Age of Wonders

by Hartwell, David G.

• ISBN13: 9780312862350
• ISBN10: 0312862350
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1996-10-01
• Publisher: Tor Books

Summary

An insider's view of the strange and wonderful world of science fiction, by one of the most respected editors in the field. David G. Hartwell has been editing science fiction and fantasy for over twenty years. In that time, he has worked with acclaimed and popular writers such as Robert A. Heinlein, Poul Anderson, Frank Herbert, Roger Zelazny, Robert Silverberg, Gene Wolfe, Nancy Kress, L.E. Modesitt, Terry Bisson, Lisa Goldstein, and Philip Jose Farmer, and discovered hot new talentes like Kathleen Ann Goonan and Patrick O'Leary. Now inAge of Wonder, Hartwell describes the field he has loved, worked in, and shaped as editor, critic, and anthologist. Like those other American art forms, jazz, comics, and rock 'n' roll, science fiction is the product of a rich and fascinating subculture.Age of Wonderis a fascinating tour of the origins, history, and culture of the science fiction world, written with insight and genuine affection for this wonder-filled literature, and addressed to newcomers and longtime SF readers alike. Newly revised for the 1990's,Age of Wonderremains "the landmark work" Roger Zelazny called the first edition. Hartwell has revised the body of the book to take into account the past twelve years' changes in the literary landscape and the publishing marketplace, and added substantial new sections that contain advice on teaching courses in science fiction, disquisitions on the controversial subgenre of hard SF, and practical explanations of the economics of publishing science fiction and fantasy.Age of Wonderstill lives up to Hugo and Nebula Award winnter Vonda McIntyre's description: "An entertaining and provocative book that will insprie discussion and argument for years to come."

Author Biography

David G. Hartwell is one of science fiction's most experienced and infuential editiors. A winner of the World Fantasy Award, Hartwell has edited many anthologies including The Ascent of Wonder: The Evolution of Hard Science Fiction (with Kathryn Cramer), The World Treasury of Science Ficiton, and a new annual series, Year's Best SF, from HarperCollins. He has also received fifteen Hugo nominations.

Table of Contents

The Source and Power of SF's Appeal	p. 11
Exploring the Worlds of Science Fiction	p. 89
Writers, Fans, Critics	p. 157
The Future of SF	p. 237
Select Bibliography	p. 269
Select Glossary of Fan Language	p. 271
Sixty Books Important to the Development of SF, Published Before the Name Was Invented	p. 277
The Best 105 SF Books Since the Invention of the Field in the Twenties	p. 280
Teaching SF	p. 284
Understanding Hard SF	p. 287
Dollars and Dragons: The Truth About Fantasy	p. 304
Editing the Science Fiction Novel	p. 311
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.