Science-Fiction Handbook
{{Short description|1953 guide to writing and marketing science fiction and fantasy by L. Sprague de Camp}}
{{Infobox book |
| name = Science-Fiction Handbook
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = Science-Fiction Handbook.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Dust-jacket of first edition
| author = L. Sprague de Camp
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = United States
| language = English
| series =
| subject = Writing
| publisher = Hermitage House
| release_date = 1953
| english_release_date =
| media_type = Print (Hardback)
| pages = 328 pp
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
Science-Fiction Handbook, subtitled The Writing of Imaginative Fiction, is a guide to writing and marketing science fiction and fantasy by L. Sprague de Camp, "one of the earliest books about modern sf."Malcolm Edwards and John Clute. "[http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/de_camp_l_sprague de Camp, L Sprague]". The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction edited by John Clute, David Langford, Peter Nicholls and Graham Sleight. London: Gollancz, updated 6 May 2014. Web. Accessed 23 September 2014. The original edition was published in hardcover by Hermitage House in 1953 as a volume in its Professional Writers Library series. A revised edition, by L. Sprague de Camp and Catherine Crook de Camp, titled Science Fiction Handbook, Revised, was published in hardcover by Owlswick Press in 1975 and as a trade paperback by McGraw-Hill in 1977.{{cite book | last=Laughlin | first=Charlotte |author2=Daniel J. H. Levack | title=De Camp: An L. Sprague de Camp Bibliography | location=San Francisco | publisher=Underwood/Miller | pages=88–89 | year=1983}}{{isfdb title|id=102982|title=Science-Fiction Handbook}} An E-book version of the revised edition was published by Gollancz's SF Gateway imprint on April 30, 2014.[http://sfgateway.com/books/s/science-fiction-handbook/ Orion Publishing Group's entry for e-book edition][https://www.amazon.co.uk/Science-Fiction-Handbook-Catherine-Crook-Camp-ebook/dp/B00JDQE8N2 Amazon.com entry for e-book edition]
Summary
The book comprises a comprehensive guide explaining how to write and market science fiction and fantasy. Peripheral subjects such as lecturing and bookkeeping are also discussed, and a short history of the field of imaginative fiction is included. The revised version excised outdated material, updated the historical section, and added more information on the business and records-keeping end of being a writer.
Contents
| class="wikitable"
! Original edition (1953) ! Revised edition (1975) | |
| A Note on the Professional Writers Library | |
| Preface | Preface |
| The World of Imaginative Fiction | The World of Imaginative Fiction |
| The Origins of Imaginative Fiction | |
| Modern Imaginative Fiction | Modern Imaginative Fiction |
| Markets and Editors | Editors and Publishers |
| Readers and Fans | Readers and Writers |
| Writers of Imaginative Fiction | |
| Preparation for a Science-Fiction Career | Preparing for a Science-Fiction Career |
| Where do You Get Those Crazy Ideas? | Those Crazy Ideas |
| Plotting an Imaginative Story | Plotting an Imaginative Story |
| Writing an Imaginative Story | Writing an Imaginative Story |
| Selling an Imaginative Story | Selling an Imaginative Story |
| The Business Side of Writing | |
| Being an Imaginative-Fiction Writer | And When You Have Arrived |
| Notes | Notes |
| Bibliography | Bibliography |
| Index | Index |
Reception
Groff Conklin of Galaxy Science Fiction praised the book, stating that it was "Recommended even for people who don't want to write".{{Cite magazine
|last=Conklin
|first=Groff
|author=
|last2=
|first2=
|date=May 1954
|title=Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf
|department=
|url=https://archive.org/stream/galaxymagazine-1954-05/Galaxy_1954_05#page/n129/mode/2up
|magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction
|pages=129-133
|type=
}} Alexei and Cory Panshin praised the original edition as "a marvelous and ungainly book . . . a stewpot of everything De Camp could imagine a writer of SF needing to know." However, reviewing the revised edition, they declared that "A venerable classic has been consistently simplified, softened and trivialized" and concluded that what remained "was not adequate to the problems of writing contemporary SF.""Books", F&SF, July 1976, p.36 Malcolm Edwards and John Clute called it "a useful compendium of information and advice for aspiring writers in its original edition, [though] it gained little from its subsequent revision – indeed, the revised version omitted some material of interest."
Awards
In 2004 the original edition was among the nominees for the 1954 Retro-Hugo Award for Best Related Book.[http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1954-retro-hugo-awards/ 1954 Retro-Hugo Awards on the official Hugo Awards website]