This selection of unusual stories is by important American writers-Hawthorne, Melville, Poe, Bellamy and Twain-and by less well-known tellers such as Ambrose Bierce, S. Weir Mitchell and Fitz-James O'Brien, challenges the commonly held belief that science fiction is a twentieth century phenomenon, or that it began with Jules Verne and H. G. Wells. Here are tales of marvellous inventions, automata, biological and psychological experiments, utopias, extra-sensory perception and time and space travel. Many of them have been out of print since before World War I, but they remain high in intrinsic interest of the general reader and for the specialist.

The accompanying critical essays explore the relationships between science fiction and other financial modes, and illuminate the nature of the bonds between science and society and fantasies and social aspirations. Professor Franklin also offers an original, theoretical definition of science fiction. This book comes as a revelation. One of the best-edited anthologies I have ever encountered...Mr. Franklin's critical introductions, containing much valuable information about many works not included in this book, are as interesting as the stories he prints.