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The Evolution of Science Fiction
One of my favorite courses ever was taught by the famous science fiction
author,
Kim Stanley Robinson.
In it we took a fascinating journey through
the history of the genre. I recommend the course reading list to anyone
who would like to learn how science fiction evolved and grew over the years.
1910s: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells
1920s: We by Yevgeny Zamyatin
1930s: Slan by A.E. Van Vogt
1940s: The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin
1950s: Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein
1960s: pick one from a long list of
New Wave novels (mine: Pavane by Keith Roberts)
1970s: Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe
1980s: Timescape by Gregory Benford
coda: Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino
Kim was too modest to put any of his own works on the list, but they're
well worth reading as well. Some of the best SF out there actually, particularly
the
Mars trilogy
and the
Three Californias triptych.
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