Modern Science Fiction

Book excerpt: Essays by John W. Campbell, Jr., Anthony Boucher, Don Fabun, Fletcher Pratt, Rosalie Moore, L. Sprague de Camp, Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip Wylie, Gerald Heard, and Reginald Bretnor. The original 1953 edition was the first serious discussion of modern science fiction as literature. The San Francisco Chronicle said: "The book is very likely to recruit a whole host of new readers.... A freely argued, objective, highly individualistic study by ten writers of the origins, advances and future prospects of science fiction as a spontaneous living literature." The essays are grouped in three sections: "Science Fiction Today," "Science Fiction as Literature," and "Science Fiction, Science, and Modern Man." This classic symposium is a fit companion to Mr. Bretnor's later books Science Fiction, Today and Tomorrow and The Craft of Science Fiction. This new edition adds a preface by the editor, a chapter of notes and corrections, and a complete index. Table of Contents Retrospect and Prospect by Reginald Bretnor Preface to the First Edition by Reginald Bretnor Science Fiction Today The Place of Science Fiction by John W. Campbell, Jr. The Publishing of Science Fiction by Anthony Boucher Science Fiction in Motion Pictures, Radio, and Television by Don Fabun Science Fiction as Literature A Critique of Science Fiction by Fletcher Pratt Science Fiction and the Main Stream by Ray Bradbury Imaginative Fiction and Creative Imagination by L. Sprague de Camp Science Fiction, Science, and Modern Man Social Science Fiction by Isaac Asimov Science Fiction: Preparation for the Age of Space by Arthur C. Clarke Science Fiction and Sanity in an Age of Crisis by Philip Wylie Science Fiction, Morals, and Religion by Gerald Heard The Future of Science Fiction by Reginald Bretnor Supplement Notes and Corrections Also note that some copies of the hardback edition are still available direct from the publisher.