Science Fiction and Fantasy Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Cyborgs, Aliens, and Sorcerers (Ala Readers Advisory Series)

248 Pages·2002·0.74 MB·English

by  Derek M. Buker

ALA READERS’ ADVISORY SERIES
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The
Science Fiction and Fantasy Readers’ Advisory
THE LIBRARIAN’S GUIDE
To
CYBORGS, ALIENS, AND SORCERERS
ALA READERS’ ADVISORY SERIES
The Mystery Readers’ Advisory:
The Librarian’s Clues to Murder and Mayhem
The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction
The Romance Readers’ Advisory:
The Librarian’s Guide to Love in the Stacks
The Short Story Readers’ Advisory:
A Guide to the Best
ALA READERS’ ADVISORY SERIES
Science Fiction
The
Fantasy
and
Readers’ Advisory
T L ’ G
HE IBRARIAN S UIDE TO
C , A , S
YBORGS LIENS AND ORCERERS
DEREK M. BUKER
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Chicago
2002
While extensive effort has gone into ensuring the reliability of informa-
tion appearing in this book, the publisher makes no warranty, express or
implied, on the accuracy or reliability of the information, and does not
assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or
damage caused by errors or omissions in this publication.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1992. (cid:2)
Cover design by Angela Gwizdala
Composition by ALA Editions in ITC Clearface and Sabon using
QuarkXPress 4.1 on a PC platform
Printed on 50-pound white offset, a pH-neutral stock, and bound in
10-point coated cover stock by Victor Graphics
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Buker, Derek M.
Science fiction and fantasy readers’ advisory : the librarian’s guide
to cyborgs, aliens, and sorcerers / by Derek M. Buker.
p. cm. –– (ALA readers' advisory series)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8389-0831-4 (alk. paper)
1. Libraries––United States––Special collections––Science fiction.
2. Libraries––United States––Special collections––Fantasy fiction.
3. Readers’ advisory services––United States. 4. Fiction in
libraries––United States. 5. Science fiction––Bibliography. 6. Fantasy
fiction––Bibliography. I. Title. II. Series.
Z688.S32 B85 2002
026--dc21 2002001494
Copyright © 2002 by the American Library Association. All rights
reserved except those which may be granted by Sections 107 and 108 of
the Copyright Revision Act of 1976.
Printed in the United States of America.
05 04 03 02 01 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
PROLOGUE: Science Affliction xi
Book I
SCIENCE FICTION
1 Classic and General Science Fiction 3
Classic Science Fiction 8
General Science Fiction 14
2 The Aliens Are Coming! The Aliens Are Coming! 17
First-Contact Novels 18
Alien Invasion! 21
3 Celestial Bodies 25
Mars 26
The Moon 28
Other Celestial Bodies 30
4 Androids and Robots and Cyborgs . . . Oh My! 32
5 Attack of the Killer Computers! 36
6 Cyberpunk––Are You Looking at Me?
Science Fiction with an Attitude 40
7 Virtual Reality 43
v
vi
CONTENTS
8 It’s the End of the World: Holocaust Fiction 46
9 Alternate History 49
10 Time Travel 52
Science-Fiction Time Travel 53
Fantasy Time Travel 56
11 Superheroes, Graphic Novels, and Genetic Engineering 58
Superheroes 58
Graphic Novels 61
Genetic Engineering 63
12 Thrills and Chills in Zero Gravity: Science-Fiction
Mysteries and Thrillers 68
Mysteries 68
Thrillers 71
Biotech Thrillers 74
13 Science-Fiction Humor 77
14 Science-Fiction and Fantasy Blenders 81
15 Telepathic Mutants and Other Weirdos 85
16 Science-Fiction Romance and Religion 88
Romance 88
Religion 90
17 Space Operas 93
Star Wars 96
Star Trek 100
Book II
FANTASY
18 Fantastic Fantasy 111
Classic Fantasy 111
General Fantasy 115
vii
CONTENTS
19 The Long and Longer of It: Epic Fantasy 118
20 Questing, Questing, Questing 123
Quest Fantasy 123
Dungeons and Dragons 127
21 Fairy Tales: Not Just for Kids 129
22 Larger than Life 134
Legends and Myths 134
Arthurian Legend 137
23 Historical Fantasy 141
24 The Dark Side of Fantasy 145
25 Ever Since I Died, I Can’t Sleep at Night: Vampires,
Werewolves, Ghosts, and Other Undead 149
Vampires 149
Werewolves 152
Ghosts and Other Undead 155
26 Demons Loose in the City: Urban Fantasy 158
27 Crossing Over to the Other Side 162
28 Sword and Sorcery 167
29 The Magic of Music 171
30 Talking Cats, Dragons, Elves, and Other
Mythological Beasties 175
Cats and Other Beasts 176
Heroes: The Breakfast of Champion Dragons 178
Are You Calling Me a Fairy? I’m an Elf! 182
31 Humorous Fantasy 186
32 You Can’t Keep an Elven Sherlock Holmes Down:
Fantasy Mysteries 190
viii
CONTENTS
33 Fantasy Romance 194
APPENDIX
Hugo Award Winners 199
Nebula Award Winners 201
Mythopoeic Award Winners 202
World Fantasy Award Winners 203
INDEX 205
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
N
o book can be written without the help and support of many peo-
ple. First and foremost, thanks to my wife Kris for editing the first
drafts, for reminding me to eat regularly, and for the patience and sup-
port she has given me for the past eighteen months. To my daughter
Sharon, for providing me with the inspiration to write this book and
always having a smile for her daddy when he was feeling the most tired
and discouraged. To Michael Gannon for passing the buck. To the
entire staff of the Charles E. Miller Branch, for putting up with my con-
stant conversations about “the Book” and for keeping me focused on
the task at hand; your indulgence for the past year and a half is greatly
appreciated. To Steve Wilson for teaching a young writer perseverance
and patience. To Ryan Casey for the many discussions of the nature of
science fiction. To Blizzard Entertainment, a complaint for making such
addicting games as Starcraft, Warcraft, and Diablo 2, but without those
games I might have lost my sanity. To the folks at The Calling for
putting up with my insanity. To Alan for the endless discussions on the
craft of writing and for saying that I’m more than a middle-shelf writer.
And finally to my mother for instilling a love of reading in her sons, to
my father for buying all those science-fiction and fantasy novels––I bet
you thought I would never do anything with them––and to my broth-
ers for sharing their books with their younger brother.
This book is dedicated in loving memory of my mother, Sharon
Buker––I wish you had been able to read this book––and to my family
for all their love and support.
ix