A Historical Survey of Canadian Science Fiction

This attempt to uncover a distinctive history of Canadian SF has led to the determination of three periods of development. A pioneer period, beginning with Napoleon Aubin’s Mon vovage á la lune (1839), ends around 1932. Various works influenced by the American utopian tradition and the British future-war tradition appeared in this time, but the most important title is James De Mille’s A Strange Manuscript Found in a Copper Cylinder (1888). A second period extending from 1932 until 1959 is particularly characterized by the number of Canadian-born writers who settled in the US. The most notable of these is A .E. van Vogt. A Canadian fanzine tradition was inaugurated in 1936. With the acceleration of SF production during the modern period, certain categories can be discerned: occasional works by well-known, mainstream Canadian writers, visions of Canada’s future. near-future political thrillers, and works by American and British-born writers now living in Canada. But the most significant contemporary figure—a writer born in Canada who continues to reside in Canada and who publishes superior SF regularly—is Phyllis Gotlieb. Some conclusions are drawn about the difficulties that Canadian SF has had in establishing itself and about the nature of the material that has appeared. Sources for further reference are described in a concluding section. (DK)

Art · History · Polar Research and Ecology · Utopian, Dystopian, and Speculative Fiction