Science Fiction: A Very Short Introduction

This is an excellent overview and introduction to print and film science fiction. The emphasis is on Anglo-American science fiction but also considers widely translated authors such as Stanislaw Lem and Jules Verne. The author shows that ideas, plots, and themes of science fiction go much further back in history than most people think. The author also considers a wider range of books from the past that would be considered as science fiction if they were written today such as _The Purple Cloud_. Toward the end of the book there is a discussion of black and women science fiction writers who generally are not well covered in traditional discussions of science fiction. The book also discusses the peculiar sub-culture of science fiction fandom with it's clubs, magazines, and conventions.

Well organised, terse overview of English Sci-fi seminal works and their study in Academia, but given its intentional brevity, it lacks the detail of more in-depth studies and leaves readers wanting more. This isn't a bad thing, if you are just wanting to get a general understanding of the genre. The Cambridge companion to Science Fiction is a good further read and covers many more topics/themes in more depth. Vivian Sobchak' screening science fiction is another good place to follow up on the American Sci-fi film.

As a fan and teacher of Science Fiction, this is the best book to introduce my students to the field of SF. David Seed is an informative and clear writer who effortlessly gives the reader a wealth of knowledge without being boring. In less than 150 pages, Seed's A Very Short Introduction does what it is meant to do and more. It allows my students, many of whom are SF fans, to realize that they do not know as much as they thought they did. For those new to SF, Seed's knowledge, easy writing style and references to further reading and viewing convince the novices that this is a field worth exploring.

As I started reading this quick overview of science fiction I had a favorable opinion, but by the end I was less than thrilled. With books like this, one can always quibble with some works omitted or others used as typical examples, as well as question the degree of breadth, let alone depth. I don't know that I'd fault the author on any of those counts in particular, although I do have my own quibbles and did find some of his conclusions a bit odd or simply false, such as the assertion that in recent decades time travel stories have relied more on the device of the dream fantasy rather than imagined technology. The text is arranged by theme rather than historically, though within each thematic chapter the outline tends to be historically organized. Another reviewer has complained that film is neglected, but my impression is quite the opposite -- arguably, the author spends too much time on cinema and not enough on written sf. Although he gives a nod to sf magazines, the literary sf he largely considers is that of historical romances, early proto-sf, and authors considered respectable by some. Heinlein is mentioned but never analyzed. Ditto Asimov and Pohl. I don't believe Poul Anderson is ever mentioned at all. In the end, I find this okay as a simple introduction, provided one searches out other books in this vein to try to get a more balance and comprehensive view of the genre.

This is a very wonderful introduction to the different themes in the genre. If you are looking for a general reference point on the different themes, and how each theme has changed/evolved, then I would recommend this book. Seed does a nice job of explaining deeper themes, and gives plenty of references to works throughout. This is a great read for anyone.

This is not fiction. It is a theoretical book. Your choices for my answers are not in agreement with the theme of book, dear friends at Amazon!

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Also, found some new books for my reading list from many of the books the author referenced.

Awesome product for education or leisure time!

Its rare to find refererral material on science fiction under one roof. though its never possible to cover all the ages and writers, this book atleast fills the void. recommended for the SF afficionados.

In good condition although large library sticker on the front of the book which can't be taken off without damaging it.

By buying a book, one has to read the title and understand it. I didn't realize the title was literal. That was my mistake. One of the times you ask yourself why such a book was published. The bookstore was good, the book came quick and as described.