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The term science fiction (sf) first came into common use in the late 1920s, when it was attached to one of the many new genres spawned by American pulp magazines during a brief period of hectic diversification. The kinds of fiction gathered under this label included those termed 'scientific romances' by the British and considered 'contes philosophiques" by the French.
This
reference tracks the development of speculative fiction influenced
by the advancement of science and the idea of progress from the eighteenth
century to the present. It provides an account of the major authors
of works marketed under the genre label, various subgenres perceptible
within the commercial genre, significant sf magazines and their editors,
and neologisms coined by genre writers. Included are entries on authors
of science-based speculative fiction that were, for one reason or
another, spared the indignity of the genre label, and on authors in
the fields of science and technology, which have been particularly
prolific in provoking such speculation. The list of acronyms and abbreviations,
chronology covering the literature from the 1700s through the present,
introductory essay, and dictionary entries provide science fiction
novices and enthusiasts, as well as serious writers and critics, with
an excellent foundation for understanding the realm of science fiction
literature. The extensive bibliography includes books, journals, fanzines,
and websites, demonstrating that science fiction literature commands
a massive following.
Cover design by James Enterline
Published by The Scarecrow
Press, Inc in April 2004
ISBN:0-8108-4938-0
