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Friday 14 November 2025
Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, Fourth Edition. Some sample entries appear below. Click here for the Introduction; here for what we mean by Science Fiction; here for the masthead; here for some Statistics; here for the Acknowledgments; here for the FAQ; here for advice on citations. Find entries via the search box above (more details here) or browse the menu categories in the grey bar at the top of this page.
Site updated on 10 November 2025
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Cordy, Michael
(1961- ) UK author whose first novel, The Miracle Strain (1997), suggests that, through Near Future developments in DNA research, a new Messiah – whose genetic makeup will replicate Jesus Christ's unique makeup, and who will therefore be able to heal the sick, etc – can be found, thus satisfying the long-held plans of a secret Brotherhood, which has existed since the first Messiah's death. Crime Zero ...
Grainer, Ron
(1922-1981) Australian-born composer and musician, resident in the UK from the 1950s. Grainer's most enduring work is the theme to the BBC TV series Doctor Who (1963-current), created in collaboration with Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. He also composed the themes for the television shows The Prisoner (1967-1968) and ...
Chown, Marcus
(1959- ) UK author, currently "cosmology consultant" for New Scientist; his sf novels, both in collaboration with John Gribbin, are Double Planet (November 1984 Analog by John Gribbin solo; exp 1988), a competent Hard-SF tale about a conflict of political interests over a Comet which may or may not be ...
Black, Pansy E
(1890-1957) US stenographer and short story author, born Pansy Ellen Beach, whose two stories for Hugo Gernsback's Science Fiction Series are located in Australia. The Valley of the Great Ray (1930 chap) is a Lost Race tale set in the desert, while The Man from the Meteor (1932 chap) features invading Aliens who also hole up in the ...
Austin, Mary
(1868-1934) US critic, poet, playwright and author of fiction and nonfiction, including studies of the natural world of the American South-West like The Land of Little Rain (1903), and Taos Pueblo (graph 1930) with photographs by Ansel Adams (1902-1984). Her involvement with Native American life and arts was intensified by Feminist arguments that women were similarly oppressed (see Race in SF; ...
Clute, John
(1940- ) Canadian critic, editor and author, in the UK from 1969; married to Judith Clute from 1964, partner of Elizabeth Hand since 1996. He began to publish work of genre interest with an sf-tinged poem "Carcajou Lament" in Triquarterly for Winter 1960 [ie Autumn 1959]; he began consistently publishing sf reviews in his "New Fiction" column for the Toronto Star (1966-1967), and later in ...