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

by Guy Haley (Editor)

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, 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 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.

Genres: Science Fiction, Reference, Film, Pop Culture, Science Fiction Fantasy, Media Tie In, Unfinished

576 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

About the author

Guy Haley is the author of over 50 novels and novellas. His original fiction includes Crash, Champion of Mars, and the Richards and Klein, Dreaming Cities, and the Gates of the World series (as K M McKinley). However, he is best known as a prolific contributor to Games Workshop's Black Library imprint.

When not writing, he'll be out doing something dangerous in the wild, learning languages or gaming.

Reviews

[P.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now this one is a real shocker.
It encases a comprehensive chronology of science fiction, both in literature and cinema, richly illustrated with posters, book covers, photographs...

It feels compulsory whether you are just a trifle curious about one work or curious about the whole field and its subgenres.

Matching Soundtrack :
Interstellar Overdrive - Pink Floyd

---------------------------

Un vrai atlas de la littérature et du cinéma de science-fiction depuis les origines jusqu'aux dernières productions à grand budget de 2015, richement illustré et solidement documenté.
Une sacrée référence.

Fond sonore :
Interstellar Overdrive - Pink Floyd

[Ian Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

My chatty nephew Morgan is studying film at Griffith University so I invited him to trawl through my dusty film book collection (seventies to naughties) to see if there was anything still worthwhile he might like.

To my surprise Morgan found 20 odd books and managed to fit all but two into his airline luggage; this one and 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.

The later volume I have devoured from cover to cover but I had only dipped into Sci-fi Chronicles. Its imminent departure north prompted me to read it properly before it disappeared for good like an ill-fated time traveller. I’m so glad I did.

This stupendous work is staggeringly comprehensive, remarkably consistent in tone and quality, scholarly without pretension and full of detail, history and analysis. This is all the more remarkable given the entries have been prepared, under the general editorship of Guy Haley, by a big group of science fiction professionals, predominantly writers about science fiction in magazines, journals and the like.

There are entries on individual authors, their books and stories, characters, films, television programs and radio serials, magazines, comics and games. Major titles have their universe explained; plus there are timelines and even silhouettes of famous fictional spacecraft.

I was taken by just how much science fiction there has been and still is and how popular it has been and still is, although there have been ebbs and flows of course. The book takes us from the earliest days of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the works of Jules Verne and HG Wells, through to the Alien series and Avatar (the book was published in 2014), with due attention to such biggies as Heinlein, Asimov and Silverberg, plus scores of others. Much attention is given to magazines and comics, bringing us Buck Rogers, Batman, Superman and Captain America among others.

A joyful experience, tying so much together and providing a sound history of the genre in the process. My only quibble is a practical one: while profusely illustrated, many images are literally postage stamp size. The text is, understandably, in a small font because there in so much information to impart, but the print is gray on semi-gloss paper which is very hard on old eyes, forcing me to read only in daylight with extra illumination, and it is this flaw which stops the book from reaching five stars.

***

My favourite entry is on one Cordwainer Smith, real name Paul Linebarger, godson of Sun Yat-Sen, ‘an American political scientist, East Asia scholar and specialist in psychological warfare’ (p69). He wrote Norstrilia: thousands of years into the future: ‘a slave-race of Underpeople has been created from genetically engineered animals, and immortality is achieved by taking Stroon (a drug found only in the misshapen sheep of Old North Australia, or ‘Norstrilia’).'

This ‘mythic strangeness’ should be no surprise to any Australians north of the Tweed. My nephew Morgan should enjoy this tale– he is a Queenslander well aware of the magical powers of Four-X beer and would think nothing strange about the emblem for a popular brand of tropical rum being a polar bear. Norstilia indeed. I bet they have some Stroon prepared up there for a tilt at immortality.

[K8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has really great production value and great writing. As a reference book, it covers a lot of territory, but it comes up short when it comes to covering the work of female science fiction authors. I'm still boggling at the complete absence of Octavia Butler, as well as authors such as Bujold and Cherryh, while including some obscure male science fiction authors.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I will start by saying I cannot praise this book enough. It is a massive resource and I will admit that I will be going back to it time and time again. The basic premise is that it takes a theme or an era and discusses the major and influential science fiction milestones - be their an author, book, film or in fact any type of media.

I could say that for all the articles that are included I can think of many more that have been left out but I guess not only would the book be impossibly large it would technically never be finished.
That said the fact that many famous and not so famous subjects are discussed make up for it - so much so that hence every time I pass it I pick it up and find something new.

The real beauty of this book are however the time line and related material links - at the bottom of each page are illustrations which depending on the subject can show a wealth of information. And this for me is the real gold mine - I have already many pieces of work to my "to find" notebooks and I keep on finding more.

I cannot praise this book more simply because it is so easy to access and get drawn in and yet the amount of research and work put in it must have astronomical especially since I have seen nothing like it before which means someone had to create it all from scratch.

My only criticism and it is really nothing to do with the book - more the publishers is why do they never try and do anything like this for other genres - I know in some respects which I will not go in to here Science Fiction is a special genre but still surely something can take the same care to detail and effort.

[Silvana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. Quite informative especially for me who are not well versed in the earlier days of SF, the Golden age, and the 80s as well as comics, anime and those kinds of stuff.

The book focuses more on TV and movies, so if you are looking for SF lits (especially those which never adapted into any screen) then you should go look for something else. Maybe that is why it omitted Cherryh, Butler and Bujold, and other female SF writers including the the current ones.

I also liked that these had Asian SF including the SF publication in China and of course Japanese anime.

While I like the time lines that it gave for some of the popular franchises, the movie posters and comic strips could be made bigger (they're only 2x1.5cm) since I need to use magnifier to see the details.

[Kamakana · Rating 5 out of 5]

260716: ...nowhere near finished (reading it all over... though it is chronological). this is an excellent resource book, not something to read straight, each entry defined, format, media, dated, subgenred, author, universe... short passages, easy to read, find, wide net, gathers not only us but other traditions of sf... better than other 'visual sf' books that are more 'coffee table', maybe not the final resource to which referred, certainly one of the first to check...

[Carlex · Rating 5 out of 5]

English review: http://girotix.blogspot.com.es/2016/0...

Reseña en español: http://girotix.blogspot.com.es/2015/1...

[Trekscribbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I make no bones about it: I absolutely love Science Fiction. Anyone who knows me may very well have heard my first inking of it, that being of my experience as a very young boy sitting far too close to the television set, enraptured as I was with the ears of a certain logic-spouting Vulcan sciences officer of a certain Federation starship. And I even vividly recall being stuck home from school on my very first snow day ever, sitting before the ‘boob tube’ from the spell being woven by a Japanese import called ‘Prince Planet.’ (Google it, and you’ll see it’s real.)

Because I have a second life blogging about the daily history of Science Fiction elsewhere on the World Wide Web, I picked up Guy Haley’s SCI-FI CHRONICLES from the local book retailer with great enthusiasm. Confession time: no, I haven’t finished reading it. For those who feel that my taking time at this point (I’ve probably made my way through about 20% of it, jumping through its various cleverly and functionally designed sections conducting my own research) to pen a review is fraudulent, then I encourage you to skip down to someone else’s entry. I wanted to get something up right away because I’ve found this encyclopedic tome to be about as good as it gets for those like myself.

Principally, Haley wanted to create a visual guide to Science Fiction, and – as you’ll learn – he’s enlisted a wealth of SciFi experts from around the globe to help construct this guide the way he has. It’s broken down in several useful ways – first by timeline; second by sub-genre (SciFi encompasses a variety of specific subsets); and lastly by index – making it easy for anyone with eight fingers and two thumbs to surf pages instead of websites in pursuit of whatever nugget of information is desired. Haley and his compatriots have even crafted a variety of visible ‘timelines’ both from a macro-perspective as well as a micro-outlook; this gives all of the writers the opportunity to reflect not only on a specific property (say ‘Star Trek’) but also on how that franchise fits into the greater evolution of SciFi as a medium unto itself. And the brilliant experience is only further enhanced by the fact that CHRONICLES is chocked full of both color and black’n’white photographs everywhere.

For genre fans, this is like Thanksgiving for the eyes.

That said, I will admit that some of the entries I’ve read are a bit ‘lacking,’ but I’m willing to give Haley and co. a pass on that front. After all, a franchise like Doctor Who has had entire books written on the property, and these various journals have examined the work from the points-of-view of history to psychology to real-world application; there’s no way a compendium can truly compete with those works. CHRONICLES is meant to be a catch-all: a vast, expansive databank that hits the bullet points … so if you’re looking for greater detail then you may need to go elsewhere.

But for ‘the straight skinny’? Haley’s collection is a work of art.

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION POSSIBLE. This is a relatively ginormous book, and I can say with great assurance that I’ll be spending many happy hours of my years ahead trapped within the pages of Guy Haley’s SCI-FI CHRONICLES. At over 500 pages of fun-filled, photographed facts documenting practically every conceivable facet of Science Fiction, there’s plenty to absorb. Granted, a few of the entries I’ve perused already may lack the kind of depth of commentary I generally enjoy when discussing the genre nearest and dearest to my heart, but that’s a small error to forgive: it’s not like any single compendium can cover every spaceship, ray gun, or robot to everyone’s liking. This? This might be as close as it ever gets.

[Christina Getrost]

Must. Own. This. Book.

[Justpassingby]

Let me start by pointing out what this book is not. It is not a history as I understand that term; a more fitting description would be "chronologically organized encyclopedia". Neither is it a history of science fiction writing: the emphasis is on popular media, which means exclusively literature in the early days; then in the golden age (1920-1950) mostly literature - pulp or otherwise - with some film and radio thrown in; and afterwards mostly multimedia franchises that encompass films, TV series, novels or novelizations, graphic novels and computer games. The "visual history" naturally but somewhat regretfully emphasizes visual art forms.

The presentation is fairly uniform. Normal articles receive one page of history with a timeline and a brief gallery of commercial images like book covers, game packages or film posters. A significant minority of entries is important enough to warrant two facing pages, sometimes followed by two pages of film stills. The real blockbusters receive additional coverage: Batman has 2 pages of history, 2 pages of stills, 2 pages describing the Batman universe and 2 pages specifically dedicated to pictures of villains.

Even though the book devotes an uneven amount of attention to visual arts, I still managed to add 14 books to my Goodreads "to read" list (bookshelf sf-chronicles) which I confess was my original motive for reading this book.

It was also the first time I read an encyclopedia cover to cover. Still looking for a decent primer on post-1990 science fiction literature, though; otherwise I may settle for the award winners.

[Alisha Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, but it was a bit of a rollercoaster. The premise was exciting, but somewhere along the way, it lost its momentum. Some parts were thrilling, while others felt overly detailed and slow. It had moments of brilliance, but they were few and far between. It’s good, just not great.

[James Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

from James:

You get a college degree to become proficient in a subject. The goal is to "catch you up," then it is your responsibility to stay current in your field. This book is a lot like that. It catches you up on everything from obscure early Sci-Fi books to the latest iteration of the Doctor. It covers the greatest science fiction in publications, on the radio and t.v. and at the movies.

The articles are well written and often contain the whole arc of a given story. Take the X-files, for example. You get the early history of the t.v. show, from the casting to the ratings, all the way through the latest new movie rumors. Along the way, the conspiracies are rehashed and the importance of the show is outlined.

In other cases, there are multiple entries. Take Star Trek. The first article is about Gene Roddenberry (which is more than just Star Trek). Then there is a longer entry about Star Trek the shows. Then there's an article about the Star Trek Universe. And finally, there are pages of photographs from the various Star Trek brands.

My only real complaint is that the book is divided into eras rather than alphabetical encyclopdedia-type divisions. I think the overall timeline given in the back would have sufficed and a dictionary listing would have made the book more usable as a quick reference tool. That aside (there is an index), the other appendices are excellent: "famous spaceships" and "genre definitions."

Aan excellent book for your perusal that I would recommend for anyone interested in the history of Sci-Fi as a whole and for detailed information about your favorite titles.

[Mhorg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Strictly for the layman fan, the cover alone is a terrible design. A bad version of the Enterprise, which far too many believe is the beginning of science fiction. A page for each decade barely scratches the true surface of the length and breath of science fiction. There are also errors, the most glaring of comes from Children of Dune. It's Leto II who bonds with the little makers, becoming a near immortal, leading humanity down the golden path, his sister Ghanima who's married off to disappear from the series, not the reverse as written. Nit picking? Hardly. If someone wants my money, I want correct information. I'm glad I got this from the library and didn't purchase it. There's room for improvement, especially a mention of Leigh Brackett, the first woman nominated for a Hugo, as well as other important female sci-fi writers like Connie Willis and Octavia Butler, as well as Galaxy, Planet Stories and If magazines.

[Prince William Public Libraries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy moly, this is one amazing book! If you like sci-fi in any form— books, movies, tv shows and/or comics— then this handy visual history will keep you occupied for hours on end. There are hundreds of entries, photographs, and timelines for all your favorite science fiction universes and creators, from Star Wars, Spider-Man, Dr. Who, Neuromancer and Akira to Philip K. Dick, Gene Roddenberry, Ursula K. Le Guin, Steven Spielberg, and Joss Whedon. You’re going to need the entire three week checkout period to pore over every detail.
- John D.

Click here to find the book at the Prince William County Public Library System.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved reading and leafing thru this book! Anyone who loves Scifi will totally dig this book! The layout and referencing is comprehensive and authoritative including authors, magazines movies, TV, comics and radio shows going back Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein, the first scifi book. I can't recommend this book enough!

[Michael Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent, though by no means definitive, reference trip through the history of SF. Most entries are 1-2 pages, so just a bare overview, and though the book is certainly colorful, the book cover and movie poster illustrations are frustratingly small. Not one I'll be keeping for my bookshelves but worth a library check-out.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starts out well, chronologically, but then it looks like the editors got lazy, and just covered movies and tv as the time line moved into the late 20th century. Little mention of Hugo or Nebula award winning novels, few SF authors. Too much coverage of garbage that was passed off as SF.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun read!

[Jesús · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful! A MUST-HAVE for all those we love this genre. I have discovered new authors, new works... Now I have to get those books/movies.

[Tenley Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sci-Fi Chronicles: A Visual History of the Galaxy’s Greatest Science Fiction is an impressive and comprehensive celebration of the science fiction genre, presented through a visually rich and expansive lens. This book offers readers a chronological exploration of the genre's most iconic films, television shows, books, and visual media, capturing the evolution of science fiction from its early roots to the present day. The layout is meticulously crafted, with striking images, posters, and stills from the genre’s most influential works, alongside insightful commentary on their cultural significance and impact. Each section of the book delves into the history, context, and technological innovations that have shaped the genre, making it a must-have for both die-hard fans and newcomers looking to better understand the genre’s depth.

What truly stands out about Sci-Fi Chronicles is its ability to combine visual storytelling with informative content. The book not only highlights major milestones in science fiction but also explores lesser-known gems that have contributed to the genre’s rich history. From the dawn of early cinema to the explosion of futuristic television and digital media, the book showcases how science fiction has always been a mirror reflecting humanity’s hopes, fears, and imaginative potential. The engaging writing and wealth of historical context make it a perfect reference for anyone interested in the origins and developments of some of the most beloved science fiction worlds, from Star Trek to Star Wars, Blade Runner, The Matrix, and beyond. However, while the book offers a vast amount of information, some readers may find the sheer volume of content overwhelming, especially those new to the genre who may not yet be familiar with all the references. Overall, it is a visually stunning, thought-provoking book that celebrates the genre's diversity and its indelible mark on modern culture.

[Gilles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lu en anglais

Une encyclopédie visuelle de la science-fiction présentée en ordre chronologique. Comme elle est axée surtout sur l'aspect visuel et divertissement, elle est très étoffée pour les films, les séries télévisées, les comics et un peu les mangas. Par contre, pour les livres, elle se restreint plutôt aux classiques, et encore plus, si ces oeuvres ont été adaptées au cinéma ou à la télévision.

Disons qu'ici, le terme utilisé est sci-fi qui est assez large et qui couvre des oeuvres populaires (films, comics, séries tv, etc.) orientées sur le divertissement, plutôt que le terme science-fiction qui est plus axée sur des oeuvres littéraires où le côté scientifique prend une place plus ou moins importante. En effet, dans cette encyclopédie, on couvre les superhéros, les zombies, les bandes dessinées, etc. (on étire la sauce).

Mais on ne peut qu'admirer le contenu plein de références, de magnifiques photos ainsi que des différents types de support de chaque oeuvre (livre, film, etc.) ainsi que de son positionnement dans le temps réel et dans le temps figuré dans l'oeuvre concernée.

Un régal visuel. Petit bémol par contre, l'auteur présente trop souvent le détail des intrigues, ce qui est nuisible pour les amateurs qui ne connaissent pas certaines des oeuvres et qui veulent les aborder avec un regard neuf.

J'ai beaucoup aimé. Un livre de référence surtout pour les amateurs de films et de télévision

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

As some of the previous reviewers have mentioned, this book does leave out a good deal of science fiction history in the form of some prominent authors who are not mentioned. The choice of movies and television shows to include is better thought-out. I think it's worth noting that the book was put together for a British audience by what looked to be mostly UK-based authors. That may explain some of the notable omissions and inclusions that seem puzzling to readers in the US or other areas.

The production design is fantastic. The copy I read was solid, with brilliant colors and thick paper throughout. It feels like it will last a very long time, unlike some other paperback books out there.

The one area where the book really falls short is in the numerous editorial errors throughout. Some of the errors are merely typos, while others actually misrepresent details about an entry. They were so prominent that they affected my enjoyment of the book, knocking it down from a 5 to a 4-star rating. It's still a fantastic book, and I learned a great deal, but it's not as good as it could have been.

[Pedro Pascoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glorious chronographical romp through sci from Frankenstein (1818) through to Avatar (2009).
Covering most things sci fi from books to gaming and everything in between.
It doesn't cover everything, no single volume could, despite its heftiness. And there will always be questions raised about how much or little space was spend on each respective work (6 pages on Halo, 1 on Mass Effect?). But a bargain pickup from memory, then a slow read of an entry a day, with a couple of long pauses. Some attention is paid to notable overseas influences, and throughout this tome is chock full of images and visuals from most of the entries.
The value of this book to me? There were a few books I'd not heard of that I'm keen to chase up, but mainly the value for me lay in placing sci fi's popular development in chronological perspective. And the photos. A good cover to cover read? I mean, why not, as a piecemeal approach. More useful as a reference piece. But let's face it, it could do with an update, being 13 years since its last entry. But that's always the danger of this type of publication. A decent edition to any sci-fi reference shelf for sure.

[Tomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing catalogue of sci-fi stories across the media (books, TV shows, movies, games, comic books,...). I felt that there still must be good sci-fi books that I have not read and this encyclopedia is full of authors and descriptions of books. The articles are amazingly organized by the genre, time period and its influences. For more complicated stories there is a chronology of events and the characters that participated in them.

The last pages of the book contain size comparisons of all the space ships in sci-fi. Honestly, I cannot think of a better bonus than that.

I have subtracted one star because there are a lot of really bad sci-fi authors and their impact on the sci-fi world is rather minimal. I have struggled to find some of the authors even on goodreads.com. Since I was looking for new books to read I could have used some rating or critique input that would help me sort through authors. I.e.: There were authors that have published 60 + books during the golden era of pulp sci-fi days but most of those books were very badly written and had been written only because the authors have contracts from publishers. I do not know which of these books are any good.

[Marta Pita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como instrumento de referencia es apabullante y abarca muchísimo de entre lo más importante y conocido de la ciencia ficción sobre todo occidental (con algunas excepciones como el anime/manga) y en distintos formatos: literatura, cine, televisión, videojuegos... Como parte mala me parece que tiene ausencias muy sonrojantes centrándose sobre todo en el canon androcéntrico y dejando de lado a autoras importantísimas que merecerían, como mínimo, una mención. Suele ser uno de los mayores problemas de este tipo de guías. Sí es verdad que lo he disfrutado y he descubierto bastantes cosas que no conocía de un género que me apasiona. Además, incluye muchísimas fotografías y gráficos cronológicos y, en general, bastante información (aunque he detectado algunos fallos en cosas de las que soy fan como el apartado de Doctor Who, mismamente).

En conjunto, creo que cualquier fan de la scifi lo encontrará muy disfrutable, aunque a menudo te tengas que saltar la sección de "universo" de aquellas historias que no conoces porque son un cúmulo de spoilers. Prácticamente una enciclopedia de casi todo lo más popular o aclamado del género. Ideal para consulta.

[Fandom SK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recenziu pre Fandom.sk napísal Ján Blažovský:

Encyklopédie mali v literatúre vždy špecifické miesto a hoci internet čiastočne vytesnil (prípadne aj zruinoval) ich papierovú podobu, existujú dôkazy o výnimočných počinoch v knižnej kultúre. Vynikajúcim príkladom je Kronika sci-fi s podtitulom Obrazové dějiny nejslavnějších děl science fiction v celé galaxii. Jej čítanie je pre fanúšika fantastiky skutočný pôžitok. Na výber má hneď niekoľko možností ako sa začítať – buď zvolí postup z minulosti do súčasnosti od klasikov ako Jules Verne alebo H. G. Wells po aktuálnych autorov, alebo sa rozhodne venovať prehľadom knižných a filmových sérií (Star Trek, Doctor Who a desiatky iných), alebo si vyberie články o svetoch, ktoré autori vytvorili, prípadne môže kombinovať uvedené so štedrými obrazovými prílohami...

Celú recenziu nájdete na Fandom.sk https://www.fandom.sk/clanok/recenzia...

[Stephen Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good production values, wide-ranging, and accessibly written, but still quite flawed.

The selection criteria aren't obvious and the book skews too heavily toward recent U.S. movies and TV. At the same time, there are a lot of contributors (writers especially) that are completely omitted and categories that are given very short shrift.

The entries are written with a definite editorial voice, and that's a mixed blessing. They were written by a team of contributors, and the quality ranges from insightful commentary and contextualization to shameless fanboy'ing to jealous nobodies throwing spitballs at far more accomplished writers. I'd also note that in the write-ups and captions there are more than a few factual errors.

A worthwhile book for hard-core sci-fi fans, but by no means a good best-of or anything like a reading/watching list.

[Bernie4444 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright 2014

Excellent reference in various organizing ways by chronological, author, etc.

Plenty of pictures and conversation - “And what is the use of a book," thought Alice, "without pictures or conversation?”

Pick a subject or a character and you Will get at least a page of minutiae. We get references to overlapping stories and shows.

It is impossible to zero in on any favorites in this review as there is a wide range of tastes; there is a very good chance that your favorite is in this book.

Example: Quatermass 1953 covers the series and movies in chronological order from 1953 through 2005. We get to cross over to 1984 1954/1965.

The Matrix comes with extra pages of color stills.

To cover everything would take a book in itself.

I suggest that you purchase this boob on speculation and you will not be disappointed.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Negatives: the text is so small it's really hard to read if it's a little dark/you're old like me. Also - the book is so bloody vast it takes a helluva long time to read cover to cover, which I did, basically (ok, towards the end I skimmed so more obscure entries). Those aren't really negatives though. This is JAM-PACKED with content, including the biggest and the best sci-fi between Frankenstein and Avatar. SO much detail. So much content. LOVE the photos and especially little poster pics. Enjoyed most of the written blurbs too. Timelines kinda redundant in many cases. But...whoa. This was so epic I monetarily revived my facebook quiz to to a sci-fi version. I freaking LOVE sci-fi. This book made me remember that. I also, truly, really loved this book. 10/10

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a good list and, well...this book is just one giant list. I love the setup and the and format. The timelines are helpful in most cases, but a little silly when there's only one item on them. But it's a lot of fun to read.

The cons are that, at times, they get their facts wrong, which is a pretty big con for a book like this. It doesn't happen often, but there were a couple of pretty glaring ones.

And, while it has a few women and people of color highlighted in it, it could certainly do with some more. I mean, there have to be some other amazing sci-fi authors around the world besides the ones out of the US, England, France, and Russia.

It's still a very fun read. I wish there was a (better) book like this for horror.