Martin Last (1929–2006)

The one problem with this guide--and admittedly it's a big one--is that it was published in 1979 (and given how long it takes to put out a book, probably the cut off is somewhat earlier). You won't find Orson Scott Card here. Or William Gibson. Or Douglas Adams, Dan Simmons, Lois McMaster Bujold, John Scalzi. You will though on the "Seven Parsec Bookshelf" find many seminal writers in the genre that many a list neglect. Not just H.G. Wells and Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs but such writers as Olaf Stapeldon and E. E. Smith. I certainly found many a writer to love through this book. So although I might be reluctant to recommend it to someone looking for a guide to science fiction, it's keeping it's place on my shelves.… (mehr)