Sci-Fi Chronicles: A Visual History of the Galaxy's Greatest Science Fiction - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1770852646 ISBN 13: 9781770852648

Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd, 2023

Synopsis

The definitive encyclopedia for the science fiction fanatic.

From Barbarella to Blade Runner, from Solaris to Star Wars, and from 1984 to 2001, Sci-Fi Chronicles seeks out 200 of the greatest galactic creations. Presented in an arresting blend of incisive text, infographic timelines, and stunning photographs, each chronologically arranged entry features an entertaining overview written by a science fiction expert, plus:

• The lifespan of sci-fi creations, for example, from book to movie to television series
• Other key media, such as comics, graphic novels, video games, manga, where appropriate
• Film and television stills, book and comic covers, and other archive material.

Larger franchises -- such as Doctor Who and The War of the Worlds -- feature lavish spreads of photographs illustrating how they have evolved from black-and-white beginnings to big-budget blockbusters. Seminal sagas like Star Wars and Star Trek enjoy not only a "real world" timeline of films and TV broadcasts, but also a fascinating spread detailing their role in the series' fictional universe.

The book is divided into five distinct sections:

• Early Science Fiction: The Birth of a Genre, 1818-1940
  including Frankenstein, Journey to the Center of the Earth, A Connecticut Yankee, The Time Machine, The Lost World, Tarzan
• The Golden Age: 1920-1950
  including Karel Capek, Metropolis, Buck Rogers, Olaf Stapledon, King Kong, Flash Gordon, Frederick Pohl, The Thing, Batman, Stan Lee, Arthur C. Clarke, George Orwell
• The Era of the Atom: The Marvels and Perils of Science, 1950- 1970
  including Dan Dare, Quatermass, The Fly, The Twilight Zone, Solaris, The Jetsons, Barbarella, Dune, Soylent Green, Logan's Run, Land of the Giants, The Iron Man, A Boy and His Dog
• Dark Futures: Apocalypse and the War in Space, 1970-1990
  including The Stepford Wives, Moebius, Star Wars, Judge Dredd, Mork and Mindy, V, Neuromancer, Back to the Future, Red Dwarf
• The Adventure Continues: Modern Science Fiction, 1990-Present
  including Jurassic Park, Men in Black, Doom, Babylon 5, Stargate, The Matrix, Halo, Jericho, The Hunger Games, Fringe, Wall-E, Avatar.

Sci-Fi Chronicles is a truly international guide, with entries focusing on everything from Hollywood blockbusters to Russian cult classics, and from European literature to Australian franchises. It is perfect for dipping into, while its memory-jogging mentions and illustrations make it impossible to put down. It will delight long-standing sci-fi aficionados, yet with a scope that extends from vintage volumes to amazing anime, Sci-Fi Chronicles will also entrance a younger generation.

About this title

Review

Reference books are a tough market in the days of Google and Wikipedia, but Sci-Fi Chronicles is one worth checking out. A combination timeline and encyclopedia of the genre, it's a terrific compilation of information, lavishly illustrated and surprisingly well written. Covering fiction, film, television and video games, it's the kind of guide that invites a browsing frenzy... The coverage is excellent, ranging from the giant franchises such as Star Trek and Star Wars to entries on leading authors of the golden age.-- (12/07/2014)

General editor Guy Haley is out to map every last sub-, micro-, and nano-genre. Short essays alongside colourful timelines, stills, and promo images profile over 200 works--not just movies and novels but also TV shows, video games, manga, and more, from Buck Rogers and The Jetsons to Le Guin and Tarkovsky. There's even a chart in the back showing silhouettes of famous spaceships (Tie Fighter, Cylon Raider, Klingon D7 Battle Cruiser, et cetera) in case you spot one and are wondering what it is.-- (12/25/2014)

This collection goes beyond the final frontier and takes you into the furthest reaches of the imagination. Over 500 pages of detailed information cover an incredible range of science fiction. Books, movies, comics, video games and every possible combination that explores an unknown future are collected together in these pages.... Any lover of science fiction will embrace their inner nerd with a copy of this book.-- (10/17/2014)

This is the kind of book that science fiction fans like myself drool over... I'm still digging through its treasures.-- (11/01/2014)

More than 200 influential science-fiction titles -- encompassing books, comics, magazines, television, computer games, and film -- are profiled in this chronology of the genre from its origins, in 1818, with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, to today's popular franchises like the Hunger Games and Halo. Entries range from one to six pages and feature brief narratives on the evolution of a particular title or author, a time line of publication, and a complete photo spread of titles in order of publication. As a reference source, the index provides the best access, but this book will delight science-fiction fans interested in learning more about the development of the genre, making it a great choice for the circulating collection.-- (12/01/2014)

Made to be flipped and browsed and wallowed in and gifted... an enjoyable time-killer.-- (12/01/2014)

About the Author

Guy Haley is an experienced science-fiction journalist and critic. He was deputy editor of SFX magazine, and edited gaming magazine White Dwarf and SF magazine Death Ray. He is the author of Reality 36, Omega Point and Champion of Mars.

Edition details

• Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd
• Publication date: 2023
• ISBN 10: 1770852646
• ISBN 13: 9781770852648
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 576
• Editor: Haley Guy