The Origins of Science Fiction

Description

An old man discovers a baby the size of his thumb in a glowing stalk of bamboo, and the baby grows into a beautiful woman princess from the moon. The emperor of Japan falls in love with her, but the moon people come to take her away in a flying saucer. So goes a tenth-century Japanese fairy tale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, one of the earliest known examples of science fiction. But can we call a fairy tale, "science fiction?" The experts don't agree. Many old stories feature the moon, other planets, and scientific advance but none call themselves science fiction. Instead, experts apply the term proto-science fiction to these historic works. This book is a brief introduction to the genre. It provides the history of science fictions origins, and shows the culture that influenced the work. More than an introduction, however, it is also an anthology of the work; not only do you get to read the history behind the work--you actually get to read the work. Dozens of works are included in this large collection; authors and works include: Mary Shelley Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus The Last Man Edgar Allan Poe The Unparalleled Adventures of One Hans Pfall Jules Verne 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas Around the World in Eighty Days From the Earth to the Moon A Journey to the Interior of the Earth The Mysterious Island Edward Bellamy Dr. Heidenhoff's Process Looking Backward Equality H.G. Wells The First Men in the Moon The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance The Island of Doctor Moreau The Time Machine The War of the Worlds The World Set Free This work is part of a large collection titled "The History of Science Fiction."