Grolier Science FictionGrolier Science Fiction
Mention science fiction to many people, and their first thoughts are of bug-eyed monsters and intergalactic star wars. Seldom mentioned is science fiction's role as a magnifying glass examining contemporary society. From Jules Verne and H.G. Wells to the cyberpunk and hard science writers of today, science fiction authors have taken the reality of today and looked into the future--often with surprisingly accurate results. With a keen cultural sense rivaling that of sociologists and philosophers, these writers have provided profound social commentary, without the critical acceptance.
Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction could be the best way to change that perception. Based on the Hugo Award-winning book by John Clute and Peter Nichols, Science Fiction is the most comprehensive science fiction guide ever to hit the market.
Presenting five main modes, each with several subsections, Science Fiction is pretty easy to navigate. For safety's sake though, keep the quick reference sheet nearby in case you can't remember what a particular function does. Each mode--Archives, Themes, Book Browser, Time Machine, and the Gallery--gives you access to a huge variety of information. Use the key word search to track down a specific topic, or travel through the time machine to various points in science fiction history.
Amazingly up to date (it even includes titles published in 1995), Science Fiction looks at all aspects of the genre--from books and short stories to films and television. For each entry there's a cogent and thoughtful, sometimes surprisingly frank, analysis.
The Book Browser option lets you search through the extensive book collection using several filters. Select from a number of genres to narrow selections--including award-winning novels, cyberpunk stories, or classic sci-fi--or go wild and scroll through the whole list.
Selecting a title provides you with a quick summary and an original cover picture. If there is an author picture or author sound bite, a preview box will be displayed. This is a great touch and allows you to hear what your favorite author has to say about his or her own work, or science fiction in general. Click on highlighted terms within an article to jump to related topics within the encyclopedia. To quickly return to the previous article, just select it from the history list.
Choosing an author directly from the Archives list brings up an amazingly detailed description of that author's career. Be careful not to ruin any surprises by reading about books that you hope to read in the future. I almost ruined a personal surprise or two by being overly curious. However, as a way to learn more about a particular author, or general science fiction subjects, the Archives list is the way to go.
In addition to all of the written material, the Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction also includes numerous audio and film clips, although they are rather stingy on the latter. The Gallery mode is the best way to access the multimedia elements of the encyclopedia, although any relevant link is highlighted in all the text entries.
One of the highlights, and what sets the Multimedia Encyclopedia apart form its printed counterpart, is the inclusion of these clips. The chance to see and hear from your favorite authors is a really exciting touch.
All in all, this is probably the most impressive collection of science fiction information ever assembled. A must for all lovers of sci-fi, or those who simply might have an interest.
Did I mention it was thorough?
