Science Fiction Authors: A Research Guide.

Science Fiction Authors: A Research Guide. Science Fiction Authors Note that this partial list contains some authors whose works of fantastic fiction would today be called science fiction, even if they predate, or did not work in that genre. There is also a considerable overlap with the List of fantasy authors, since many authors are equally comfortable : A Research Guide BY MAURA HEAPHY Author Research Series. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2009.318 pp. 22.95 [pounds sterling] soft cover ISBN ISBNabbr.International Standard Book NumberISBNInternational Standard Book NumberISBNn abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m9781591585152 (availablefrom Inbooks) Maura Heaphy's Science Fiction Authors. A Research Guide isaimed at libraries, particularly those in the USA, and readers wanting abasic starting point Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting pointterminus a quocommencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the to the science fiction (SF) genre. Heaphy, a seniorlecturer at Ohio State University Ohio State University,main campus at Columbus; land-grant and state supported; coeducational; chartered 1870, opened 1873 as Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College, renamed 1878. There are also campuses at Lima, Mansfield, Marion, and Newark. , states that her guide aims to fill agap in SF reference books, being 'intended for those who alreadyknow the given writer and want to learn more'. Heaphy works, however, within the guidelines of the LibrariesUnlimited Author Research Series, which attempts to cater for 'theneeds of fans, students, teachers, librarians and bookclubleaders'. Heaphy understandably has difficulties meeting the needsof all of these diverse groups. Each author entry begins with a short quotation 'to give ataste of the writer's style', but two to three lines arepatently insufficient to summarise writers as diverse as Robert Heinleinand Mary Shelley. Heaphy provides short biographies, lists of majorworks, selective resource and critical sources and websites to 100authors from Douglas Adams to Roger Zelazny. Heaphy acknowledges that her choices ultimately reflect herpersonal opinion as to 'the best and brightest of ScienceFiction'. She has naturally a decidedly American bias, althoughsome major British authors, such as M. John Harrison Michael John Harrison (born July 26, 1945), who writes as M. John Harrison, is a British author of science fiction, fantasy and literary fiction.Harrison was born in Warwickshire. , Charles Stross andBrian Aldiss, are included, along with Karel Capek and Stanislaw Lem torepresent Europe. There are few non-Northern Hemisphere authors listed.It is unfortunate that Australia's leading SF author, Greg Egan, isnot included, given hisstanding in the field and in other 'best of' lists. Theauthor and publisher clearly reflect where they think their book saleswill be. Appendices include the major awards of the genre and a generalbibliography covering encyclopaedias, guides to biography and some'frequently cited' sources. While these are not comprehensive,and again are American in focus, they are sound initial referencepoints. The usefulness of the List of Authors by Type, under suchheaders as Far Future and Gothic SF'is, however, debatable. ScienceFiction Authors will be useful for libraries and students wanting abasic guide to predominantly American authors. Colin Steele Australian National University