The four volumes of this encyclopedia provide descriptions of hundreds of famous and well-regarded works of science fiction and fantasy, summarizing plots and analyzing the works in terms of their contributions to literature and the effectiveness of various literary devices employed. Has a fabulous “Genre” Index; a “Title” Index; and an “Author with Title(s)” Index.

The “Introduction” gives a very nice overview of the histories of these genres, especially their definitions. The basic information covered for each author is: biographical data; comments on important works; statement on historical position; evaluation; and bibliography. The lengthy index has both authors and their works.

This source offers a survey of more than 270 noteworthy authors in the genre in a convenient and informative format. Articles are 2,500 words in length, with longer articles devoted to major figures. Areas covered include “Contribution”, “Biography”, & “Analysis”. Authors selected for the set fall into three groups: 1) authors known primarily for their work in the genre such as Christie; 2) writers who made essential contributions to the initial development of the genre, such as Poe; 3) authors whose primary accomplishments were in other genres but who also contributed to the mystery/detective genre, such as Dostoevski. Significant authors from Europe, Russia, and the U.S. are included. Indexes include: “Type of Plot”, “Character”, and “Author/Works”.

This encyclopedia has 2800 entries and is well cross-referenced. It covers authors, themes, films, magazines, editors, critics, illustrators, film-makers, publishers, pseudonyms, series, television programs, original anthologies, comics, sci-fi in various countries, terminology, awards, fanzines and a small collection of miscellanies. There is a “Checklist of Themes” at the beginning.

Provides biographical, critical, and bibliographical information on “the twelve most significant writers of horror fiction from the late 18^th C. to the end of the 19^th C.” The authors included are: Ambrose Bierce; Charles Brockden Brown; Henry James; Joseph Sheridan LeFanu; Matthew Gregory Lewis; Charles Robert Maturin; Edgar Allan Poe; Ann Radcliffe; Mary Shelley; Robert Louis Stevenson; Bram Stoker; and Horace Walpole.

Avoiding “pure” fantasy fiction, this encyclopedia concentrates on “those types of fiction which may be labeled as horror novels, dark fantasies, ghost stories, gothic novels, tales of terror, supernatural fictions, occult fantasies, black-magic stories, psychological thrillers, tales of unease, grand-guignol shockers, creepy stories, shudder-pulp fiction, contes cruels, macabre fictions and weird tales”. This source provides biographical, critical, and bibliographic information.