The DICTIONARY OF SCIENCE FICTION PLACES - Softcover

Stableford, Brian

3.46

26 ratings by Goodreads

9780684849584: The DICTIONARY OF SCIENCE FICTION PLACES

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0684849585 ISBN 13: 9780684849584

Publisher: Fireside, 1999

View all copies of this ISBN edition:

GILEAD, Margaret Atwood's sexually oppressive society in The Handmaid's Tale A. E. Van Vogt's IMPERIAL CITY, the seat of power of the Isher dynasty, which ruled Earth, Mars, and Venus for nearly five thousand years MONARCH TOWER, the twenty-third-century New York skyscraper in Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man Isaac Asimov's utopain space habitat, ROTOR These are but a few of the many places Brian Stableford visits in this extraordinary directory of the most famous and interesting locations, both on and off Earth, invented by writers of science fiction. In fascinating detail, Stableford illuminates the history, geography, and inhabitants of the strange worlds created by more than 250 writers ranging from Cyrano de Bergerac and H. G. Wells to Arthur C. Clarke and Ray Bradbury. Meticulously cross-referenced, with brilliant illustrations by the well-known fantasy and science fiction artist Jeff White, this unique volume is a browser's delight and first-class reference tool for every science fiction fan.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

This unique reference book is exactly what its title suggests, a dictionary devoted to cataloging, in the words of its editor, "imaginary places devised by writers of science fiction." The entries begin with Abatos, introduced in Philip Jos� Farmer's short story Father, and end at Zygra, the imaginary world from John Brunner's 1966 novel A Planet of Your Own. Along the way are stops such as the Fire Station from Fahrenheit 451, Anne McCaffrey's famous world of Pern, and the unforgettable Trafalmadore featured in The Sirens of Titan and Slaughterhouse Five.

The dictionary has more breadth than depth, which is understandable given its subject matter, and the selections can at times seem a bit unusual. But it covers most of the major SF places, ranging from things as grand as Isaac Asimov's Para-Universe to individual buildings like the Monarch Tower from Alfred Bester's The Demolished Man. In between are hours of fun reading, a few good reminiscences of forgotten realms, and answers to pesky questions like, "How wide is Ringworld?" (Answer: 997,000 miles) --Craig E. Engler

About the Author:

Brian Stableford is a world-renowned writer, critic, and scholar of science fiction and horror. Since 1969 he has written more than thirty books, including The Werewolves of London, The Angel of Pain, and The Carnival of Destruction, in addition to his role as contributing editor to The Encyclopedia of Fantasy. He lives in London, England.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.