Peter Nicholls (writer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Nicholls is an Australia
n literary scholar and critic. He is the creator and a co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
(with John Clute
).
Born in Melbourne
, Victoria, he spent two decades (from 1968 to 1988) as an expatriate
, first in the US, and then the UK.
Nicholls' early career was as a literary academic, originally with The University of Melbourne. His significant contributions to science fiction
scholarship and criticism began in 1971, when he became the first Administrator of the Science Fiction Foundation
(UK), a position he held until 1977. He was editor of its journal, Foundation: The Review of Science Fiction from 1974-8.
In 1979, Nicholls edited The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
(published in the US as The Science Fiction Encyclopedia), with John Clute
as associate editor. Most of its 730 thousand words were written by Nicholls, Clute and two contributing editors. At the time, this was widely perceived as the most comprehensive and sophisticated critical survey of the entire science fiction field ever attempted. It won the 1980 Hugo Award
in the Nonfiction Book category. A completely revised, updated, and greatly expanded version of the Encyclopedia, co-edited with Clute, was published in 1993, and won the 1994 Hugo in the same category. A further updating of the work, with revisions and corrections, was later issued in CD-ROM format.
Nicholls' other major publications include the following: Science Fiction at Large (1976; reprinted 1978 under the title Explorations of the Marvellous), a collection of essays edited by Nicholls from a 1975 symposium; The Science in Science Fiction (1983) edited by Nicholls and written by him with David Langford
and Brian M. Stableford; and Fantastic Cinema (1984; published in the US as The World of Fantastic Films).
A film on his interest and work in science fiction, titled The What-If Man was completed.
Nicholls currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and his two youngest sons, Jack and Luke.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n literary scholar and critic. He is the creator and a co-editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is an English language reference work on science fiction.- Publication history :The first edition, edited by Peter Nicholls with John Clute and Brian Stableford appeared in 1979, published by Granada. It was retitled The Science Fiction Encyclopedia in the US...
(with John Clute
John Clute
John Frederick Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who has lived in Britain since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part of science fiction's history."...
).
Born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria, he spent two decades (from 1968 to 1988) as an expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
, first in the US, and then the UK.
Nicholls' early career was as a literary academic, originally with The University of Melbourne. His significant contributions to science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
scholarship and criticism began in 1971, when he became the first Administrator of the Science Fiction Foundation
Science Fiction Foundation
The Science Fiction Foundation is a Registered Charity established 1970 in England by George Hay and others. Its purpose is to "promote science fiction and bring together those who read, write, study, teach, research or archive science fiction in Britain and the rest of the world." Science fiction...
(UK), a position he held until 1977. He was editor of its journal, Foundation: The Review of Science Fiction from 1974-8.
In 1979, Nicholls edited The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction is an English language reference work on science fiction.- Publication history :The first edition, edited by Peter Nicholls with John Clute and Brian Stableford appeared in 1979, published by Granada. It was retitled The Science Fiction Encyclopedia in the US...
(published in the US as The Science Fiction Encyclopedia), with John Clute
John Clute
John Frederick Clute is a Canadian born author and critic who has lived in Britain since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part of science fiction's history."...
as associate editor. Most of its 730 thousand words were written by Nicholls, Clute and two contributing editors. At the time, this was widely perceived as the most comprehensive and sophisticated critical survey of the entire science fiction field ever attempted. It won the 1980 Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
in the Nonfiction Book category. A completely revised, updated, and greatly expanded version of the Encyclopedia, co-edited with Clute, was published in 1993, and won the 1994 Hugo in the same category. A further updating of the work, with revisions and corrections, was later issued in CD-ROM format.
Nicholls' other major publications include the following: Science Fiction at Large (1976; reprinted 1978 under the title Explorations of the Marvellous), a collection of essays edited by Nicholls from a 1975 symposium; The Science in Science Fiction (1983) edited by Nicholls and written by him with David Langford
David Langford
David Rowland Langford is a British author, editor and critic, largely active within the science fiction field. He publishes the science fiction fanzine and newsletter Ansible.-Personal background:...
and Brian M. Stableford; and Fantastic Cinema (1984; published in the US as The World of Fantastic Films).
A film on his interest and work in science fiction, titled The What-If Man was completed.
Nicholls currently lives in Melbourne with his wife and his two youngest sons, Jack and Luke.