science fiction adj.

of, relating to, or characteristic of science fiction n. 2

SF Criticism

  • 1911 Inter Ocean (Chicago) 11 Nov. 5/5

    A COLUMBUS OF SPACE (by Garrett P. Serviss. D. Appleton & Co., New York. Illustrated, $1.50) — This is a science-fiction tale for boys, written in Jules Verne’s fashion. He who is the hero of the story, by the power of ‘inter-atomic energy,’ sails into space in a queer airship he’s constructed, and with his companion lands on Venus. Then there is enough of lively action. Fierce giants with white saucer eyes and most beautiful Amazons, and monsters of the prehistoric sort, and dangers of several varieties, provide it. Boys will enjoy the story, which has four full page pictures in colors.

  • 1929 H. Gernsback in Science Wonder Stories June 5/1 page image Hugo Gernsback

    I started the movement of science fiction in America in 1908…. At that time it was an experiment. Science fiction authors were scarce.

  • 1930 The Reader’s Corner in Astounding Stories July 134/1 page image

    We admit, right off, that some splendid Science Fiction stories have been published in the past—but are those now being printed in any way inferior to them?

  • 1940 R. E. Miller Above the Average in Super Science Stories Sept. 4/1 (letter) page image bibliography

    I have been looking for a long time for a science fiction magazine which is above the average in both plot and presentation. In this magazine I believe I have found what I want.

  • 1959 R. J. van Egten Human Thought: New Orientation Due to Automatism in Diogenes Sept. 90 page image

    The installation of robots…in front of each of our machines would be possible, probably spectacular, and certainly very ‘science fiction,’ but totally absurd.

  • 1973 Worlds of If Apr. (back cover) (advt.) page image

    As a member you’ll be offered other equally exciting books—to build your own award-winning science fiction library—at a fraction of the regular bookstore cost.

  • 1984 B. Emrys Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Speculative Feminist in Aurora Summer 11/1 page image Barbara Emrys bibliography

    I’ve been thinking about Charlotte Perkins Gilman as I get ready to coordinate a science fiction workshop for the writers’ conference now attached to the 10th annual National Women’s Music Festival.

  • 1994 B. Bova Craft of Writing Science Fiction That Sells ii. 6 Ben Bova bibliography

    Science fiction stories are those in which some aspect of future science or high technology is so integral to the story that, if you take away the science or technology, the story collapses.

  • 2005 R. Kleffel Interlocutions in Interzone (#197) Mar.–Apr. 28/1 (review) page image Rick Kleffel bibliography

    He manages to turn an exciting, well-written science fiction mystery into an evocative and often profound exploration of the collective human psyche.

  • 2014 R. Munroe Everybody Out in What If? 153 page image Randall Munroe

    There are a bunch of science fiction movies where, because of pollution, overpopulation, or nuclear war, humanity abandons Earth.

Research requirements

antedating 1911
Research History
Fred Shapiro submitted a 1911 cite from the Chicago "Inter Ocean", which seems to be the modern sense.

Last modified 2025-01-13 02:39:20
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.