''Science-Fiction Handbook'', subtitled ''The Writing of Imaginative Fiction'', is a guide to writing and marketing
science fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...
and
fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and d ...
by
L. Sprague de Camp, "one of the earliest books about modern sf."
[Malcolm Edwards and John Clute.]
de Camp, L Sprague
. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction edited by John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nicholls and Graham Sleight. London: Gollancz, updated 6 May 2014. Web. Accessed 23 September 2014. The original edition was published in hardcover by Hermitage House in 1953 as a volume in its ''Professional Writers Library'' series. A revised edition, by L. Sprague de Camp and
Catherine Crook de Camp, titled ''Science Fiction Handbook, Revised'', was published in hardcover by
Owlswick Press in 1975 and as a trade paperback by
McGraw-Hill
McGraw Hill is an American educational publishing company and one of the "big three" educational publishers that publishes educational content, software, and services for pre-K through postgraduate education. The company also publishes refere ...
in 1977.
An
E-book
An ebook (short for electronic book), also known as an e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in digital form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. Alt ...
version of the revised edition was published by
Gollancz's
SF Gateway
Victor Gollancz Ltd () was a major British book publishing house of the twentieth century and continues to publish science fiction and fantasy titles as an imprint of Orion Publishing Group.
Gollancz was founded in 1927 by Victor Gollancz, an ...
imprint on April 30, 2014.
Summary
The book comprises a comprehensive guide explaining how to write and market science fiction and fantasy. Peripheral subjects such as lecturing and bookkeeping are also discussed, and a short history of the field of imaginative fiction is included. The revised version excised outdated material, updated the historical section, and added more information on the business and records-keeping end of being a writer.
Contents
Reception
Groff Conklin
Edward Groff Conklin (September 6, 1904 – July 19, 1968) was an American science fiction anthologist. He edited 40 anthologies of science fiction, one of mystery stories (co-edited with physician Noah Fabricant), wrote books on home improvemen ...
of ''
Galaxy Science Fiction
''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Editi ...
'' praised the book, stating that it was "Recommended even for people who ''don't'' want to write".
praised the original edition as "a marvelous and ungainly book . . . a stewpot of everything De Camp could imagine a writer of SF needing to know." However, reviewing the revised edition, they declared that "A venerable classic has been consistently simplified, softened and trivialized" and concluded that what remained "was not adequate to the problems of writing contemporary SF."
Malcolm Edwards
Malcolm John Edwards (born 3 December 1949) is a British editor and critic in the science fiction field. An alumnus of The Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, he received his degree from the University of Cambridge. He was Deputy CEO at the Orio ...
and
John Clute called it "a useful compendium of information and advice for aspiring writers in its original edition,
hough Hough may refer to:
* Hamstringing, or severing the Achilles tendon of an animal
* the leg or shin of an animal (in the Scots language), from which the dish potted hough is made
* Hough (surname)
Communities United Kingdom
* Hough, Alderley E ...
it gained little from its subsequent revision – indeed, the revised version omitted some material of interest."
Awards
In 2004 the original edition was among the nominees for the 1954
Retro-Hugo Award
The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier a ...
for Best Related Book.
1954 Retro-Hugo Awards on the official Hugo Awards website
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Notes
{{L. Sprague de Camp
1953 non-fiction books
Books by L. Sprague de Camp