Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts

This new volume by Booker in the 'Historical Dictionaries of Literature and the Arts' series is a worthy successor to Brian Stableford's earlier Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Literature, reprinted in paperback as The A to Z of Science Fiction Literature. The entry for Stableford describes that book as 'the first edition,' suggesting that this volume was conceived as a second edition despite its slightly different title. This dictionary offers more current information, drawing on the author's considerable scholarship in the genre and nicely complementing his earlier volume in this series, The Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction Cinema. Alphabetically arranged entries cover topics including authors, subgenres, tropes, awards, organizations, and significant publications. Though its emphasis is on literature in English, attention is given to global science fiction. The introduction provides a concise overview of science fiction, including other media. A chronology covers works and events shaping the genre from the 18th century to the present. An extensive bibliography is arranged by topic, including thematic studies, national literatures, and individual authors. Though accessible to the general reader, this reference work is well-tailored to the needs of the science fiction scholar. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty; researchers; general readers.