Science-Fiction: The Gernsback Years

by Everett F. Bleiler, Richard Bleiler

Complementing Science-Fiction: The Early Years, which surveys science-fiction published in book form from its beginnings through 1930, the present volume covers all the science-fiction printed in the genre magazines -- Amazing, Astounding; and Wonder, along with offshoots and minor magazines -- from 1926 through 1936. This is the first time this historically important literary phenomenon, which stands behind the enormous modern development of science-fiction, has been studied thoroughly and accurately.The heart of the book is a series of descriptions of all 1,835 stories published during this period, ranging up to 1,000 words per story, plus bibliographic information. Supplementing this are many useful features: detailed histories of each of the magazines, an issue by issue roster of contents, a technical analysis of the art work, brief authors' biographies, poetry and letter indexes, a theme and motif index of approximately 30,000 entries, and general indexes. A long introduction analyzes ideas behind the stories, science involved, commercial aspects, evolution of story types, and social aspects of authors and readers.

Science-Fiction: The Gernsback Years is not only indispensable for reference librarians, collectors, readers, and scholars interested in science-fiction, it is also of importance to the study of popular culture during the Great Depression in the United States. Most of its data, which are largely based on rare and almost unobtainable sources, are not available elsewhere. The book also includes many corrections of the earlier literature about the genre.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

730 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1998

About the author

See also E.F. Bleiler.

Reviews

[Jose]

aladra septama

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned a lot from this book, and much more interested in reading older SciFi now

[Joshua Buhs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential. Separated from other works of a similar nature by ts extensive plot and motif summaries--as well as Bleiler's aesthetic judgments.

[behemothing]

The index alone is amazing.