SCIENCE FICTION REFERENCE BOOKS
An Analytic Guide to Sources in the Main Reading Room

By Evelyn Timberlake

Research Guides No. 21
1995

     In addition to listing the science fiction reference books
in the Main Reading Room Reference collection, this guide
analyzes the books in order to lead readers to the best choices
for information on particular subject areas, formats, or other
distinctive features. Each of the sources analyzed is referred to
by an abbreviation or symbol.

     The first part, a key to symbols, is arranged alphabetically
by symbol, with full bibliographical information and the Main
Reading Room reference collection call number given for each
source.

     The second part is arranged by subject, format, or
distinctive feature with symbols of the sources providing the
information given under each heading.


SOURCES ANALYZED : A KEY TO SYMBOLS 


aw        Anatomy of wonder : a critical guide to science fiction
          / edited by Neil Barron. -- 3rd ed. -- New York :
          Bowker, 1987. -- xii, 874 p. 
               Z5917.S36 A52 1987 MRR Alc


aldiss    Aldiss, Brian Wilson, 1925-
          Trillion year spree : the history of science fiction /
          by Brian W. Aldiss ; with David Wingrove. -- 1st
          American ed. -- New York : Atheneum, 1986. -- 511 p.
          [16] p. of plates : ill.
          
          Originally published in London by Weidenfeld and
          Nicolson as Billion Year Spree in 1973.
          Bibliography: p. [489]-490.
               PR830.S35 A38 1986 MRR Alc


bleiler   Science fiction writers : critical studies of the major
          authors from the early nineteenth century to the
          present day / E.F. Bleiler, editor. -- New York :
          Scribner, c1982. -- xv, 623 p. 
               PS374.S35 S36 1982 MRR Alc


burgess-lc     Burgess, Michael, 1948-
          A guide to science fiction & fantasy in the Library of
          Congress classification 
          scheme / Michael Burgess. -- 2nd ed. -- San Bernardino,
          Calif. : Borgo Press, 1988. -- 168 p. -- (Borgo
          cataloging guides ; no. 1)
               Z697.F29 B87 1988 [not on reference]


burgess-ref    Burgess, Michael, 1948-
          Reference guide to science fiction, fantasy, and horror
          / Michael Burgess. -- Englewood, Colo. : Libraries
          Unlimited, 1992. -- xv, 403 p. -- (Reference sources in
          the humanities series)
               Z5917.S36 B87 1992 MRR Alc


chalker   Chalker, Jack L.
          The science-fantasy publishers : a critical and
          bibliographic history / by Jack L. Chalker & Mark
          Owings. -- 3rd ed., rev. and enl. -- Westminster, Md. :
          Mirage Press, 1991. -- xxviii, 744 p. : ill.
               Z1231.F32 C43 1991 MRR Alc


clareson  Science fiction in America, 1870s-1930s : an annotated
          bibliography of primary sources / compiled by Thomas D.
          Clareson. -- Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1984. -
          - xiv, 305 p. -- (Bibliographies and indexes in
          American literature, 0742-6860 ; no. 1)
               Z1231.F4 S38 1984 MRR Alc


clute     The Encyclopedia of science fiction / edited by John
          Clute and Peter Nicholls ; contributing editor Brian
          Stableford ; technical editor, John Grant. -- New York
          : St. Martin's Press, 1993. -- xxxvi, 1370 p. 
               PN3433.4.E53 1993 MRR Alc


cole      Cole, Walter R. 
          A checklist of science-fiction anthologies. --
          [Brooklyn? : s.n., 1964]. -- xvi, 374 p. 
               Z5917.S36 C6 MRR Alc


contento  Contento, William.
          Index to science fiction anthologies and collections /
          William Contento. -- Boston : G.K. Hall, c1978-. -- v. <1-2    >. -- (A Reference publication in
          science fiction)
          Bibliography: v. 2, p. xii-xiv.
               Z1231.F4 C65 MRR Alc
          

currey    Currey, L.W.
          Science fiction and fantasy authors : a bibliography of
          first printings of their fiction and selected
          nonfiction / L.W. Currey ; with the editorial
          assistance of David G. Hartwell. -- Boston : G.K. Hall,
          c1979. -- xxix, 571 p.
               Z1231.F5 C87 MRR Alc


day       Index to the science fiction magazines. -- 1926/50-   
          . -- [Cambridge, Mass.] : New England Science Fiction
          Association.
            Vols. for 1951-65 issued by MIT Science Fiction
          Society ; 1966/70-    by New England Science Fiction
          Association.
          Editors: 1926/50, D.B. Day ; 1951/65, E.S. Strauss.
          Continued by The NESFA Index.
          
          See also Index to the Science Fiction Magazines /
          compiled by Jerry Boyajian and Kenneth R. Johnson. --
          [Cambridge], Twaci Press, 1979-1984. 
               Z5917.S36 I553 MRR Alc
               Z5917.S36 I54 MRR Alc


elrick         Elrick, George.
          Science fiction handbook for readers and writers /
          George S. Elrick ; illustrated by the author ;
          supplementary ill. from NASA and early Buck Rogers
          comic strips. -- 1st ed. -- Chicago : Chicago Review
          Press, c1978. -- 315 p. : ill.
          Bibliography: p. 309-315.
               PN3448.S45 E45 MRR Alc


fl        Fantasy literature : a reader's guide / edited by Neil
          Barron. -- New York : Garland Pub., 1990. -- xxvii, 586
          p. -- (Garland reference library of the humanities ;
          vol. 874)
               Z5917.F3 F36 1990  MRR Alc


fletcher  Fletcher, Marilyn P., 1940-
          Science fiction story index, 1950-1979 / Marilyn P.
          Fletcher. -- 2nd ed. -- Chicago : American Library
          Association, 1981. -- xi, 610 p.
          Bibliography: p. ix.
          
          "An expanded and updated version of the Science Fiction
          Story Index, 1950-1968 by Frederick Siemon."
               Z5917.S36 S5 1979 MRR Alc


gunn      The New encyclopedia of science fiction / edited by
          James Gunn. -- New York : Viking, 1988. -- xix, 524 p.,
          [8] p. of plates : ill. (some col). 
               PN3433.4.N48 1988 MRR Alc


hall      Science fiction and fantasy reference index, 1878-1985
          : an international author and subject index to history
          and criticism / edited by H.W. Hall. -- Detroit : Gale
          Research Co., c1987. -- 2 v. (xviii, 1460 p.).
               Z5917.S36 S297 1987 MRR Alc


hall 2    Science fiction and fantasy reference index, 1985-1991
          : an international author and subject index to history
          and criticism / edited by Hal W. Hall. -- Englewood,
          Colo. : Libraries Unlimited, 1993. -- xxii, 677 p. 
               Z5917.S36 S297 1993 MRR Alc


hall 3    Science fiction book review index / edited by H.W.
          Hall. -- Detroit : Gale Research Co., c1975-1985. -- 3
          v.
          Title varies: v. 3, Science fiction and fantasy book
          review index.
          
            A cumulation of annual volumes published by Texas A &
          M University, 1970-1983.
               PN3433.S29 MRR Alc


hartwell  Hartwell, David.
          Author checklists and "Core list of fantasy and science
          fiction bibliographies," by L.W. Currey and Marshall B.
          Tymn. [Lists distributed at his LC talk in May 1992.
          Copies of these lists are in the Main Reading Room
          Vertical File. Please show this note to a reference
          librarian when asking to see the Hartwell folder.]
          

justice   Justice, Keith L.
          Science fiction, fantasy, and horror reference : an
          annotated bibliography of works about literature and
          film / compiled by Keith L. Justice. -- Jefferson, N.C.
          : McFarland, c1989. -- xiii, 226 p.
               Z5917.S36 J86 1989 MRR Alc


lerner    Lerner, Frederick Andrew, 1945-
          Modern science fiction and the American literary
          community / by Frederick Andrew Lerner. -- Metuchen,
          N.J. : Scarecrow Press, 1985. -- xviii, 325 p. 
          Bibliography: p. [193]-227.
               PS374.S35 L4 1985 MRR Alc


magill    Survey of science fiction literature : five hundred
          2,000-word essay reviews of world-famous science
          fiction novels with 2,500 bibliographical references /
          edited by Frank N. Magill. -- Englewood Cliffs, N.J. :
          Salem Press, c1979. -- 5 v. (xxv, 2542, vii p.).
               PN3448.S45 S88 MRR Alc


nesfa          New England Science Fiction Association.
          The N.E.S.F.A. index : science fiction magazines and
          original anthologies . -- 5 v. -- [Cambridge, Mass. New
          England Science Fiction Association, Inc.], 1971/72-
          1976. 
          Annual 1973-1976; biennial 1971/72.
               Z5917.S36 I55 MRR Alc


pierce 1  Pierce, John J.
          Foundations of science fiction : a study in imagination
          and evolution / John J. Pierce ; foreword by Frederik
          Pohl. -- New York : Greenwood Press, 1987. -- xv, 290
          p. -- (Contributions to the study of science fiction
          and fantasy, 0193-6875 ; no. 25)
          Bibliography: p. [239]-273.
               PN3433.8.P54 1987 MRR Alc


pierce 2  Pierce, John J.
          Great themes of science fiction : a study in
          imagination and evolution / John J. Pierce ; foreword
          by Thomas J. Roberts. -- New York : Greenwood Press,
          1987. -- xv, 250 p. -- (Contributions to the study of
          science fiction and fantasy, 0193-6875 ; no. 29)
          Bibliography: p. [203]-237.
               PN3433.8.P544 1987 MRR Alc


pierce 3  Pierce, John J.
          When world views collide : a study in imagination and
          evolution / John J. Pierce ; foreword by Lester del
          Ray. -- New York : Greenwood Press, 1989. -- xvii, 238
          p. -- (Contributions to the study of science fiction
          and fantasy, 0193-6875 ; no. 37)
               PN3433.8.P55 1989 MRR Alc


reginald  Reginald, R. 
          Science fiction and fantasy literature : a checklist,
          1700-1974 : with Contemporary science fiction authors
          II / R. Reginald. -- Detroit : Gale Research Co.,
          c1979. -- 2 v. (xi, 1141 p., [16] leaves of plates) :
          ill.
               Z5917.S36 R42 MRR Alc


reginald 2     Reginald, R. 
          Science fiction and fantasy literature, 1975-1991 : a
          bibliography of science fiction, fantasy, and horror
          fiction books and nonfiction monographs / Robert
          Reginald ; associate editors, Mary A. Burgess, Daryl F.
          Mallett ; editorial assistants and advisors, Scott Alan
          Burgess ... [et. al]. -- Detroit : Gale Research,
          c1992. -- xii, 1512 p. 
               Z5917.S36 R4212 1992 MRR Alc


reginald 3     Reginald, R.
          Reginald's science fiction and fantasy awards : a
          comprehensive guide to the awards and their winners. --
          3rd ed., rev. and expanded / by Daryl F. Mallett and
          Robert Reginald. -- San Bernardino, Calif. : Borgo
          Press, 1993. -- 248 p. -- (Borgo literary guides, 0891-
          9623 ; no. 1)
               P96.S34 R4 1993 MRR Alc


sargent   Sargent, Lyman Tower, 1940-
          British and American utopian literature, 1516-1975 : an
          annotated bibliography / Lyman Tower Sargent. -- Boston
          : G.K. Hall, c1979. -- xxvi, 324 p. -- (A Reference
          publication in science fiction)
               Z2014.U84 S27 MRR Alc


smith     Twentieth-century science-fiction writers /editor,
          Curtis C. Smith. -- 2nd ed. -- Chicago : St. James
          Press, 1986. -- xviii, 933 p. -- (Twentieth-century
          writers series)
          Bibliography: p. x-xiv.
               PS374.S35 T89 1986 MRR Biog


tuck      Tuck, Donald H. (Donald Henry).
          The encyclopedia of science fiction and fantasy through
          1968 : a bibliographic survey of the fields of science
          fiction, fantasy, and weird fiction through 1968 /
          compiled by Donald H. Tuck. -- [1st ed.]. -- Chicago :
          Advent Publishers, 1974-
          <1982 >. -- v. <1-3>    
               Z5917.S36 T83 MRR Alc


tymn      Tymn, Marshall B., 1937-
          Fantasy literature : a core collection and reference
          guide / Marshall B. Tymn, Kenneth J. Zahorski, and
          Robert H. Boyer. -- New York : R.R. Bowker Co., 1979. -
          - xiii, 273 p.
          "Directory of Publishers": p. 232-239.
               PR830.F3 T9 MRR Alc


tymn 2    Tymn, Marshall B., 1937-
          Science fiction, fantasy, and weird fiction magazines /
          edited by Marshall B. Tymn and Mike Ashley. --
          Westport, Conn. : Greenwood Press, 1985. -- xxx, 970 p.
          -- (Historical guides to the world's periodicals and
          newspapers, 0742-5538)
               PN3433.T9 1985 MRR Alc


tymn 3    The science fiction reference book : a comprehensive
          handbook and guide to the history , literature,
          scholarship, and related activities of the science
          fiction and fantasy fields / edited by Marshall B.
          Tymn. -- Mercer Island, Wash. : Starmont House, c1981.
          -- ix, 536 p. : ill.
               PN3433.5.S33 MRR Alc


weinberg  Weinberg, Robert E.
          A biographical dictionary of science fiction and
          fantasy artists / Robert Weinberg.
          -- New York : Greenwood Press, 1988. -- xvi, 346 p.
          Bibliography: p. [319]-321.
               NC961.6.W45 1988 MRR Biog


wolfe          Wolfe, Gary K., 1946-
          Critical terms for science fiction and fantasy : a
          glossary and guide to scholarship / Gary K. Wolfe. --
          New York : Greenwood Press, c1986. -- xxxvi, 162 p. 
          Bibliography: p. [145]-155.
               PN3435.W64 1986 MRR Alc


yntema    Yntema, Sharon, 1951-
          More than 100 women science fiction writers / by Sharon
          Yntema. -- Freedom, Calif. : Crossing Press, c1988. --
          193 p.
               Z5917.S36 Y58 1988 MRR Biog



ANALYTIC GUIDE

General Reference Works
  aw 
  burgess-ref
  chalker 
  clute 
  fl 
  gunn 
  hartwell 
  tymn 
  tymn 3

Anthologies
  cole 
  contento 
  fletcher 
  nesfa 
  tuck 
  tymn 
  tymn 2

Art & Illustration
  aw 
  burgess-lc 
  burgess-ref 
  day 
  fl 
  justice 
  reginald 
  tymn 2 
  weinberg

Author Lists
  burgess-lc 
  cole 
  contento 
  day 
  fletcher 
  hartwell 
  nesfa 
  reginald 
  reginald 2 
  smith 
  tuck (includes section on pseudonyms) 
  yntema



Awards
  burgess-ref 
  fl 
  reginald 
  reginald 2 
  reginald 3 
  tymn

Bibliographies
  SUBJECT        AUTHOR
  clareson      hall  
  hall          hartwell
  hartwell   
  sargent 
  yntema

Biography
  bleiler 
  reginald 
  reginald 2 
  smith 
  tuck 
  weinberg 
  yntema

Book Reviews
  day
  hall      Includes list of SF        
  hall 2    book review indexes 
  hall 3 
  lerner

Comics
  burgess-lc 
  justice

Core Collection Checklist
  aw 
  burgess-ref 
  fl 
  justice 
  reginald 
  tymn


 Dictionaries
  elrick 
  wolfe

Film, TV & Radio
  aw 
  burgess-lc
  burgess-ref
  fl
  justice
  tuck

Foreign Language Fiction
  aw 
  smith 
  tuck 
  tymn 2

History & Criticism
  aw 
  aldiss 
  bleiler 
  burgess-ref 
  fl
  hall 
  hall 2 
  justice 
  lerner 
  pierce 1 
  pierce 2 
  pierce 3 
  smith 
  tymn 
  tymn 2 
  weinberg 
  wolfe

Library Collecting (Selection, 
Acquisitions, Cataloging)
  burgess-lc 
  burgess-ref 
  aw 
  fl

Library Collections
  aw 
  fl 
  tymn

Organizations, Societies & Meetings
  burgess-ref 
  fl 
  reginald
  tymn
  tymn 3

Periodicals
  aw 
  burgess-ref 
  day 
  fl 
  hall (includes fanzines) 
  hall 2 
  nesfa 
  tuck 
  tymn 
  tymn 2

Private Collections
  aw

Publishers
  chalker 
  nesfa 
  tuck 
  tymn 
  tymn 3

Series
  fl 
  justice 
  reginald (includes separate index of Ace and
           Belmont Doubles) 
  reginald 2 
  tuck

Stories, Plots, etc.
  magill 
  pierce 2

Title Lists
  contento 
  reginald 2 
  tuck


May 1995

***Prepared 10/31/95 (lk)***