The Science Fiction Book: An Illustrated History

by Franz Rottensteiner

First U.S. edition. A review from the earliest attempts at science fiction literature up to the present. Covers all languages. 160 pages. cloth, dust jacket.. 4to..

Genres: Science Fiction, Art, Literature, Fiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Franz Rottensteiner, never a comfortable critic, has enlivened sf discussion for many years. He is a long-tim editor of the respected Austrian fanzine, Quarber Merkur.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

SF-Urgestein und Genre-Kenner Rottensteiner präsentiert in der reich bebilderten Ausgabe in Schlaglichtern die Geschichte der SF. Persönlich hat mir seine Einleitung am besten gefallen, weil sie sich kritisch mit der SF, ihrem Markt und ihren Lesern auseinandersetzt. Rottensteiner beschönigt nicht die Schwächen eines Genres, dessen Autoren überwiegend qualitativ schwache Texte hervorgebracht haben und versucht, SF als Gattung zu definieren.
Interessant wäre es, in solch einer Abhandlung auf die vielen Parallelen zur Horror-Literatur einzugehen, die ja nicht nur geschichtlich da sind, sondern auch durch die Überschneidungen von Autoren und Leserschaft. Gibt es eine solche Geschichte der SF- und Horrorliteratur?

[Mark Schomburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a focused history of the milestones in the history of science fiction, and the international perspective, this fast moving, informative, highly-illustrated book really lists the best works available at the time of it's writing.
The critical analysis covers written work between the scientific renaissance and modern times, with nice features on specific countries' contributions to both magazines and books, with some film references. It's well annotated.

[Nicholas Smeaton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is rather dated (It came out before Star Wars revolutionized the public's perception of Science Fiction) but it's still a good look at the history of the Genre up until the mid 70's. Of note is the fact that instead of just limiting itself to British and American Science Fiction, it explores Science Fiction from France, other European countries, the then Soviet Union and Japan. It also highlights a lot of the most common themes in Science Fiction and prominent authors and illustrators.
Recommended as a good starting point for anyone interested in the history of Science Fiction or just wanting to get acquainted with older SF.

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through a focus on its authors, Rottensteiner traces the development of science fiction from its early precursors through to 1975, giving due attention to European writers. The illustrations are generally reproductions of cover- and internal artwork—adding curiosity value 50 years on.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only well-informed history of sci-fi I have read. The author knows that it is "bad from a literary point of view," and explores the defenses fans use to neutralize valid criticisms. He is informed about the best sf, identifies overrated writers, has a good grasp of proto-sci-fi, and has world knowledge of writers and their works. This 1975 book is out of date, but marvelous for sci-fi up to that time. My only criticism is that he did not make the book longer by writing more.

[TrumanCoyote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the value is in the illustrations: old magazine covers, etc. The author is the usual pompous twit, especially as conveyed in the intro. Once the text starts up though, he shuts up and gets out of the way enough for it to be reasonably entertaining. Still, lionizing Ballard and saying Lem is/was the greatest contemporary sci-fi writer?...there's jail cells for that kind of thing.

[Kevinjwoods · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reasonable overview that has some interesting pictures but loses a star for its claim that Star Trek is the only good sf TV ever (claiming that Spock was the first alien regular on TV and then dismissing Doctor Who which by this point had an alien as the Lead Character before Star Trek was conceived).
Also some of its summaries are barely more than paragraphs.

[Joe Nickence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this one to death. I always reference it for many ideas.

[Lise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reference/handbook about sci-fi books, movies and magazines. Richly illustrated.