mainstream adj.

belonging to or characteristic of the dominant or traditional literary modes, especially representational fiction

SF Criticism

Genre

  • 1953 R. Moore Science Fiction & the Main Stream in R. Bretnor Modern Science Fiction 95 bibliography

    For the purposes of discussion we shall define mainstream fiction as any fiction which is not fantasy or science fiction, an arbitrary distinction made in the interests of clarity.

  • 1954 ‘A. Boucher’ & F. McComas Recommended Reading in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction Feb. 93 Anthony Boucher J. Francis McComas

    In its crystal-clear prose, its intense human warmth and its depth of psychological probing, it is a first-rate ‘straight’ novel; its ingenious use of telepathy, psychokinesis and other ‘psi’ powers make it admirable science-fantasy; and the adroit plotting and ceaseless surge of action qualify it as a distinguished suspense story. Symbiotically, these factors add up to more than their sum—add up, indeed, to one of the most impressive proofs yet of the possibility of science fiction as a part of mainstream literature.

  • 1955 D. Knight Readin’ and Writhin’ in Science Fiction Quarterly Feb. 76/1 Damon Knight

    Three of the best are the result of a serious attempt to graft the mainstream short story onto science fiction.

  • 1955 D. Knight Readin’ and Writhin’ in Science Fiction Quarterly Feb. 76/2 Damon Knight

    ‘With These Hands’ is merely the lament for handcraftsmanship—already a cliche in the mainstream story—which Kornbluth has translated from book-binding to sculpture.


Research requirements

antedating 1953

Earliest cite

R. Moore in R. Bretnor's 'Modern Science Fiction'

Research History
Jeff Prucher submitted a 1967 cite from Damon Knight's "In Search of Wonder"; Alistair Durie verified the 1955 first appearance in Hyphen. Alistair Durie submitted a 1955 cite from Damon Knight's review column in Science Fiction Quarterly. Fred Galvin submitted a 1953 cite from Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas in F&SF. Fred Galvin submitted a 1954 cite from Anthony Boucher and J. Francis McComas in F&SF. Fred Galvin submitted a 1953 cite from Rosalie Moore's article "Science Fiction and the Main Stream" in Reginald Bretnor's "Modern Science Fiction".

Earliest cite in OED2: 1958. Earliest cite in OED3: 1955.

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.