From Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Arthur C. Clarke to Chelsea-Quinn Yarbro and Roger Zelazny, from science fiction authors worldwide to the directors of sci-fi films for movies like 2001: A Space Odyssey and television series like Star Trek, from the magazines that publish the writers in this exciting and extraordinarily inventive field to the Hugos, Nebulas, and other awards that annually honor them, this encyclopedia offers the most concise, clear, and comprehensive guide currently available to one of fiction"s most popular and intriguing genres. In an A-to-Z format, augmented by an ample index and helpful cross-references, this richly informative volume presents science fiction as it appears in film as well as in the print media, including entries on important illustrators, and covers both the modern developments in the field and the classic landmarks. Furthermore, each author entry ends with an "Also see" section that directs readers to related topics, and all entries provide full bibliographies. Equally invaluable is the opening chapter, which gives a brief history of the genre and traces its evolution from origins that long precede the twentieth century.