AustLit

'Science fiction is popular in Australia. Yet very little science fiction is published in Australia. This essay establishes and examines the paradoxical truth of these two statements. Australian interest in science fiction is shown by reviewing local bookshops, authors, literary events and fan culture. The lack of Australian-published science fiction is shown by examining accounts of local publishing, sampling what is stocked in bookshops and surveying the output of publishing houses. The reasons for this lack are literary snobbishness, the success of the related genre of fantasy, and the importation of foreign-published science fiction.' (Publisher's abstract)