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Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century - An Anthology
 
 
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Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century - An Anthology [Paperback]

H. Bruce Franklin (Editor)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Book Description

January 1, 1995
Critics, science fiction writers, scientists, and scholars throughout the world hailed the original publication of Future Perfect in 1966 as a book that would transform our evaluation of science fiction and our understanding of American culture. The praise has proved well founded, for Future Perfect has been more responsible than any other single work for the recognition of the value and significance of science fiction.

In this first new edition since 1978, H. Bruce Franklin has made major revisions and additions, including a new section displaying remarkable contributions to science fiction by nineteenth-century American women. Future Perfect now offers a stunning perspective on the relevance of nineteenth-century science fiction in the dawn of the twenty-first century, illustrated by wonderfully enjoyable stories by obscure figures and by well-known authors, including:
-- Nathaniel Hawthorne
-- Washington Irving
-- Jack London
-- Herman Melville
-- Edgar Allan Poe
-- Mark Twain


Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with The Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here (Road to Science Fiction (Scarecrow Press)) (Volume 3) $52.29

Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century - An Anthology + The Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here (Road to Science Fiction (Scarecrow Press)) (Volume 3)


Product Details

  • Paperback: 408 pages
  • Publisher: Rutgers University Press; Rev Exp Su edition (January 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0813521521
  • ISBN-13: 978-0813521527
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Selection, wish there was more!, April 15, 2000
This review is from: Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century - An Anthology (Paperback)
This book brings together short stories by largely canonical American authors--people we all read in school such as Hawthorne, Poe, and Melville. What Franklin has done brilliantly is shown, by the way he has collected the stories, how much they share a developing science fiction sensibility. Franklin also offers introductions to the stories and authors that are well written and intelligent, but here is also the source of my only complaint: I wish the introductions were slightly shorter, leaving room to include a few more stories. Still, this is an excellent anthology, one that will interest both converted science fiction fans and those who restrict themselves to reading that counts as "virtuous."
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic as a textbook or casual read, July 11, 2007
This review is from: Future Perfect: American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century - An Anthology (Paperback)
I found this at a used-book store, and was excited at the notion of reading short-story 19th century visions-- of the fantastic and of the future. The author gives a very interesting commentary/criticism which I feel adds much value to this book, not only as an anthology, but as a critical study (given this book was published so long ago, the criticism itself is an interesting look back. However, I do feel it was odd that attention was given either to a specific author (there was a very long Hawthorne section, for example) or to a sub-genre (e.g., automata)--making the topic of commentary seem at times a bit arbitrary.

Overall, I enjoyed this book immensely--it was extremely engaging and entertaining (and the format made it a perfect read on my commute). I thank the author for introducing me to science-fiction by authors I wasn't aware of (or by those who I had not previously considered sci-fi authors--e.g., Melville). The sophistication and logic (and surprisingly accurate projections in many cases) have made for some interesting dinner-table discussion with my husband (who is now reading it). I'm giving this book 5 stars, as I believe it to be a must-read for those interested in the history of the future.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
All fiction presumably seeks to represent some part of "reality," which includes the past, all possible futures, and the dreams and nightmares of the present, that is, everything conceivable. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
diamond lens, old watchmaker, sculptured portal, crimson hand
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Owen Warland, Yellow Hair, Peter Hovenden, Looking Backward, New York, United States, The Diamond Lens, Robert Danforth, Connecticut Yankee, Jack London, Tale of the Ragged Mountains, Sammie Smiley, The Great Dark, Althea Hardy, London Times, New England, Rappaccini's Daughter, Edward Bellamy, Madame Vulpes, Signor Giovanni, The Blindman's World, Aries Tottle, Giovanni Guasconti, Mesmeric Revelation, Psychological Shipwreck
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