Age of Wonders: Exploring The World of Science Fiction (Paperback)

by David G. Hartwell (Author) "THIS IS a book about the science fiction field and that body of contemporary writing known as science fiction, or SF..." (more)
Key Phrases: Star Trek, Van Vogt, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Do you know what the term "fannish" means? How about "filk" or "fen"? Or "Twonk's Disease"? If not, there's a good chance you're a mundane, which is to say you're not a hardcore SF fan. For you, David G. Hartwell--one of the field's finest editors and most stalwart champions--has written Age of Wonders, a book about the inner workings of the SF cognoscenti. It is an intriguing look into the rabid subculture spawned by science fiction that also offers insights into why some people give up reading SF in their teens, while for others it becomes a lifelong passion.

Review
"A landmark work. daring, imaginative, witty--it is the best commentary on the field yet written."--Roger Zelazny, creator of the Amber series

"David G. Hartwell has taken his cosmic mind on a marvelous exploration of science fiction as it was, as it is, and as it may well be. I was enthralled by Age of Wonders all the way through."--Frank Herbert, author of Dune

"An insider's view of the science fiction scene today--full of insights, sidelights, convention nights--by one of the ablest minds in the business. Engaging and engrossing."--Gregory Benford, author of Timescape
-- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; Revised edition (October 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312862350
• ISBN-13: 978-0312862350
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #198,182 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why The Golden Age of SF is 12 years old (and male)., April 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Age of Wonders: Exploring The World of Science Fiction (Hardcover)

I grew up during the age of the Mercury and Apollo projects, a time before space launches, except for one disaster, become so routine I doubt they'll be any HBO specials about them. My fascination with the Cronkited-narrated adventures over my tiny black and white tv led to a fascination about outer space and, in particular, science fiction. Which is why David G. Hartwell titles his book, "Age of Wonders," noting the pre-adolescent's awe of emerging technical feats (in my time it was space travel, today it is cyberspace) that gets him (and it's usually male) hooked on reading science fiction to the exclusion of school and girls, which he's too nerdy to attract anyway. Hartwell's subject here is "hard science fiction," generally defined as imaginative postulations as how technology will be used in the future to solve a problem and how the subsequent changes wrought affect human behavior. This excludes Tolkien elves, McAffery dragons, or Gibson cyber cowboys, although there is a chapter on fantasy as well as the New Wave literary movement of the 60s that sought to transcend "space opera." But if you're interested in Robert Heinlein, watch Star Trek reruns, or go to fan conventions, this is the book for you. This is accessible literary criticism that any 12 year old can comprehend, even though it's written by an English professor. It's also quite funny, at times, as a review of the Table of Contents will tell you with chapters such as, ""Science fiction Writers Can't Write for Sour Apples" and "Let's Get SF Back in the Gutter Where It Belongs." In addition to the essays, there's a recommended reading list and an appendix about the business of SF publishing (Hartwell is an editor for TOR). An interesting read for fans, and a way for them to interest their friends who wonder what the fascination is all about.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful for explaining to friends and family why you read SF, September 28, 2002

By	Glen Engel Cox "www.engel-cox.org" (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It was bound to happen. As I sat down to type up this commentary, I paged through my Day-Timer to find the notes I had written on the books I had read. I came across the reference to this...and a blank page. So what do I remember, now over two months later? I picked up this book long ago in paperback, read the first chapter or so, and sent the book to my mother. My parents have been quite understanding of my interest in science fiction, but I don't believe they've ever quite understood it. The first chapter, and indeed the rest of the book, is a wonderful introduction to science fiction and the culture it engenders. I don't know if my mother has ever read this, but I'm glad that it was there to send to her. I picked up this book again three years ago from an ad in Locus. It sat on my bookshelf until this past semester, when I did a study of science fiction fandom for my sociology class. Hartwell's excellent study then came in quite handy as a reference tool and quotebook for the paper that I wrote. Useful? Quite. I recommend it as probably the best study so far on science fiction fandom, mainly because it is the only one. Other books make reference to the subculture; only Hartwell dedicates an entire book to it. If you've ever wondered why fans are as they are, this might be your answer.

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Free SF Reader, September 13, 2007

By	Blue Tyson "- http://freesf.blogspot.com" - See all my reviews

This is apparently a mid 90s update to a mid 80s book.

Divided into three major sections :-

The Source and Power of SF's Appeal

Exploring the Worlds of Science Fiction

and

Writers, Fans and Critics

He also has some short appendices about important early works, including pre-20th century, a bit about the development of commercial fantasy, on editing, and his list of best books.

It is quite interesting. He looks at why people like SF, pointing out that such people do seem to think a bit differently, and the problems 'outsiders' have in coming in cold to SF work, and the fact that if you read a lot - he calls these people 'omnivores or chronics' that you will have your assumptions and beliefs challenged and lots of people absolutely do not want that. Also the fact that academic or literary critics that are 'outsiders' will have read far less material than such people.

He looks at the influence of 'fans' in the 'keen convention or discusser of' sense, and also the 'New Wave War', after SF moved out of the golden age, as well as some leading critics.

As far as style of writing goes, he mentions that a disagreement between H. G. Wells and Henry James could be seen to be at the heart of it, early on. Or, ornate style and character over a 'clear, journalistic style of prose' and having a plot and story. Of course pointing out that some SF writers do have both.

Anyway, well worth a look, and it would be interesting to know if his opinions are the same around ten years later, given the digital influence now.