Science Fiction literature, also known as sci fi and sf, is one of the more recent genres, and also one of the more popular. It only truly emerged during the 20th century, and has not stopped growing in terms of authors, titles and readers. It has also evolved into a variety of subgenres, ranging from hard sf to soft sf, from Utopias to dystopias, with more than a smattering of horror, detective, war and feminist titles. Stableford covers all these aspects and more, taking a close look at what has become a booming industry, with its specialized writers, publishers, and fan magazines. The compendium includes not only sf from the United States and United Kingdom, but also France, Russia, and many others. While the chronology charts the genre's dazzling growth, and the dictionary section looks at writers, books, themes, and other specifics, the introduction provides exceptional insight into what Science Fiction Literature is all about.

"...a handy reference book for those who are looking for quick sketches of major authors, ideas, and movements in science fiction....an illuminating piece on the history and development of science fiction as a genre....a very useful starting point for students doing science fiction research." - American Reference Books Annual

"...gives significant, succinct information on the genre....a valuable reference..." - VOYA

"...accessible to readers of all levels of familiarity within this field....a useful addition to library stock, particularly within a quick reference collection for desk bound librarians." - s, Vol. 20 No. 5, 2006

"Stableford (creative writing, U. College, Winchester, England), himself a prolific author of novels and short stories, offers a dictionary of the writers, genres, and history of science fiction. Authors were selected for annotation according to the historical significance of their contributions; the necessarily bare-bones biographical information includes mention of other professions and particular experiences with a direct bearing on the contents of the writer's science fiction. The dictionary is followed by an extensive bibliography." - Reference and Research Book News