Skip to main content
Chaptra
Cover of Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review

Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review

Written by R. Reginald,Neil Barron

Not rated yet — tap a star to review it

204 pages, about 4 hours of reading

Fiction

Chaptra reads alongside you — AI insights, chapter breakdowns and reader discussions for every book. Join free

About this book

"Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review" was founded in 1979 to provide comprehensive coverage of all the major and minor books being released in the genre at that time. This was the golden era of SF publishing, with a thousand titles (old and new) hitting the stands and the bookshelves each and every year. From the older classics to the newest speculative fiction, this was the period when the best and the brightest shined forth their talents. SF&FBR included reviews by writers in the field, by amateur critics, and by litterateurs and University professors. Over a thousand books were covered during the single year of publication, many of them having been reviewed no where else, before or since. The January 1980 issue includes a comprehensive index of all the works featured during the preceding year. This reprint will be a welcome addition to the literature of science fiction and fantasy criticism. Neil Barron is a retired bibliographer and literary critic, editor of the acclaimed "Anatomy of Wonder" series. Robert Reginald was the publisher for twenty-five years of Borgo Press, and has authored over 110 books of his own."

Reading guide

Themes, characters and key ideas in Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Review, written by Chaptra AI.

  • about 10 hours
  • advanced
  • informative
  • scholarly
  • historical

This book is a reprint of the seminal "Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review," originally founded in 1979 by R. Reginald and Neil Barron. It served as an unparalleled bibliographic record during a "golden era" of SF publishing, offering comprehensive coverage of over a thousand genre titles released or re-released in a single year. Featuring reviews by a diverse group of contributors, from established writers to university professors, it captured the vibrant critical landscape of the late 1970s. This reprint is invaluable for scholars, critics, and fans, providing a historical snapshot of genre literature and its reception at a pivotal moment.

“"Science Fiction & Fantasy Book Review" was founded in 1979 to provide comprehensive coverage of all the major and minor books being released in the genre at that time.”

Key themes

The Role and Nature of Literary Criticism in Genre Studies
The publication itself is a testament to the importance of systematic literary criticism within a popular genre. It explores how critics, from various backgrounds, engage with new and existing works, shape public perception, and contribute to the intellectual discourse surrounding science fiction and fantasy. It highlights the challenges and value of comprehensive review coverage.
The Evolution of Science Fiction and Fantasy
The book, through its extensive reviews, implicitly charts the dynamic growth and diversification of the science fiction and fantasy genres during a pivotal era. It showcases the transition from earlier classics to emergent forms of speculative fiction, reflecting shifts in popular taste, thematic concerns, and literary techniques within the genre.
Bibliographic Documentation and Archival Value
Beyond critical analysis, the book serves as a crucial bibliographic record, meticulously documenting the output of a specific period. It emphasizes the importance of archiving and cataloging literary works, particularly within a rapidly expanding genre, ensuring that even lesser-known titles are recorded and accessible for future study. The reprint itself speaks to the enduring value of such documentation.

Worth discussing

How does the critical landscape of SF/F in 1979-1980 compare to today's genre criticism?

Chapter-by-chapter breakdowns, character arcs and the full thematic analysis come with a free account.

Sign up freeLog in

Discussions

No one has started one yet

Join

Questions this book opens up

No discussions yet

Be the first to start a discussion about this book!

Sign up to start the discussion

Reviews

No reviews yet

Be the first to review this book!