Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia - Hardcover

Clute, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0789401851 ISBN 13: 9780789401854

Publisher: DK ADULT, 1995

Synopsis

Featuring more than a thousand illustrations in full color, a decade-by-decade timeline includes fascinating facts about science fiction films, television series, magazines, and novels, making it the most thorough visual reference book on science fiction available.

About this title

Review:

Rumor has it that critic John Clute, in the aftermath of the success of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, was given carte blanche to develop an illustrated reference. This lavish volume, studded with graphics and nuggets of information, is the pleasing result. Science Fiction : The Illustrated Encyclopedia showcases the prophecy and pageantry of science fiction. It weaves together world history with literary history and technical developments with SF trends, providing a cultural context to the Zeitgeist of the genre. Words truly cannot do justice to the visual delights of this colorful tome: time lines, charts, author biographies and bibliographies complete with photos and signatures, illustrated analyses of SF traditions, magazine covers, classic book covers, film and television snapshots, and historical photos. Use it as a reference, read it through, or pick it up and enjoy it in bits. Science Fiction : The Illustrated Encyclopedia will arouse curiosity, joy, and pride in the hearts of SF lovers. --Bonnie Bouman

From Booklist:

Clute, coauthor of the award-winning Encyclopedia of Science Fiction [RBB N 1 93], has compiled a beautifully illustrated work on the same subject. Not alphabetically arranged, the book is divided into chapters that cover themes in science fiction, history, magazines, major authors, classic titles, graphic works, film, and television. It concludes with a glossary of terms and an index with page numbers in boldface type for main entries.

The intelligent use of illustrations in this work truly demonstrates the old maxim that a picture is worth a thousand words. Clute is very clever in selecting just the right images to illustrate his theme. For example, in the section titled "The 1900s: The Future of the City" are juxtaposed drawings of future cities as seen by H. G. Wells and Winsor McCay with views of New York City in ruins from John Ames Mitchell's The Last American. Clute includes photographs or sketches of authors, stills from movies and TV programs, and covers of magazines and books to show the depth and range of science fiction literature. He also makes effective use of chronology to show both the history of science fiction and contemporary world events that affected the writers. A brilliant illustration of this technique is the section on the years 1940^-49, which recounts World War II with Pearl Harbor, atomic weapons, paper shortages, and such publications as The Gremlins and such movies as The Purple Monster Strikes and Superman.

The section on authors is one of the book's greatest strengths. Following a picture of the author, and his or her dates, nationality, other names, and key works, an essay characterizing the author's work is interspersed with book covers and a boxed bibliography giving date, title, and publisher. For major authors such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, and Arthur C. Clarke, the coverage is more than two pages. Newer authors such as David Brin and Connie Willis are given about half a page.

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, which Clute coauthored with Peter Nicholls, is more scholarly and more detailed but does not have any illustrations. Libraries that own the earlier encyclopedia may not need to buy the illustrated one, but it would be a shame to deprive readers of this attractive volume. It is highly recommended for high-school, public, and academic libraries.

About this edition

• Publisher: DK ADULT
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 0789401851
• ISBN 13: 9780789401854
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 312