Ready Player 3-2-1: A Brief History of Science Fiction

University Press returns with another short and captivating book – a brief history of science fiction.

Science fiction is a speculative genre that often explores the potential consequences of scientific, social, and technological innovations. Centuries before the Scientific Revolution, storytellers had already imagined space travel, human contact with alien life forms, battles for control of the moon, and time travel.

After the Scientific Revolution, visionaries like Jonathan Swift, Isaac Asimov, Mary Shelley, Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, George Orwell, Stanley Kubrick, and George Lucas captured our imaginations, challenged us to consider all possibilities, and inspired a collective sense of wonder.

This short book peels back the veil and – from alien invasion, to cyberpunk, to post-apocalyptic, to space opera, to steam punk – provides a brief, fascinating glimpse into the heart and history of science fiction – a glimpse that you can read in about an hour.