FRIDAY’S FORGOTTEN BOOKS #785: THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK Edited by David Wingrove

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What was the state of Science Fiction in 1984? The answers can be found in THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK edited by David Wingrove. Wingrove provides several sections to give a wide range of information to the reader (just check out the Table of Contents below).

The book begins with an introduction by Brian Aldiss on the history of SF, following from his earlier Billion Year Spree (1973) and preparing for his revision of it with Wingrove as Trillion Year Spree (1986).

Then there are 40 pages on SF sub-genres by Brian Stableford (my favorite part of the book!):

I enjoyed the 10 superb vignettes by leading writers (Bradbury, Cowper, Le Guin, Silverberg, Sladek, Tuttle, Wolfe, Zelazny) revealing their own writing habits. While the pieces by Wingrove and Malcolm Edwards on sf publishing and criticism are informative, given the 1984 publishing date, these analysis’s are good for historical value only.

Finally, there’s the superbly grumpy and negative afterword by Kingsley Amis on why none of it is any good, at least none that has been published since his own New Maps of Hell in 1960.

THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK is a consumer’s guide to 880 novelists and more than 2000 works; a brief history of science fiction; 15 sub-genres of Science Fiction, analysis of major works; verbal pictures of science fiction writers at work while 12 writers explain their methods; a status report on science fiction publishing and checklist of science fiction magazines; science fiction criticism and checklist of critical works. Highly recommended! GRADE: A

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

12 thoughts on “FRIDAY’S FORGOTTEN BOOKS #785: THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK Edited by David Wingrove”

  1. Fred Blosser

    aka THE DEAD WRITERS’ SOCIETY. 1984 was around the time I pretty much checked out of contemporary SF. I suppose in 2024 there would be essays on right-wing military SF, licensed properties from video games and movies, and doorstopper novels, the stuff on the B&N shelves that have little or no interest for me.

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    1. george Post author

      Fred, you’re right about an updated version of THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK including sections on Military SF, doorstopper novels, and B&N shelf filler. And, sections on STAR WARS movies and TV shows, and, of course, DUNE, Parts 1 and 2!

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      2. george Post author

        Todd, the 1980s saw the slow erosion of Science Fiction magazines. And, the consolidation of publishers with mergers and acquisitions.

      3. Todd Mason

        And Waldenbooks and B. Dalton and Crown Books and the like featuring said filler titles. (I borrowed this on from a library back when, IIRC.)

  2. Jeff Meyerson

    It does sound interesting, the kind of book I like. If I was home I’d check it out at the library.

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    1. george Post author

      Jerry, THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK was published in 1984–a year after Patrick arrived. We had our hands full as New Parents and my book buying (and reading) took a tumble.

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    1. george Post author

      Bob, THE SCIENCE FICTION SOURCE BOOK is a terrific assessment of Science Fiction circa 1984. It presents a detail picture of the SF field at that time. I’m thrilled that I discovered it! I missed it the first time around…

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