Since the days of Jules Verne and H. G. Wells, science fiction has not just helped shape more than a century of literature, but has reached well beyond fictional realms to influence our perspectives on culture, science and technology. Ideas like electric cars, space travel and forms of advanced communication comparable to today's cell phone all first found their way into the public's awareness through science fiction. While entertaining us, science fiction has allowed us to dream of a better world by creating visions of future societies without prejudice or war. Dystopias, too, like Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, have allowed writers to comment on injustice and dangers to democracy. Today, science fiction continues to ask "what if?" about such important topics as global warming, energy dependence and the uses of our modern technology.

No other form of literature has been so relevant to our present yet been so filled with visionary and transcendent moments. Until now there has been no definitive and complete collection that truly captured the global influence and significance of this dynamic genre. Encompassing hard science fiction, soft (social) science fiction, space opera, alternative history, apocalyptic stories, tales of alien encounters, near-future dystopia, far-future myths and a host of other modes, 'The Big Book of Science Fiction' brings together authors from all over the world and from both the genre and literary ends of the spectrum. It is a must have for any science fiction fan.