Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction Fourth Edition

by Neil Barron (Editor)

Barron's classic work has been updated and reorganized to reflect changes in the genre over the past decade, and meet the needs and tastes of today's readers and those who work with them. Renowned experts in the field have contributed to this new edition, providing authoritative historical and contemporary coverage of the best in science fiction. Users will find succinct, critical discussions of more than 1,400 SF novels, story collections, and anthologies. In addition, there is a comprehensive survey of the secondary literature-books and other resources that discuss fantastic literature, film, and illustration-plus chapters on teaching SF and a directory of libraries containing significant collections of science fiction. Titles appropriate for or appealing to teens are noted, as are award-winning titles and titles of literary merit. Author, title, and theme indexes provide additional points of access. An essential tool for collection development, research, and reference, this book also supports readers' advisory work. Young adult and adult. Grades 9 and up.

Genres: Science Fiction, Reference, Books About Books

912 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1976

Reviews

[Kamakana · Rating 4 out of 5]

151013: this is an excellent general guide to sf of english written work, itself a historical document 1999, covers the development in essays of major eras of sf, each with bibliography of works- then the same for ya, for critical work, for author notes, for poetry, for movies, for comics... these sections only browsed, only intermittently attended, as my interest is not professional. but many titles of books to add, to search for... including edition 3, which has more work other than english written... truly, a reference book, i skipped a lot, i do not know why i tried to read it all...

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the gold standard of science fiction reference books. The scope of coverage, the quality and depth of information, are simply the best. Only one mild complaint: the annotations of primary works of SF are a little too slanted toward older books that are often long out of print. Thank goodness for NESFA Press and Baen, or an even larger chunk of this would be unavailable except for the tired old copies hoarded by collectors. I'm not saying they should have annotated every book in the Star Wars and Star Trek series by any means, but there is a tradition of lighter SF fare that deserves more attention and a batch of contemporary writers that ought to be included with a book or two, at least until they've faded out by the next edition.

But that's a minor quibble. As a writer of speculative fiction reference books myself, I really appreciate what Barron and his contributors have achieved here.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best guide to finding a specific type of sci fi. It covers a lot of very old sci fi. It's an interesting read all on its own.

[Steven Mahlburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a copy of the 2nd edition signed by one of the contributors. I find myself constantly turning to it for information.

I now have the 5th edition and it is full of even more knowledge.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed, annotated, science fiction bibliography with author studies, critical works, and location of library archives for major writers. Only reservation is book becomes dated.