Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
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Grolier Electronic Publsihing

Reference/Literature

Ratings:

Thumbs up from New Media

3 1/2 stars from CD-ROM Today

4 stars (out of 4) from HomePC

From the dark side of the moon to the surface of the sun...from outer space to iner space to cyberspace...from pulp fiction to cyberpunk...nothing covers the vast world of sf like Grolier Science Fiction. Based on The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, the Hugo Award-winning book by John Clute and Peter Nicholls, this multimedia-rich CD-ROM features over 4,500 entries, hundreds of illustrations, photographs and movie clips, plus many exciting interactive features.

Explore 400 years of sf history with Time Machine, a hyperlinked, interactive timeline. Use Book Browser to take a closer look at I, Robot and Red Mars along with hundreds of other classic, award-winning sf books. Get to know your favorite authors through fascinating video interviews. Ideal for serious sf fans and novices alike, Grolier Science Fiction is the first multimedia "bible" of sf.

Requirements: Windows - IBM-compatible PC, 486DX or higher, 33 MHz or faster, Microsoft Windows 3.1 running DOS 5.0 or higher, 4MB RAM, 6MB free hard disk space, minimum 640x480x256 colors (SVGA), Windows-supported sound card and speakers, 300KB/sec or higher transfer rate for optimal video playback, Windows-supported mouse or pointing device.

Reviews:

Computer Gaming World, March 1996

"Most reference works on CD are tame, pale copies of their pulp brethren. This, however, is something special. It isn't as fully interactive as you might wish, but it cleverly uses hotlinks, photos and sound bites to place your favorite (and not-so-favorite) SF authors into prespective. The commentaries, from Peter Nicholls and John Clute, are even-handed, lucid and even entertaining. Every major literary work, from H.G. Wells (and before) to the vicissitudes of SF's New Age movement and beyond, are keenly examined. All in all, Grolier did a nice job balancing respect with valid criticisms of hundreds of science-fiction works, from books to film, TV and even comics. This collection is an indispensible reference for serious SF scholars, die-hard fans, or those who think that all science-fiction begins and ends with Star Wars and Star Trek."

New Media, January 2, 1996

"The creators know their audience and didn't skimp on the trivia, including orginal book-cover art and insightful videos of the authors expounding on topics such as time travel and aliens. Encyclopedia entries are hyperlinked with enough references to keep users chasing down 'fabulation' and 'virtual reality' tangents for hours. The women of science fiction are not relegated to the kitchen here either. Aside from annoying typos, users should thoroughly enjoy this disc."

CD-ROM Today, January 1996

"Who wrote the book on which the film Blade Runner is based? For whom is the Hugo award named, and why? What language does the word robot come from? The answers to these and thousands of other questions about science fiction are in Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopdeia of Science Fiction, one of this year's more interesting new CD reference works.

"Based on the Hugo award-winning genre bible by John Clute and Peter Nicholls, the Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction boasts 4,500 entries on everything from Jules Verne to bug-eyed monsters to Babylon 5. For the neophyte, video sequences introduce major science-fiction themes: time travel, life-forms, future technology, mind and spirit, and space. Hard-core fans will want to delve right into the wealth of text and graphics, which are accessible by a simple search engine."

"While the text is comprehensive, well informed, and sound in judgement, the disc's multimedia aspect is weaker than it shoud be...The interface also exhibits less imagination than it should."

"Despite its shortcomings, the Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is an addictive must-have for any fan."

Computer Shopper, February 1996

"This CD contains the complete text (more than 1.4 million words) of the original Hugo Award-winning 1993 edition of the Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, edited by John Clute and Peter Nicholls. The articles have been updated through the first quarter of last year, and Grolier has added book reviews, artwork, film clips, and audio and video clops of science-fiction writers discussing their work and related topics."

"One of the most powerful features of this modules lets you track your own book collection and add those titles that may not alread by listed."

HomePC, May 1996

"No science-fiction fact is too obscure for hard-core fans to wrestle over. Thankfully, if a dispute threatens to escalate to a battle of light sabers and phasers, diehards can now punch up The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, a tremendously satisfying multi-mediator.

"It's hard to imagine there's a science-fiction fan who hasn't dreamed of having a resource like this at his or her fingertips: The disc lets you scan thousands of entries from books, magazines, films and TV shows in seconds, unvcovering lore from every corner of the universe, and indexing facts by title, author/producer, theme and style."

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