A Reader's History of Science Fiction

After the New Wave era drew to a close, the older authors of the Golden Age continued to produce new works, but Arthur C. Clarke made the strongest comeback, with some of his most famous books coming from his later years. In this episode, we look at an overview of these works. Book recommendation:  Rendezvous with Rama Other books discussed: The Fountains of Paradise 2010: Odyssey Two 2061: Odysse...

By 1970, the New Wave in science fiction had made peace with a surge of new hard sci-fi works and writers. At the forefront of this trend was Larry Niven, who took a unique path in hard sci-fi by proposing new physics, but still applying it rigorously. In this episode, we explore his work. Book recommendation:  Ringworld by Larry Niven. My blog post about Ringworld. Other works discussed: The Magi...

Dr. Benjamin Stevens is a professor of classical studies who researches the relationship between the ancient/classical tradition and science fiction and fantasy. In this wide-ranging interview, we discuss what makes sci-fi distinctive, classicism and modernity, ancient aliens, and more. Dr. Steven's profile. Classical Traditions in Science Fiction , ed. by Brett Rogers and Benjamin Stevens. Dr. St...

Children's science fiction was still an unusual and peripheral category during the New Wave, but it did produce some important new classics. In this episode, we explore the highlights of what kids were reading during this time. Book recommendations: For upper elementary and middle school:  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. For lower elementary:  The Iron Giant/The Iron Man by Ted Hughes Fara...

Among the various social changes that accompanied the New Wave, this time period saw the rise of second-wave feminism. In this episode, we explore how that movement influenced the genre of science fiction. Book recommendation:  The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin. Tor Books poll on women in speculative fiction. Eric Leif Davin's Partners in Wonder . Sable Aradia's review of "Houston, Houston, Do...

In this episode, I interview Kira Leigh, author of the new, anime-inspired space epic, Constelis Voss, Volume 1. Kira's website. Kira's TV recommendations: Farscape Earth 2

While many early works of proto-sci-fi were satires like  Gulliver's Travels , satirical works also appear in modern sci-fi. In this episode, we take a look at the two most famous authors of this subgenre, Kurt Vonnegut and Douglas Adams. Book recommendation:  Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut's letter to his family during World War II. Other works discussed: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonn...

While much of the New Wave was about exploring inner space, some authors were still writing about exploring other words. In this episode, we see how this subgenre of "strange new worlds sci-fi" developed, both through  Star Trek and through the literature of the time. Book recommendation:  Inverted World by Christopher Priest. The Sci-Fi Encyclopedia on aliens , mentioning the influence of John W....

In the New Wave, a new batch of dystopian stories appeared that reflected the newer concerns of the time. These were different from the classics like  Nineteen Eighty-Four --more diverse, and very often more hopeful. In this episode, we explore the highlights of these stories. Short story recommendation: "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut. My essay on the classic dystopias. Kurt Vonnegut on "Har...

In the 60s and 70s, awareness of environmental issues was rising, and that was reflected in the New Wave of science fiction. Of particular note were overpopulation and pollution (leading to widespread environmental collapse). In this episode, we explore the highlights of this subgenre. Book recommendation: Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner Other books mentioned: Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harr...

The Cold War brought with it new tales of nuclear war in science fiction, both in the early days of the 50s and 60s, and later, when fears began to rise again. In this episode, we look at the highlights of these stories and how they vary widely in how they address the consequences of nuclear war. Book recommendation: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank. The Office of Technology Assessment's 1979 nuclear wa...

In the 1950s and 60s, disaster and apocalyptic stories became prominent. However, the earliest ones could get pretty weird. In this episode, we take a look at the fantastic apocalypses that gave way to more realistic ones later on. Book recommendation: The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham. Other books mentioned: I Am Legend by Richard Matheson The Wind from Nowhere by J. G. Ballard The Drowned...

For my first interview on the show, I spoke to Max Hawthorne, author of the paleo-fiction thriller, Kronos Rising , about his writing and his experiences with science fiction as a whole. Max's website. Max's peer-reviewed scientific paper on Plesiosaurs. Max's book recommendations: The Bug Wars by Robert Asprin Hiero's Journey by Sterling Lanier

Despite his often inconsistent writing, Philip K. Dick is notable for having more film adaptations of his novels and short stories than almost every other sci-fi author, making him one of the most important writers of the New Wave. Here, we explore an overview of his work. Book recommendation: Time Out of Joint Ryan Britt on Dick's writing style. Other books mentioned: The Man in the High Castle D...

In the 1960s, science fiction went through a major change as the New Wave moved it away from the hard sci-fi of the 50s into a softer, but more socially conscious space. In this episode, we overview the new ideas, themes, and authors of this period. Book recommendation: The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester. Selected other books: The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester Non-Stop by Brian Aldiss Hot...

Like books, movies and television also went through a golden age in science fiction in the 1950s. In this episode we explore the trends in the visual medium at the time and how they compared to print. Movie recommendation: The Day the Earth Stood Still . Rotten Tomatoes's list of top sci-fi films.

Arthur C. Clarke was the fourth of the "Big Four" authors of the golden age of science fiction. In this episode, we explore his work and his unique writing style, especially centered around "sufficiently advanced technology." Book recommendation: The City and the Stars . Other books mentioned: Childhood's End A Fall of Moondust 2001: A Space Odyssey The Colours of Infinity on YouTube. Clarke's thr...

Ray Bradbury is most famous as the author of Fahrenheit 451, but he was an important and unique figure in science fiction at-large, a master of short fiction with a colorful, Hollywood-centered career. Here, we explore some of his most notable works, and his philosophy in writing. Book recommendation: Fahrenheit 451 . Bradbury's 1999 interview about his writing. Bradbury in Hollywood. Gautham Shen...

Robert Heinlein's later career went to some unusual places, including books with heavy philosophical and political themes, while still continuing with his classic hard sci-fi rigor. In this episode, we explore the highlights of his later work. Book recommendation: The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress . Other books mentioned: Starship Troopers Stranger in a Strange Land Time Enough for Love Floyd Gale on S...

Robert Heinlein was one of the first major authors to write science fiction specifically for children. In this episode, we explore how he did it and what sets him apart from his contemporaries in this area, along with the other classic children's sci-fi books up through the golden age. Book recommendation: Have Spacesuit--Will Travel Other books mentioned: The Tom Swift Series The Little Prince by...

We continue our exploration of the work of Isaac Asimov with a study of his Robot Series and an introduction to robot fiction in general, which he shaped in ways that remain important to this day. Book recommendation: I, Robot by Isaac Asimov.

Isaac Asimov was own of the most prolific authors of the golden age of sci-fi, especially when it comes to short stories. In this episode, we explore an overview of his work. Book recommendation: The End of Eternity . "The Last Question": Full Text Narrated by Leonard Nimoy A cool fan-made illustrated version I found. My analysis of Trantor.

John W. Campbell was the controversial longtime editor of Astounding Science Fiction who single-handedly directed the course of science fiction in the 1940s, a time that is not called the "golden age of sci-fi." However, I argue the golden age continued through the 1950s as writers who got their start under Campbell began publishing on their own. Book recommendation: Mission of Gravity by Hal Clem...

Olaf Stapledon and C. S. Lewis both explored the spiritual side of science fiction, albeit in very different ways. In this episode, we explore how they went about it and why one of them is considered a must read by many of the greats of the genre. Book recommendation: Star Maker by Olaf Stapledon.

Dystopian fiction has become a popular subgenre of sci-fi in its own right, but the earliest dystopian novels shared some unique elements in common, inverting the standard tropes of the hero's journey. In this episode, we explore what has made these stories so enduring. Book recommendation: Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. My essay on the inverted hero's journey. Link to the Heroine's journe...