urable publications like Analog, Amazing Stories and The
Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction have long been lauded by SF
enthusiasts for presenting admirable and innovative tales. Yet these
periodicals, along with relative newcomers such as Science Fiction Age
and Asimov's Science Fiction, represent only the most enduring
speculative prose magazines. Science Fiction of the 20th Century: An
Illustrated History profiles the earliest "scientifiction" pulps as well as the more
up-to-date publications, offering a detailed and enlightening overview of the
development of popular SF literature and, to a significantly lesser extent,
movies and television.
In this oversized (10"x13"), richly illustrated 256-page book, author
Frank M. Robinson researches the genre's growth over the past
100 years. Following a short introduction, the volume is divided into 11
chapters, beginning with "The Future is Here...It's 1901!" which acquaints
readers with early publications like the Frank Reade Weekly Magazine
and Argosy. Succeeding sections with such playful headings as "Isn't It
Amazing?" (Amazing Stories), "No, It's Wonderful!" (Thrilling
Wonder Stories) and "Astounding, The Class Act" (Astounding
Science-Fiction) profile the most influential periodicals of the 1930s and 1940s. Lesser-known pulps are included in "Stellar Companions
and Dwarf Stars," while two chapters
collectively titled "The Major Moons of Jupiter...And the Minor" examine more recent magazines.
Robinson also analyzes British science fiction, along with the increasing
prestige of hard bound and paperback books, and motion pictures and TV shows. He then briefly conjectures what the future holds for the genre, and the volume closes with an extensive list of acknowledgments and a succinct index.
A timeless sense of wonder
Given the pervasive influence of SF television and film, it's sometimes
difficult to remember that, for at least the first half of the 1900s, science
fiction was a fairly insular literary medium. Through reasonably well-informed text and plentiful color pictures, Science Fiction of the 20th Century artfully explores the maturation of the genre from a relatively fringe phenomenon to a significant component of contemporary pop culture.
Robinson infectiously relates amusing anecdotes concerning the
early days of the industry, such as Jack Williamson's first appearance in
Amazing Stories, which occurred in 1927 when, as a fan, he wrote a
letter complaining about the denigration by his friends of the "cheap" and
"unhealthy" magazine. The book also features covers from both distinguished and little-known
periodicals and paperbacks, showcasing the work of artists
like Chesley Bonestell, Virgil Finlay and Kelly Freas. These stunning
reproductions furnish insight into both the visual
development and--just as importantly--the marketing of the genre.
Although Robinson admirably chronicles the evolution of science fiction
literature, the impact of radio--which admittedly does not lend itself to a
pictorial record of the field--is almost entirely ignored. Additionally, the
chapter devoted to movies and TV is rather sparse, with the accompanying
images culled primarily from posters and laser disc sleeves rather than
appropriate stills. Despite these deficiencies, Science Fiction of the
20th Century: An Illustrated History is a gold mine of information,
passionately reminding readers that, regardless of when a particular tale was
published, SF's sense of wonder remains truly timeless.
