The Victorian Hugos: 1893 Was to Books What 1977 Was to Movies
Science fiction books in 1893 are where science fiction film was in 1977. In both cases, the genre was… perhaps “in the doldrums” is too harsh a judgment. Certainly, enough significant work had appeared before 1893 and 1977 that one could, in those years, speak of the science fiction genre, in both media, as a…
The “Heroic Translators” Who Reinvented Classic Science Fiction In China
When early science fiction novels were first translated into Chinese, the translators took a lot of liberties with the material, reinventing Jules Verne for Chinese readers. Author Ken Liu (The Grace of Kings) explains how this helped inspire him, in turn, to reinvent Chinese traditions for Western fantasy readers. Top image: Le Voyage dans la…
21 Books That Changed Science Fiction And Fantasy Forever
Speculative fiction is the literature of change and discovery. But every now and then, a book comes along that changes the rules of science fiction and fantasy for everybody. Certain great books inspire scores of authors to create something new. Here are 21 of the most influential science fiction and fantasy books. Top image: Magrathea…
Great Lost Manuscripts of Science Fiction and Fantasy
Some of the greatest authors of science fiction and fantasy have put words on paper — only to see those words lost or destroyed. Before there were computers, manuscripts got burned or lost in the mail all the time. Here are the famous authors whose books were lost, destroyed, misplaced or erased. Actually, some of…