Welcome to The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction

A Sort of Introduction

This Substack is a new outpost of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, the world’s most comprehensive reference work devoted to science fiction in all its forms, which remains freely available to all at sf-encyclopedia.com.

Here, we’ll be publishing essays and reflections by SFE co-founder John Clute, offering readers a deeper look into the ideas, themes, and curiosities that orbit the encyclopedia itself, expanding the world around it rather than repeating what’s already inside. These pieces will range from close readings of classic works to broader explorations of how SF thinks about the future, the past, and everything in between.

The SFE is sustained and shaped by the tireless editorial and site-maintenance work of David Langford, who has helped guide the project through multiple editions and countless evolutions. Langford has built and maintained the website, which featuring over eight million words of content, is a unique intellectual monument: an ever-growing, ever-questioning map of SF’s vast terrain.

This Substack is curated by James Machell, a contributor to the SFE. He welcomes comments, questions, and suggestions from readers, especially those that might help improve or expand the encyclopedia.

The SFE itself will always remain free to use. However, any subscriptions to this Substack will go directly toward supporting the continued work of the encyclopedia: research, editing, server costs, and keeping the light on in the far reaches of SF’s bibliographic frontier. John Clute thinks of his weekly posts here as a thank you to those donating to the SFE through Substack subscriptions

Thanks for reading and for helping us sustain this extensive passion project.