Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies: From 1897 to the Present (Facts on File Film Reference Library) [Paperback]

C. J. Henderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Facts on File Film Reference Library | Publication Date: August 2001

Written by a noted film reviewer and journalist, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies is a fascinating A-to-Z historical overview of science fiction in the cinema from the earliest experiments in silent film in the 1890s to the most recent blockbusters.

Each of the more than 1,300 entries includes the film's vital statistics-title, year released, director, screenwriter, cast, studio, and running time-along with a summary of the film and a critical analysis of its success or failure as science fiction and as entertainment. Select entries contain additional information, trivia, and anecdotes on the making of the film.

Additional features include:
• More than ninety black-and-white photographs that capture the most exciting moments in sci-fi film history
• A historical overview of science fiction movies at the Oscars-the winners, the losers, and the overlooked
• An appendix citing literary sources for science fiction films
• An interview with Frank Herbert, author of Dune, covering the film adaptation of his landmark novel.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

One wonders if the world is in need of yet another science fiction encyclopedia, be it covering film, television, or literature. Yet it is hard to fault this offering from Facts On File. In spite of some rather dubious additions to make the work appeal to the science fiction market (an off-putting introduction by Star Trek's William Shatner and an interview with Frank Herbert discussing the first movie adaptation of Dune,) it provides a basic overview of the science fiction movie genre.

The main part consists of alphabetically arranged entries for more than 1,300 theatrical-release science fiction movies. Some basic credits are included, as well as the availability of the title on video, DVD, or laser disc. Then follows a synopsis and the author's opinions of the movie's watchability, validity as science fiction, and overall contribution to the genre. There is no standard length, with some entries earning two or three columns depending on their importance. The author, a film critic, makes no apologies for the fact that the opinions are his and his alone.

The work tries to include "as many movies as possible." It opens with an entry on the horrendous Abbott and Costello Go to Mars (1953) and closes with Z.P.G. (for zero population growth) (1971). In between are some of the gems of the genre, including Enemy from Space (Quatermass II) (1957), Metropolis (1926), and This Island Earth (1954).

The entries are followed by four appendixes, one a useful list of literature adapted to the screen and another of science fiction at the Oscars. The other two, the aforementioned interview and a chart explaining the language created for Quest for Fire, add nothing. The book is a worthy addition to science fiction reference, but libraries with tight budgets might want to assess if their collections are already complete enough before purchasing. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (August 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816045674
• ISBN-13: 978-0816045679
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,211,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Wish I'd read the reviews before buying it. . ., November 24, 2004

By 

R. Reilly (Bryan, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies: From 1897 to the Present (Facts on File Film Reference Library) (Paperback)

. . . because the three negative reviews below reflect my own judgment as well. Fortunately, I didn't pay full price. I bought the book at a used book store, hoping for a useful guide to sci-fi flicks that I should try to catch when they appear late nights on T.V. But I soon found that many of Henderson's opinions were just the opposite of mine. For instance, he pans movies like Terminator 2 and Aliens, while praising Alien 3, Battle Beyond the Stars, and Tri-Star's Godzilla (failing, by his own admission, to comprehend why Godzilla fans didn't like it). And, as noted by the others below, his criticisms often seemed inconsistent, praising a quality in one film (such as its campiness) that he criticized in another.

Of course, that his opinions were different than mine doesn't mean they were wrong. But I soon decided that for me, at least, this was not the guide I was looking for.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a jerk., January 15, 2004

By 

J. J. Chiappelli "jjcx" (Pasadena, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies: From 1897 to the Present (Facts on File Film Reference Library) (Paperback)

I had the chance to pick this up in Barnes and Noble the other day, and I'm glad I skimmed through it before buying it.

First, though, some good news--the book does have a bit of merit. Having a huge list of science-fiction movies and information on each is pretty cool. But Henderson should have stopped there.

Instead, he decided to add his opinions to the mix, which are actually wrong. It's rare to find an opinion that is factually wrong, but he manages to do it--his opinions are consistently in poor taste and inconsistent in logic (as another reviewer has noted). He will praise a movie for one thing and then criticize another for the exact same quality.

He has called some of the worst movies ever (Alien: Resurrection, Armageddon) classics and said that they excel where all other movies fail. He has a huge vendetta against James Cameron, for some reason, and calls all of Cameron's good movies (The Terminator movies, The Abyss, Aliens) overblown and pointless. To praise Alien 4 for being new, innovative, well-acted, with good action scenes, and being fun while criticizing Aliens for being dull, over-focused on special FX, and poorly written... well, that's just wrong.

Everyone can have their opinions, whether they fit with the majority or not. But you need to be consistent in your opinions.

Henderson's other major flaw is that he is completely unaware of the outside world. He never once mentions, "This movie was very popular" or "This movie was not well-received by critics." He simply gives his own opinions and writes them in such a matter-of-fact tone that it doesn't feel like you're reading a book of opinions at all.

I would've been thrilled to read a book that had fresh, bold opinions on movies if they were written well and if the author didn't seem like a complete #$!hole.

In closing this review, I'd like to point out something on the Amazon.com review above. It mentions that the book would be good for "Indie film makers" and the like--people who are supposed to be going against the grain of mainstream Hollywood movies. This strikes me as very amusing; I can't think of a more false statement. Henderson's opinions are almost exactly like a mainstream, Hollywood hack artist. If you want a breath of fresh air, just think for yourself instead--this book is poison for the mind.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very disappointed, January 10, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Movies: From 1897 to the Present (Facts on File Film Reference Library) (Paperback)

The author of this book takes a smug, superior attitude in his reviews, that I found very off-putting. I should have known I was in trouble when, early in his introduction, he says his basic premise is that 90% of everything is garbage. He then proceeds to demonstrate that view in his reviews. And, despite his know-it-all attitude, I spotted several errors of fact in various reviews, for example, his referring to the Gene Barry character in War of the Worlds as Dr. "Clayton", as though Clayton were the character's last name. This may seem like a small item, but the author himself continually nitpicks the movies he is reviewing, so turn-about is fair play. I would give the book one star, except for a few insights I found. However, I decided the book was not worth keeping as a reference, and have already disposed of it at a used bookstore.