INTRODUCTION
Hello!
If you're looking for Gary Westfahl's Biographical Encyclopedia of Science
Fiction Film, don't worry, it's still here, as indicated below. But this
expanded site also includes some samples of my other published and unpublished
works as well as other features. I remain very busy with my day job and other
projects, but I will be providing the site with several monthly updates—so, if
you've found your way here, please come back again soon!
What's New
New Encyclopedia Entry: William Gibson
Revised Encyclopedia Entry: Adrien Brody
New Miscellany Entry: Homo aspergerus Interview
New Encyclopedia Entry: Rock Hudson
Revised Encyclopedia Entry: William Schallert
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film
Each entry begins with the subject's name, given name and years of birth/death, and
brief identification. It includes complete lists of all films and television programs
that are relevant in some way to the topic of science fiction film.
Introduction |
All Entries
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Unknown Menaces to Civilization
I've placed these rants in their own section because, along with the film
encyclopedia, they are the only features of this site that regularly inspire reader
responses (usually negative, but hey, I'm used to that). Come learn about some
seemingly innocuous aspects of contemporary life that are really appalling problems!
Soccer |
Marching Bands |
The Nutcracker Suite
Girl Scout Cookies |
Meetings |
Apple Pie
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Spacesuit Films
My next, and longest, book will be a study of realistic space films, now entitled The
Spacesuit Film: A History, 1918-1969, from McFarland Publishers. Here are
some information about the book, including its Table of Contents, and two passages
from the book: a survey of space films before 1950 that was removed and
replaced with a shorter discussion, and a discussion of the television series Men
into Space, also published as an article. As it progresses toward
publication, more information will be provided!
Information |
Space Films Before 1950 |
Men into Space
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The Internet Review of Science Fiction Columns
Before its unfortunate
demise, I published eight essays in The Internet Review of Science Fiction,
including a four-part series on "What Science Fiction Leaves Out of the
Future," and since the website will soon be unavailable, I am now posting
all of them here.
What Science Fiction Leaves Out of the Future, Part 1 |
Part 2 |
Part 3 |
Part 4
How to Make Big Money |
Earth Abides |
J.G. Ballard |
Men into Space
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Eaton Volumes
Though
no longer involved in any Eaton Collection activities, I long served as one
coordinator of the Eaton Conferences and co-edited several Eaton and
Eaton-related volumes, including recent books of essays from the 1999 Eaton
Conference and the Hong Kong 2003 Conference. Here is some information about
those books and other Eaton-related materials.
1999 Eaton Volume |
Science Fiction and the Prediction of the Future
Eaton Conference History |
Technocracy and Plutocracy
Inside the Eaton Collection |
Eaton Links
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Space Stations
After many delays, both of my books about space stations, the second edition of Islands
in the Sky and the accompanying bibliography The Other Side of the Sky,
are now available from Borgo Press/Wildside Press. Here are some information
about the books, an unpublished article about my space station research, and
sample entries from the three main sections of The Other Side
of the Sky—on one novel, one story, and one television episode.
Information |
The Endless Frontier
The Long Ellipse |
The Struggle in Space |
Building a Space Station
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Frank McConnell
I recently edited a
collection of Eaton Conference essays by my late friend and colleague, Frank
McConnell. Here are a brief biography of McConnell, a list of links to writings
by McConnell, and information about the book, which includes a Foreword by Neil
Gaiman and tributes from other friends and colleagues, including Gregory
Benford and Harold Bloom.
McConnell Biography |
McConnell Links |
McConnell Book Information
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Hugo Gernsback and the Century of Science Fiction
This
study of the editing and writing career of Hugo Gernsback was published in 2007
by McFarland Publishers. Here are links to some information about the book, and
my radio interview about the book, originally broadcast January 6, 2008, on
WICN's Inquiry program.
Information |
Inquiry Interview (MP3 file)
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Science Fiction Quotations
This is probably my
best-known work, a Hugo Award-nominated compilation of 2928 quotations from
science fiction and fantasy. Here are some information about the book and, with
permission from Yale University Press, one sample chapter containing 28
quotations about "The Future," along with a list of ten unverified
quotations I could not include and downloadable files of my KSPC radio
interview with the late John Murphy about the book.
Information |
Quoted Authors |
Popular Topics
The Future |
Unverified Quotations |
Radio Interview
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The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy
This is my biggest project, a
three-volume encyclopedia of science fiction and fantasy themes and classic
works. Here are some information about the book and, with permission from
Greenwood Press, one of the thematic entries I contributed to the book, on
"Heroes."
Information |
Heroes
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Articles
Here
are two examples of my articles for scholarly journals, "Superladies in
Waiting" and "Who Governs Science Fiction?," along with three
unpublished pieces: "Arguing with Idiots," the first scholarly essay
on science fiction that I ever wrote, way back in 1987, and some musings on
writer H. G. Wells and artist Chris Foss.
Superladies in Waiting |
Who Governs Science Fiction?
Arguing with Idiots |
H.G. Wells as Prophet |
Chris Foss
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Interzone Columns
From 1998 to 2003, I
wrote a bimonthly column for the British science fiction magazine Interzone.
Here are two favorites, "The Sky Is Appalling" and "A Modem
Utopia"—which happen to include the names of my children in their
subtitles—and a third column. "Big Dumb Opticals," written as a sort of
companion piece to my Biographical Encyclopedia of Science Fiction Film.
The Sky Is Appalling |
A Modem Utopia |
Big Dumb Opticals
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Reviews
I have reviewed dozens of books and films, in print
and online. To represent this work, here are five unpublished items, along with
two published reviews of the anthology Full Spectrum 4 and the film 2001:
A Space Odyssey.
Full Spectrum 4 |
Hugo Gernsback |
The Norton Book of Science Fiction
Nemesis |
St. Elsewhere |
2001: A Space Odyssey
Writings of Passage
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Reference Material
I cannot post any entries written for reference books as "work for
hire," but here are several items which were never purchased or published:
ten entries rejected by the editors of The Encyclopedia of Fantasy, one
rejected by the editors of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, and two
entries written for a forthcoming reference book but withdrawn from
consideration when I realized that they did not match the editor's guidelines.
Batman |
Captain Marvel |
Definitions of Science Fiction |
Field of Dreams
The Incredible Hulk |
Interactive Fantasy |
Mario Brothers |
Ali Mirdrekvandi
Ronald McDonald |
"SF" |
Series Fiction |
Superman |
Wonder Woman
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Miscellany
I have
interests other than science fiction and fantasy, though I rarely write about
them. But here are essays on "illegal immigration" and animated
movies; a review of a self-improvement book; a memoir about my year on a
basketball team; an interview about my Homo aspergerus article;
and the toast I delivered at my daughter's 2007 wedding reception.
America's Second Marshall Plan |
What Is an Animated Movie?
A Review of The Little Book of Coaching |
My Life as a Court Jester
Homo aspergerus Interview |
My Wedding Toast
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Biography and Links
No, I'm not quite ready to write my autobiography, but you can find some more
information about me by consulting the Westfahl entries in Wikipedia, in the
online Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, and in in my own film encyclopedia,
along with a complete list of links to my other publications now available
online.
Westfahl at Wikipedia |
Westfahl in the SFE
Westfahl Entry |
Westfahl Links
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