The Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy: A Web Publishing Center
Center for the Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy
 |
Bibliographies |
The bibliographic control of
science fiction and fantasy has a long and storied history, from its
beginnings in the 1930s to the online tools of today.
The works range from superb productions that serve as best practice
standards to quick-and-dirty listings.
Virtually all of them add a bit to the coverage of the field.
The last decade of the twentieth century ushered in changes in the
bibliographic world, as publishing outlets for such works disappeared or
became highly selective. Borgo
Press, a key outlet and standard setter, closed its doors, and other
publishers recognized the impact of the World Wide Web on the viability of
printed bibliographic tools in the genre.
Presses like Scarecrow, Greenwood, and McFarland became highly
selective, or withdrew entirely. One
press cited the World Wide Web as an insurmountable obstacle to the
economical publication of bibliographic work.
Specialty presses and publish-on-demand presses offer an outlet but
at the cost of low volume and marginal marketing.
They also suffer from their own version of poor bibliographic
control.
Magazines such as Extrapolation, Science Fiction Studies and
Foundation are occasional outlets for shorter bibliographies.
However, their primary mission is the presentation of scholarship, not
bibliographies. Other outlets
include some of the professional science fiction magazines and some E-zines.
Even the well-known presses like Greenwood or McFarland share the
problem of low distribution volume and lack of scholarly access.
This is compounded by the increasing demands faced by libraries,
with resulting reallocation of acquisition funds to electronic resources,
and decreasing funding for the purchase of highly specialized
bibliographies, and of genre materials in general.
These factors combine to leave a void in bibliographic publishing, and,
perhaps, in the creation of scholarly bibliographies.
It is this void that the Center for the Bibliographic Control of
Science Fiction is proposed to fill.
Purpose
The Center for the Bibliographic Control of Science Fiction provides an online repository for bibliographic works on science fiction and fantasy. Bibliographies included in the Center are created and formatted following an established set of content and style guidelines. The bibliographic content can include single author bibliographies, thematic bibliographies, indexes to magazines, and other bibliographic works.
Sponsorship and Management
To meet the various needs of the field, and to ensure quality content, the Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy is proposed as a joint venture, sponsored by the Science Fiction Research Association, The International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts, Extrapolation magazine, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection, Cushing Library, Texas A&M University. The Editorial Board of Extrapolation is proposed as the initial review board of submissions, following their established reviewing mechanisms. Should a need for a separate board develop, the sponsoring organizations would jointly name such a board.
Format
Bibliographic work would be submitted in accordance with an established set of guidelines. The guidelines will be developed drawing on the best practice examples in the science fiction bibliography field and the principles of good bibliographic control. The format, instructions, and examples will appear on the web site.
Submissions for the Web Center will be accepted only in electronic format, with Microsoft Word or FrontPage as the preferred formats. Contributors should inquire about the use of other computer programs. The Cushing Library will edit the submissions to the final format for web presentation.
Rights and Permissions
A key reason for The Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy is the provision of wide, reliable distribution of the bibliographic work. Presentation of the work on the Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy site constitutes “publication”, refereed and accepted by a qualified editorial board. This aspect of the Center offers the editorial expertise to evaluate submissions for accuracy and completeness, with subsequent increased value to the field, and to support the scholarly review process under which faculty members operate.
Works remain on the site indefinitely, with the following provisions: The compiler may use the work in any way they choose without permission. The compiler owns the copyright to the work, for any use outside the web center. The compiler may update or modify the content of the work published on the Center web pages at any time, by submission to the site director. Previous versions, clearly identified by version number or date, will reside in the site’s electronic archive. One paper copy of each bibliography and version will be maintained as a permanent printed archive in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection, Cushing Library, Texas A&M University.
Host
The Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy will be hosted by the Cushing Library. If the Cushing Library requests relief of hosting duties, the other sponsors will jointly determine a new host site, or make such decisions as are necessary at the time.
The Bibliographies
| Horny Toads and Ugly Chickens: A Bibliography on Texas in Speculative Fiction, by Bill Page |
Thematic studies and bibliographies are increasingly of interest to the SF and fantasy scholar. Page has spent several years compiling this checklist of the connections of Texas to science fiction, identifying novels and stories set in or connected to Texas, and authors who are Texas natives or who resided in Texas for some period of their life. |
| Internet Speculative Fiction Database | Bibliographic access to science fiction and fantasy is a key element of good scholarship. Al von Ruff has created a good entry point to science fiction and fantasy, useful as an entry point for many scholars. It is an ongoing effort, with revisions and additions made regularly. |
| Judith Merril: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography, by Elizabeth Cummins | A primary and secondary bibliography of Judith Merril through 2006. |
| The Man Who Sold the Future: A Research Guide to The Fiction of Robert A. Heinlein, by Candace R. Benefiel |
Robert A. Heinlein is an icon of science fiction, a prolific creator of stories, books, and of concepts. This bibliography provides an entry point for his work. |
| Sam Moskowitz A Preliminary Bibliography, by Hal W. Hall | Sam Moskowitz was an active fan and amateur historian of science fiction. He had an extensive knowledge of the early history of the field, and wrote extensively, in magazines, fanzines and correspondence. This preliminary bibliography is a work-in-progress. Please send any information about additional material to Hal W. Hall. ( hal-hall@tamu.edu ) |
| The Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Database, by Hal W. Hall | The Science Fiction and fantasy Research Database seeks to index the historical and critical work of science fiction, fantasy and horror. The database covers books, book chapters, journal articles, newspaper reports, obituaries, and fanzine material. As of March, 2005, the database provides access to over 68,000 individual items. |
| The Work of Chad Oliver: An Annotated Bibliography and Guide, by Hal W. Hall | Chad Oliver was a working anthropologist, and was well-known and highly regarded in the 1950s and 1960s. Oliver was a leading light in the incorporation of anthropological concepts and viewpoints into science fiction. This bibliography provides an entry point to his writing, both fiction and nonfiction. |
| The Wizard Behind Oz and Other Stories: A Research Guide for L. Frank Baum, by Karla Lyles | Lyman Frank Baum published more than fifty books throughout his lifetime, including a plethora of pseudonymously-written books for children. The popularity of his The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has prompted the writing of an abundance of material related to Baum and his work. |
| Fantasyland/Aggieland:A History of Science Fiction and Fantasy at Texas A&M University and in Brazos County, Texas, compiled by Bill Page | A Bibliographic history of the fantastic at Texas A&M University. |
CONTACTS
Hal W. Hall,
Curator, Science Fiction and Fantasy Research Collection
Cushing Library, Texas A&M University
5000 TAMU
College Station TX 77843-5000
979-862-1840
hal-hall@tamu.eduPlease request contact information for individual authors from Hal W. Hall.
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
Proposals for new or revised
bibliographies are welcome. Please use the following outline for your
proposal.
Name:
Address:
E-mail Address:
Phone:
Subject of proposed bibliography:
Title of bibliography:
Brief description of the importance of your subject, and the need for the bibliography:
Proposed beginning date:
Proposed completion date:
Other comments:
The Bibliography of Science Fiction and Fantasy
site is
sponsored by The Science Fiction Research Association,
The
International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts,
Extrapolation Magazine, and The Science Fiction and Fantasy
Research Collection, Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, Texas A&M University.