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The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Paperback – November 1, 1995


Encompassing 4,360 entries that provide critical insight and biographical and bibliographical data, an updated edition of a popular science fiction reference features a carefully cross-referenced format. Original.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Did your last con visit leave you feeling out of touch? Was the latest issue of Locus full of unfamiliar writers? Or are you looking for a definitive analysis of the role of eschatology in science fiction? Look no further. You can find all the help you need, and the answers to questions you didn't even know you wanted to ask, in John Clute and Peter Nicholls's invaluable reference work, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. In the introduction, Clute and Nicholls write, "We see this book as more than merely an encyclopedia of sf; it is a comprehensive history and analysis of the genre."

With over 4,360 entries and 1,300,000 words, this is a jam-packed sourcebook on science fiction authors, books, subgenres, movements, and history. You can live without it, but why would you want to? It's got riveting trivia on every page, hours of browsing enjoyment, and endless potential for playing spot-the-error, a game popular among science fiction writers and fans. Clute and Nicholls have put together an admirable, ever-improving encyclopedia that tries to encompass a genre that grows new pseudopods every year. This is a great resource for fans and writers. Those with a yen for a more visual approach might appreciate Clute's Science Fiction: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, and fantasy readers and writers should definitely check out The Encyclopedia of Fantasy when the new edition is published early in 1999. --Therese Littleton

Review

...the most intelligent, wide-ranging, and richest reference work on science fiction ever assembled. To date it is the indispensable volume on the topic. -- Samuel R. Delany

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St Martins Pr; Reprint edition (November 1, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 1386 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031213486X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312134860
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 4.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.25 x 2.25 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Sheldon Teitelbaum
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Sheldon (Sheli) Teitelbaum is a Los Angeles-based Canadian/Israeli editor and writer, a former contributor to and member of the editorial board of the seminal Israeli SF magazine Fantasia 2000. He has contributed essays on Jewish and Israeli SF/F to the scholarly journal Foundation: The Review of Science Fiction, to the SF/F trade magazine Locus, and to the authoritative second and third (online) editions of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and The Encyclopedia Judaica. Teitelbaum has also covered SF film, television, books and dark fantasy extensively for Cinefantastique, Midnight Graffiti, The Los Angeles Times, Wired, SF Eye, the Jerusalem Report, The Forward and the Jerusalem Post. The second and subsequent online edition of the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction (Orbit, 1993) cited him as the first Israeli critic to contribute a regular column on science fiction to a daily Israeli newspaper. Dr. Adam Rovner, an Associate Professor of English and Jewish Literature at the University of Denver, generously (if extravagantly) described Teitelbaum in the Los Angeles Jewish Journal as “the expert in the area of Israeli sci-fi.” A longtime senior writer for the Jerusalem Report and erstwhile editor and reporter for The Jerusalem Post, Teitelbaum received Canada’s first Northern Lights Award and three Brandeis University Jewish Press Association Awards. He is a member of the Israeli Society for Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
44 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2024
This is an amazing compilation of the history of science fiction writing. A heavy book but not heavy reading! The book is in great condition, was well packed and arrived very quickly from the US.
Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2024
All is well with the purchase thanks again
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2016
I always wanted to own a copy of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction but didn't buy one until a couple of weeks ago. I bought a second-hand copy described as 'Like new'. When I opened the box, the copy didn't appear just like new - it looked more like brand new. So naturally I was very pleased with it. The content of the book needs little introduction. Though the book is now somewhat outdated because it was published two decades ago, I still enjoy reading the information from the 90s. If you are a science fiction fan, you will not be disappointed with this book.
6 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2012
This excellent reference is very difficult to find - the version reviewed here is the 1995 copyright - but it is an outstanding source for science fiction enthusiasts. At 1386 pages, it is easily the most inclusive reference for readers and movie-goers of all ages and interests. The span of topics is impressive and one is tempted to remark that every significant theme in science fiction lore of the last 100 years (or so) can be found here. This is probably an overstatment, but if a topic is not included in this compendium, it is certainly a rare subject. That being said, this reference focuses largely on literary and motion picture history and background. Those exploring the "imaginative technology" of science fiction may be disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2020
An excellent purchase! The book is in very good condition and is better than the description. The price was fantastic! Shipping was very prompt!
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2016
This encyclopedia was published in 1995 - so it's twenty years out of date. But still, for being a reference for works prior to 1996 it's great. At 1,385 pages this book is huge. Sure you can now look all this up on the web, but it's nice to have a copy on hand to look stuff up when you need to. I'm happy with my purchase.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2021
Excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2016
Item arrived damaged.

Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars A good extensive reference book for the science fiction fan who ...
Reviewed in Canada on November 21, 2015
A good extensive reference book for the science fiction fan who is looking for in depth information on the history of science fiction.