sf n.

= science fiction n. 2

Regarded by fans as the proper ‘serious’ abbreviation for science fiction n. 2, in contrast with sci-fi adj., which is seen as being used only by outsiders, or among insiders to ridicule poor examples of science fiction.

SF Encyclopedia


SF Criticism

  • 1931 F. J. Ackerman Letter in Wonder Stories Quarterly Spring 430/1 page image Forrest J. Ackerman

    S.F. not only stands for San Francisco, the city in which I live, but for Science Fiction, the realm in which I live!

  • 1936 The Third Science Fiction Test in Wonder Stories Feb. 882/1 page image

    The correct abbreviation for ‘science fiction’ is: (1) sfn. (2) sci-fic. (3) stn. (4) s-f.

  • 1940 F. Holobow Letter in Astonishing Stories Apr. 100 page image

    ‘After the Plague’ and ‘Half-Breed’ are by far the best stories in this issue, and certainly rank high among all sf I have read.

  • 1947 M. Grimes Ugh! Ugh! in Startling Stories Jan. 100/1 (letter) page image Mallard Grimes

    My only objection was that it was fantasy. I’m touchy but I like to see only sf in Startling.

  • 1964 J. D. Cochran Letter in Worlds of If Dec. 128/1 page image

    Outer Limits has done a better job than Twilight Zone. Their alien get-ups are marvelous and some of the stories are masterpieces, even if the plots are ultra-simple. The main fault of these shows is that they’re sf watered down for the people who don’t like sf.

  • 1988 S. McCrumb Bimbos of Death Sun ii. 17 Sharyn McCrumb bibliography

    How about SF? Who do you read?

  • 2002 J. L. Blaschke Beyond the Belle Epoque in Interzone (#181) Aug. 22/2 page image Jayme Lynn Blaschke bibliography

    Science fiction has done amazing things with cyberpunk and nanotech toys. But sf seems to have shied away from biotechnology. Why has biotech never been greatly explored by sf?

  • 2021 D. Sakers Reference Library in Analog Science Fiction & Fact July–Aug. 199/2 Don Sakers

    Authors of far future SF must tread a thin line: Exceed the weirdness budget and lose readers, or use too little weirdness and bore them.

Research requirements

antedating 1929
Earliest cite

in Science Wonder Stories

Last modified 2022-04-07 20:28:10
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.