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Science Fiction of the 20th Century: An Illustrated History
From pulp mags to films, explore the science fiction world behind-the-scenes in a colorful array of posters, books and history from visionaries that shaped this popular, fascinating genre. Full color.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Frank M. Robinson
122 books59 followersFrank M. Robinson was an American science fiction and techno-thriller writer. he got his start writing for the old pulp fiction magazines. He wrote several novels with Thomas N. Scortia until Scortia's death in 1986.
Born in Chicago, Illinois. Robinson was the son of a check forger. He started out in his teens working as a copy boy for International News Service and then became an office boy for Ziff Davis. He was drafted into the Navy for World War II, and when his tour was over attended Beloit College, where he majored in physics, graduating in 1950. Because he could find no work as a writer, he ended up back in the Navy to serve in Korea, where he kept writing, read a lot, and published in Astounding magazine.
After the Navy, he attended graduate school in journalism, then worked for a Chicago-based Sunday supplement. Soon he switched to Science Digest, where he worked from 1956 to 1959. From there, he moved into men's magazines: Rogue (1959–65) and Cavalier (1965–66). In 1969, Playboy asked him to take over the Playboy Advisor column. He remained there until 1973, when he left to write full-time.
After moving to San Francisco in the 1970s, Robinson, who was gay, was a speechwriter for gay politician Harvey Milk; he had a small role in the film Milk. After Milk's assassination, Robinson was co-executor, with Scott Smith, of Milk's last will and testament.
Robinson is the author of 16 books, the editor of two others, and has penned numerous articles. Three of his novels have been made into movies. The Power (1956) was a supernatural science fiction and government conspiracy novel about people with superhuman skills, filmed in 1968 as The Power. The Glass Inferno, co-written with Thomas N. Scortia, was combined with Richard Martin Stern's The Tower to produce the 1974 movie The Towering Inferno. The Gold Crew, also co-written Scortia, was a nuclear threat thriller filmed as an NBC miniseries and re-titled The Fifth Missile.
He collaborated on several other works with Scortia, including The Prometheus Crisis, The Nightmare Factor, and Blow-Out.
In 2009 he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame
Born in Chicago, Illinois. Robinson was the son of a check forger. He started out in his teens working as a copy boy for International News Service and then became an office boy for Ziff Davis. He was drafted into the Navy for World War II, and when his tour was over attended Beloit College, where he majored in physics, graduating in 1950. Because he could find no work as a writer, he ended up back in the Navy to serve in Korea, where he kept writing, read a lot, and published in Astounding magazine.
After the Navy, he attended graduate school in journalism, then worked for a Chicago-based Sunday supplement. Soon he switched to Science Digest, where he worked from 1956 to 1959. From there, he moved into men's magazines: Rogue (1959–65) and Cavalier (1965–66). In 1969, Playboy asked him to take over the Playboy Advisor column. He remained there until 1973, when he left to write full-time.
After moving to San Francisco in the 1970s, Robinson, who was gay, was a speechwriter for gay politician Harvey Milk; he had a small role in the film Milk. After Milk's assassination, Robinson was co-executor, with Scott Smith, of Milk's last will and testament.
Robinson is the author of 16 books, the editor of two others, and has penned numerous articles. Three of his novels have been made into movies. The Power (1956) was a supernatural science fiction and government conspiracy novel about people with superhuman skills, filmed in 1968 as The Power. The Glass Inferno, co-written with Thomas N. Scortia, was combined with Richard Martin Stern's The Tower to produce the 1974 movie The Towering Inferno. The Gold Crew, also co-written Scortia, was a nuclear threat thriller filmed as an NBC miniseries and re-titled The Fifth Missile.
He collaborated on several other works with Scortia, including The Prometheus Crisis, The Nightmare Factor, and Blow-Out.
In 2009 he was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 9, 2012
Ok this is a true coffee table sized book (not that you would dare leave it out on one since I would be paranoid it would be damaged) but its an impressive book - both in size and weight. But the book itself - well its simply a celebration of all this science fiction however it mainly focuses of the written work but with films sneaking in towards the end.
The book covers off the birth of science fiction (always a point for debate) till around the year 2000, now obviously it cannot cover everything in that time period but (and this is the part I love) it shows a great cross section of what made science fiction so fascinating and rich a subject. I love these kinds of books as they give a hint of what is out there- many a great read I have had simply by gambling on the next title i want to read, and this is as good as any to look. Not only that but it is fascinating to read about the subject the influences the authors and the stories behind the stories. For a long time I had the impression that science fiction was the product of academics, dreamers and those unwilling to face reality - books like this totally debunk that and show its a product of the times we live in, written by people as ordinary as myself.
The book covers off the birth of science fiction (always a point for debate) till around the year 2000, now obviously it cannot cover everything in that time period but (and this is the part I love) it shows a great cross section of what made science fiction so fascinating and rich a subject. I love these kinds of books as they give a hint of what is out there- many a great read I have had simply by gambling on the next title i want to read, and this is as good as any to look. Not only that but it is fascinating to read about the subject the influences the authors and the stories behind the stories. For a long time I had the impression that science fiction was the product of academics, dreamers and those unwilling to face reality - books like this totally debunk that and show its a product of the times we live in, written by people as ordinary as myself.
June 14, 2025
Published at the beginning of 1999, the majority of the book consists of three parts:
- A comprehensive history of science fiction magazines over the last century. It also includes some of the earliest single science fiction examples that appeared in general magazines.
- A sampling of science fiction in book form (hardcovers and paperbacks).
- A brief history of science fiction on the large and small screen.
The author gets to include three of his works (one of which was also turned into a not-so-great movie).
For the magazines and books it's all about the cover artwork, and for the movies and TV shows, it's the artwork from posters. Some of the book selections seemed a little off, but like any such book, the author is likely to have their set of favorites that are going to be different than yours.
Because of the year of release. there's no mention of digital books, the disruptive potential of AI and only a slight mention of the web. If the book was written now, a lot of it would have to be revised.
I've added several stories, novels (and a couple of movies) to my TB(R/W) lists.
- A comprehensive history of science fiction magazines over the last century. It also includes some of the earliest single science fiction examples that appeared in general magazines.
- A sampling of science fiction in book form (hardcovers and paperbacks).
- A brief history of science fiction on the large and small screen.
The author gets to include three of his works (one of which was also turned into a not-so-great movie).
For the magazines and books it's all about the cover artwork, and for the movies and TV shows, it's the artwork from posters. Some of the book selections seemed a little off, but like any such book, the author is likely to have their set of favorites that are going to be different than yours.
Because of the year of release. there's no mention of digital books, the disruptive potential of AI and only a slight mention of the web. If the book was written now, a lot of it would have to be revised.
I've added several stories, novels (and a couple of movies) to my TB(R/W) lists.
March 21, 2023
Very indepth history of science fiction with beautiful, fullspread illustrations of magazine/book covers and movie posters. Most of the book was devoted to the history of SF magazines, including very detailed chronologies of their editors, publication format and circulation, which was a bit dry. This was offset by the fantastic collection of covers shown. I wish the section on SF publishers and their imprints was longer with more details, as I found that part the most interesting and relevant to today's readers. Definitely a must have for SFF fans.
November 7, 2025
This book shows the reader the history of Science fiction. It is impressive that Science fiction as a whole not only survive but thrive through the challenges it encountered over time. It is eye opening to see how many of the legendary science fictions books we are all familiar with first were published on pulp fiction books; Many of which would further go on to become Movies or television series. Overall I have a greater appreciation for the genre as a whole and have learned of many new authors and books I will like to check out in the near future. Great book with beautiful images.
January 19, 2025
Another big, bold, beautiful book of science fiction. John Clute's science fiction encyclopedia slightly edges this one in design and execution.
Unfortunately, this book loaned from the Austin Central Library was defaced by some insufferable jagoff who had loaned the book before me and cut out two pages along with other sections he used a scissors on.
Unfortunately, this book loaned from the Austin Central Library was defaced by some insufferable jagoff who had loaned the book before me and cut out two pages along with other sections he used a scissors on.
January 23, 2025
This is a wonderful book about science fiction and how it’s done in both films and television as well as novels. I really enjoyed the colorful graphics and the talking about how this developed into a art form that is now one of the biggest art forms around.
September 22, 2019
A fun review of books read and book covers admired.
September 26, 2025
A highly intriguing read, even if the formatting made me have to circle back relatively often. It's really fun to read when the future the author speaks of is the year I was born.
May 5, 2013
More a history of the industry than of the genre and its works. I think I expected more depth from what turned out to essentially be a coffee table book. Although, the I did come away with a list of books, short stories, and movies to look into, the text was a good reference for the science fiction fan, though perhaps a bit dry and a few years outdated.
May 18, 2010
Illustrated reference work received as a gift. Some really cool covers of the great works of science fiction novels and magazine covers from Astounding, Asimov, Aboriginal science fiction.
Good history of the genre.
Good history of the genre.
January 6, 2014
This is an ongoing and reference read.
August 24, 2015
This is a lavishly illustrated coffee-table book, with a light but passable text. The organi-zation could be better, but there are tons of great book and magazine cover reproductions.
June 20, 2014
The best thing about this book are the great pictures of the old science fiction magazines. Lots of great information included.
July 15, 2014
A coffee table book which is lots of fun and the artwork is spectacular. Great nibble at the history of science fiction publishing.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews