The world of science fiction, 1926-1976
Lester de Rey
Despite its limiting title, Lester Del Rey's 'The World of Science Fiction: 1926-1976, The History of a Subculture' gives a pretty detailed history of at least the magazine driven side of the genre from the late nineteenth century to 1976. Although it was intended to be a general history, Del Rey spends the bulk of the book detailing the impact of the magazines and their publishers on the markets, and mentioning the major stories from each era. Del Rey's thesis is that during the first fifty years of its history the genre moved in twelve-year cycles--after every twelve years someone filled with new ideas about how to manage a publication would come along and bring their ideas into the world, and thereby transform the genre. Del Rey supports his thesis adequately with anecdotal evidence, puts forth opinions on the impact of fannish activities on the development of the genre, and gives an excellent recitation of the development of the hardcover fiction markets, which really did not start in the United States until the 1950's.
