Customer Reviews

Science-Fiction: The Early Years

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I had no idea what I was really ordering when I ordered this book. I had read some descriptions elsewhere, but nothing prepared me for the level of detail in this astounding book covering over 3000 texts of early science fiction between its covers. Bleiler provides very detailed synopses of each text as well as other publication details, plus insightful commentary and cross referencing. There are levels of indexes, which are amazingly simple to parse through, and Bleiler's list of science fiction categories in early sf is beautiful. Many works mentioned here are not in print and will probably not be seen in print anytime soon, if at all, but they reveal the real depth of the fascination with science, technology and the future that permeates this genre. One might quibble about some works included in this volume depending on one's definition of sf, and also about the fact that science fiction outside the European-American world is not considered, but I would say, what Bleiler has done here is not only a marvellous job for all science fiction fans and researchers, but indeed created a monument to humanity's endless fascination with ideas.

Content: 10/10
Presentation: 10/10