The Encyclopedia of science fiction - John Clute

When the first edition of THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION was published in 1979, it was immediately hailed as a classic work of reference. Frank Herbert described it as 'The most valuable science fiction source book ever written.'

This new edition has taken years to prepare and is much more than a simple updating. The world of science fiction in the 1990s is much more complex than it was back in the later 1970s. The advent of game worlds, shared worlds, graphic novels, film and tv spin-offs, technothrillers, survivalist fiction, sf horror novels and fantasy novels with sf centres has necessitated a radical revision. Accordingly, the book has expanded dramatically in order to cope with the complexities and changes. It now contains well over 4,300 entries - a staggering 1,500 more than the original - and at 1.2 million words, it is nearly half a million words longer than the first edition.

This is the indispensable reference work not only for every reader who loves, uses and wishes to know more about science ficiton, but for every reader of imaginative fiction at the end of this century.