The year 1956 was marked, in science fiction, by the following events.
Births and deaths
editBirths
edit- K. A. Applegate
- Gillian Bradshaw
- Simon Brown
- Aleksandr Bushkov
- Jack Campbell
- Storm Constantine (d. 2021)
- Hugh Cook (d. 2008)
- Nabil Farouk (d. 2020)
- Richard Foss
- Mary Gentle
- Rick Kennett
- Tom Kratman
- Jean-Marc Ligny
- Ian R. MacLeod
- R. M. Meluch
- Robert A. Metzger
- Brian Plante
- Robert Reed
- Shauna S. Roberts
- Joan Slonczewski
- Sonny Whitelaw
- Jack Womack
Deaths
edit- Archibald Low (b. 1888)
- Vladimir Obruchev (b. 1863)
- Bob Olsen (b. 1884)
- Fletcher Pratt (b. 1897)
- F. Orlin Tremaine (b. 1899)
Literary releases
editNovels
edit- The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke, a man questions the perfect but stagnant future city of Diaspar.
- The Crossroads of Time by Andre Norton, an agent travels between parallel worlds to prevent a catastrophic war.
- The Death of Grass by John Christopher, a global famine leads to societal collapse and desperate survival.
- Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein, an actor impersonates a politician in a complex political scheme.
- The Man Who Japed by Philip K. Dick, a satirical novel about rebellion in a totalitarian society.
- The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson, a man battles to survive as he inexplicably shrinks in size.
- Slave Ship by Frederik Pohl, explores the psychological impact of futuristic warfare and slavery.
- Tiger! Tiger! by Alfred Bester,[nb 1] a man seeks revenge across the galaxy using newfound teleportation powers.
- Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron (children's book), children embark on another adventure to the Mushroom Planet.
- Time for the Stars by Robert A. Heinlein (juvenile), telepathic twins communicate across vast distances during space exploration.
- To Live Forever by Jack Vance, society is divided by the quest for immortality and a man's struggle against it.
- The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick, a man who can see a year into the future grapples with his power and destiny.
Short stories
edit- "The Country of the Kind" by Damon Knight
- "The Last Question" by Isaac Asimov
- "The Minority Report" (novella) by Philip K. Dick
Movies
editAwards
edit- Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Republished in the US as The Stars My Destination in 1957.
- ^ U.S. title: Fire Maidens of Outer Space.
- ^ US title: Rodan! the Flying Monster.
References
edit- ^ The Staff & Friends of Scarecrow Video (2004). The Scarecrow Movie Guide. Seattle: Sasquatch Books. pp. 630–723. ISBN 1-57061-415-6.