1956

A Year of Wonder in Science Fiction and Beyond

By: Stephen Webb

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Paperback | 20 April 2026

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15.4 x 23.4 x 2.8

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1956 was a momentous year for science fiction, with the release of timeless films and the publication of classic novels and stories. It was also a pivotal year for the world at large, with events producing ripples we still feel seven decades later. This book explores how the yearâs landmark works â" films such as Forbidden Planet and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, and stories such as Asimovâs The Last Question and Clarkeâs The City and the Stars â" emerged from their cultural context. Writers, artists, and film directors reflected the eraâs tension between optimism and anxiety, between the promise and peril of progress. The book traces, month-by-month, events in five themes: science and technology; politics and the economy; entertainment and arts; celebrity culture; and competitive sport. This was a climate defined by rapid change â" from the Suez Crisis to Elvis Presleyâs meteoric rise; from early computers to space race dreams. The science fiction emerging from this turbulent year helped form our collective imagination of tomorrow.

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