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Golden Age Science Fiction 1940–1960

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The History of Science Fiction

Part of the book series: Palgrave Histories of Literature ((Palgrave Histories of Literature))

Abstract

To describe the science fiction published in the 1940s and 1950s as ‘Golden Age’ is — obviously — not to use a neutral or value-free description. Coined by a partisan Fandom, the phrase valorises a particular sort of writing: ‘Hard SF’, linear narratives, heroes solving problems or countering threats in a space-opera or a technological-adventure idiom. Another approach at definition would be to link the Golden Age to the personal taste of John W. Campbell (1910–1971), who played a larger role than anyone else in disseminating prescriptive ideas of what SF ought to be.

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Authors
  1. Adam Roberts
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© 2006 Adam Roberts

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Roberts, A. (2006). Golden Age Science Fiction 1940–1960. In: The History of Science Fiction. Palgrave Histories of Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230554658_10

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