#34 – Time Travel Part I: The Classics – A Reader's History of Science Fiction
Time travel had a long history in science fiction, but it noticeably ramped up beginning in the 80s. In this episode, we explore some of the classic and iconic time travel stories of recent decades. Book recommendation: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. Other works discussed: Timescape by Gregory Benford Eon by Greg Bear Back to the FutureThe TerminatorBill and Ted's Excellent AdventureDoomsday Book by Connie Willis Blackout/All Clear by Connie Willis The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger See also the Jimmy Kimmel Back to the Future sketch.
John W. Campbell was the controversial longtime editor of Astounding Science Fiction who single-handedly directed the course of science fiction in the 1940s, a time that is not called the “golden age of sci-fi.” However, I argue the golden age continued through the 1950s as writers who got their start under Campbell began publishing on their own.
Book recommendation: Mission of Gravity by Hal Clement.
Robert Silverberg on the golden age.
The Internet Speculative Fiction Database’s “Most-Viewed Short Fiction.”
Cory Doctorow on Campbell.
My essay on “The Cold Equations.”
Other books mentioned:
The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle
