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Wednesday 11 March 2026
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 9 March 2026
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Wilkes, Marilyn Z
(? - ) US author of the C.L.U.T.Z. sequence of sf tales for the youngest of Young Adult readers, beginning with C.L.U.T.Z. (1982). The titular acronym stands for Combined Level Unit Type Z, and is the name of an obsolescent Robot who befriends and is befriended by the young protagonist in the distant Near Future. Hi-jinks ensue. [JC]
Disaster in Time
Made-for-tv movie (1991; vt Grand Tour: Disaster in Time; vt Timescape). Channel Communications presents a Wild Street Pictures Production. Directed by David N Twohy; produced by John A O'Connor. Written by Twohy, based on "Vintage Season" (September 1946 Astounding) by Lawrence O'Donnell (probably C L Moore writing solo). Cast includes Emilia Crow, Jeff Daniels, George Murdock and ...
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Film (1964; vt Santa Claus Defeats the Aliens). Jalor Productions. Directed by Nicholas Webster. Written by Glenville Mareth, based on a story by Paul L Jacobson. Cast includes Vincent Beck, John Call, Donna Conforti, Leonard Hicks, Bill McCutcheon and Victor Stiles. 81 minutes. Colour. / In an effort to cheer up the children of Mars, who have learned about Santa Claus by watching television programmes from Earth, the Martian Kimar (Hicks) resolves to ...
Szmidt, Robert J
(1962- ) Polish editor, translator, and author. His fiction is characterized by a fondness for post-apocalyptic settings, which has led to him being referred to as "Destroyer of Worlds." He became involved with Polish Fantastika Fandom in the 1980s, becoming a laureate of the Śląkfa Award from the Silesian SF Club (1985 as the Fan of the Year). His first genre story "Test" (vt ...
After Earth
US film (2013). Columbia/Overbrook Entertainment/Blinding Edge Pictures. Directed by M Night Shyamalan. Written by Gary Whitta and M Night Shyamalan, based on a story by Will Smith. Cast includes Kristofer Hivju, Zoë Isabella Kravitz, Glenn Morshower, Sophie Okonedo, Jaden Smith and Will Smith. 100 minutes. Colour. / One thousand years in the future, humanity has abandoned Earth to live on another planet after ...
Langford, David
(1953- ) UK author, critic, editor, publisher and sf fan, in the latter capacity recipient of 21 Hugo awards for fan writing – some of the best of his several hundred pieces are assembled as Let's Hear It for the Deaf Man (coll 1992 chap US; much exp vt The Silence of the Langford 1996; exp 2015 ebook) as Dave Langford, edited by Ben Yalow – plus five Best Fanzine Hugos ...