The Routledge Concise History of Science Fiction

Measured both in terms of the range of texts it encompasses and the number of academic publications it provokes, science fiction is one of the most significant areas of popular culture in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. While 'science fiction' has an established common usage, close examination reveals that writers, fans, editors, scholars, and publishers use the term inconsistently and have always done so.The Routledge Concise History of Science Fiction provides students with an accessible overview of the genre that explores how it emerged through competing, multifarious versions and the struggle to define its limits. Discussing the place of key works and looking forward to the future of the genre, this book is the ideal starting point for students and all those seeking a better understanding of science fiction.