The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works and Wonders is a massive three-volume work cataloguing science fiction and fantasy spread over 1,612-pages.
The encyclopedia operates by grouping the information into themes for two volumes and classic works for the third. “Themes” were defined as any topic worth discussing in relation to science fiction and fantasy. Such as:
Types of character (aliens in space, elves, mothers, robots)
Settings (castles, heaven, Mars, mountains)
narrative patterns (betrayal, quests, space travel, underwater adventure)
fields of study (biology, cosmology, politics, psychology)
The ‘classic work’ entries cover 127 novels, 52 films and 21 television programs, all deemed especially significant and/or especially revelatory in terms of their uses of themes.
The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy: Themes, Works and Wonders has a wealth of information that will entertain and inform anyone who has even a passing interest in the two genres.
Reference for posting: http://www.scifi.com