendices

I. Sixty Books Important to the Development of SF, Published Before the Name Was Invented

II. The Best 105 SF Books Since the Invention of the Field in the Twenties

III. Teaching SF: i. An Introductory SF Course; ii. A Course in the Literary History of SF

IV. Understanding Hard SF

V. Dollars and Dragons: The Truth About Fantasy

VI. Editing the Science Fiction Novel

What People are Saying About This

Frank Herbert

David G. Hartwell has taken his cosmic mind on a marvelous exploration of science fiction as it was, as it is, and as it may well be. I was enthralled by Age of Wonders all the way through.

Gregory Benford

An insider's view of the science fiction scene today -- full of insights, sidelights, convention nights -- by one of the ablest minds in the business. Engaging and engrossing.

Roger Zelanzny

A landmark work. Daring, imaginative, witty -- it the best commentary on the field yet written.

Editorial Reviews

A landmark work. daring, imaginative, witty—it is the best commentary on the field yet written.” —Roger Zelazny, creator of the Amber series

“David G. Hartwell has taken his cosmic mind on a marvelous exploration of science fiction as it was, as it is, and as it may well be. I was enthralled by Age of Wonders all the way through.” —Frank Herbert, author of Dune

“An insider's view of the science fiction scene today—full of insights, sidelights, convention nights—by one of the ablest minds in the business. Engaging and engrossing.” —Gregory Benford, author of Timescape

From the Publisher