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Australian Science Fiction
Australia, unlike Europe, does not have a long history in the genre of science fiction. Nevil Shute's '' On the Beach'', published in 1957, and filmed in 1959, was perhaps the first notable international success. Though not born in Australia, Shute spent his latter years there, and the book was set in Australia. It might have been worse had the imports of American pulp magazines not been restricted during World War II, forcing local writers into the field. Various compilation magazines began appearing in the 1960s and the field has continued to expand into some significance. Today Australia has a thriving SF/Fantasy genre with names recognised around the world. In 2013 a trilogy by Sydney-born Ben Peek was sold at auction to a UK publisher for a six-figure deal . History Early (pre-Second World War) Australian science fiction was often what today one could consider racist and xenophobic, fueled by contemporary worries about invasion and foreigners (see White Australia policy). B ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nevil Shute
Nevil Shute Norway (17 January 189912 January 1960) was an English novelist and aeronautical engineer who spent his later years in Australia. He used his full name in his engineering career and Nevil Shute as his pen name, in order to protect his engineering career from inferences by his employers (Vickers) or from fellow engineers that he was '"not a serious person" or from potentially adverse publicity in connection with his novels, which included '' On the Beach'' and ''A Town Like Alice''. Early life Shute was born in Somerset Road, Ealing (which was then in Middlesex), in the house described in his novel '' Trustee from the Toolroom''. He was educated at the Dragon School, Shrewsbury School and Balliol College, Oxford; he graduated from Oxford in 1922 with a third-class degree in engineering science. Shute's father, Arthur Hamilton Norway, became head of the Post Office in Ireland before the First World War and was based at the General Post Office, Dublin in 1916 at the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Katherine
Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and Catherina, other variations are feminine Given name, names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christian era it came to be associated with the Greek adjective (), meaning "pure", leading to the alternative spellings ''Katharine'' and ''Katherine''. The former spelling, with a middle ''a'', was more common in the past and is currently more popular in the United States than in United Kingdom, Britain. ''Katherine'', with a middle ''e'', was first recorded in England in 1196 after being brought back from the Crusades. Popularity and variations English In Britain and the U.S., ''Catherine'' and its variants have been among the 100 most popular names since 1880. The most common variants are ''Katherine,'' ''Kathryn,'' and ''Katharine''. The spelling ''Catherine'' is common in both English and French language, French ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wynne Whiteford
Wynne is a surname of Welsh origin. This is a list of notable people with the surname, sorted by profession: Art, literature, and music *Bill Wynne (1922–2021), American photographer and writer *David Wynne (composer) (1900–83), Welsh composer *David Wynne (sculptor) (born 1926), British sculptor *Frank Wynne (born 1962), Irish translator and writer *Ed Wynne (born 1961), British musician and son of sculptor David Wynne * Ed Wynne (saxophonist), musician with the Doobie Brothers *Gladys Wynne, Irish watercolour artist *Giustiniana Wynne (1737–1791), Anglo-Venetian author, A.K.A Countess Orsini-Rosenberg of Austria *Madeline Yale Wynne (1847−1918), American artist, teacher, and philanthropist *Michael Wynne (playwright), British playwright *Philippé Wynne (1941–84), American R&B vocalist Athletes *Ian Wynne (born 1973), British flatwater canoeist * John Wynne (ice hockey) (born 1971), Canadian ice hockey defenceman *Marvell Wynne (baseball player) (born 19 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Russell Blackford
Russell Blackford (born 1954) is an Australian writer, philosopher, and literary critic. Early life and education Blackford was born in Sydney, and grew up in the city of Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle, New South Wales. After graduating with first-class honours degrees in both arts and law from the University of Newcastle and University of Melbourne respectively, Blackford was awarded a PhD in English literature, also from Newcastle, on the return to myth in modern fictional narrative (as postulated by Northrop Frye). He completed a Master of Bioethics at Monash University and was awarded a second PhD, in philosophy (also from Monash), for a thesis entitled "The philosophy of human enhancement". His supervisor was Justin Oakley. Career As a fiction writer, Blackford specialises in science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. His work includes four novels published by iBooks, three of them forming an original trilogy (The New John Connor Chronicles) set in the world of the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
David Lake (writer)
David John Lake (26 March 1929 – 31 January 2016) was an Indian-born Australian science fiction writer, poet, and literary critic. He wrote as David Lake and David J. Lake. Life Born in Bangalore, India 26 March 1929, India, Lake received a List of alumni of Jesuit educational institutions, Jesuit education at St. Xavier's School in Calcutta (1940–44). He was originally a citizen of the United Kingdom, where he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 1952, and his Master of Arts (Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin), Master of Arts in 1956. He went on to study at University College of North Wales, where he was awarded a diploma in linguistics in 1965, and studied at the University of Queensland (PhD, 1974). He moved to Australia in 1967, and became a naturalized Australian citizen in 1975. David Lake died from a lung infection in Brisbane, Australia, on 31 January 2016. Literary career Lake began his writing career as a literary critic, and in th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Paul Collins (fantasy Writer)
Paul Collins (born 21 May 1954) is an Australian writer and editor who specializes in science fiction and fantasy. Collins has written many books for younger readers. He is best known for his fantasy series, The Jelindel Chronicles' (''Dragonlinks'', ''Dragonfang,'' ''Dragonsight'' and ''Wardragon''), and ' (''Swords of Quentaris'', ''Slaves of Quentaris'', ''Dragonlords of Quentaris'', Vampires of Quentaris, ''Princess of Shadows'', ''The Forgotten Prince'' and ''The Spell of Undoing''), and his science fiction series, The Maximus Black Files(Mole Hunt, Dyson's Drop'' and ''The Only Game in the Galaxy)''. Paul's latest fantasy books, written in collaboration with Sean McMullen, are six titles in ''The Warlock's Child'' series: ''The Burning Sea, Dragonfall Mountain, The Iron Claw, Trial by Dragons, Voyage to Morticas'' and ''The Guardians'.'' In addition to his novels, Collins has written over a hundred chapter books, around thirty non-fiction hardcovers for the education mar ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a metropolitan area known as Greater Melbourne, comprising an urban agglomeration of 31 local municipalities, although the name is also used specifically for the local municipality of City of Melbourne based around its central business area. The metropolis occupies much of the northern and eastern coastlines of Port Phillip Bay and spreads into the Mornington Peninsula, part of West Gippsland, as well as the hinterlands towards the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong and Macedon Ranges. It has a population over 5 million (19% of the population of Australia, as per 2021 census), mostly residing to the east side of the city centre, and its inhabitants are commonly referred to as "Melburnians". The area of Melbourne has been home to Aboriginal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
33rd World Science Fiction Convention
The 33rd World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as Aussiecon, or Aussiecon One, was held on 14–17 August 1975 at the Southern Cross Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. The chairman was Robin Johnson. Aussiecon was significant in the development of cohesive Australian activity around science fiction and fantasy fandom. Participants Attendance was 606. Guests of Honour * Ursula K. Le Guin (pro) * Susan Wood (fan) * Mike Glicksohn (fan) * Donald Tuck (Australian) * John Bangsund (toastmaster) Awards 1975 Hugo Awards * Best Novel: ''The Dispossessed'' by Ursula K. Le Guin * Best Novella: "A Song for Lya" by George R. R. Martin * Best Novelette: " Adrift Just Off the Islets of Langerhans: Latitude 38° 54′ N, Longitude 77° 00′ 13″ W" by Harlan Ellison * Best Short Story: " The Hole Man" by Larry Niven * Best Dramatic Presentation: ''Young Frankenstein'' * Best Professional Editor: Ben Bova * Best Professional Art ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World Science Fiction Convention
Worldcon, or more formally the World Science Fiction Convention, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), is a science fiction convention. It has been held each year since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, during World War II). The members of each Worldcon are the members of WSFS, and vote both to select the site of the Worldcon two years later, and to select the winners of the annual Hugo Awards, which are presented at each convention. Activities Activities and events at the convention typically include (but are not limited to): * Activities to fund fan and external charities ( fan funds auctions, blood drives, etc.). * Art shows presenting paintings, drawings, sculpture and other work, primarily concerning science fiction and fantasy themes. * Autographing sessions, literary beer or coffee meetings, "Walks with the Stars", and other chances to meet favorite science fiction and fantasy professionals. *Awards ceremonies: ** Hugo Awards, Astoundi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ditmar Awards
The Ditmar Award (formally the Australian SF ("Ditmar") Award; formerly the "Australian Science Fiction Achievement Award") has been awarded annually since 1969 at the Australian National Science Fiction Convention (the "Natcon") to recognise achievement in Australian science fiction (including fantasy and horror) and science fiction fandom Science fiction fandom or SF fandom is a community or fandom of people interested in science fiction in contact with one another based upon that interest. SF fandom has a life of its own, but not much in the way of formal organization (although .... The award is similar to the Hugo Award but on a national rather than international scale. They are named for Martin James Ditmar "Dick" Jenssen, an Australian fan and artist, who financially supported the awards at their inception. The current rules for the award (which had for many years been specified only in the minimalist "Jack Herman constitution") were developed in 2000 and 2001 as ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Science-fiction
Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel universes, extraterrestrial life, sentient artificial intelligence, cybernetics, certain forms of immortality (like mind uploading), and the singularity. Science fiction predicted several existing inventions, such as the atomic bomb, robots, and borazon, whose names entirely match their fictional predecessors. In addition, science fiction might serve as an outlet to facilitate future scientific and technological innovations. Science fiction can trace its roots to ancient mythology. It is also related to fantasy, horror, and superhero fiction and contains many subgenres. Its exact definition has long been disputed among authors, critics, scholars, and readers. Science fiction, in literature, film, television, and other media, has become po ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, sixth-largest country. Australia is the oldest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent, with the least fertile soils. It is a Megadiverse countries, megadiverse country, and its size gives it a wide variety of landscapes and climates, with Deserts of Australia, deserts in the centre, tropical Forests of Australia, rainforests in the north-east, and List of mountains in Australia, mountain ranges in the south-east. The ancestors of Aboriginal Australians began arriving from south east Asia approximately Early human migrations#Nearby Oceania, 65,000 years ago, during the Last Glacial Period, last i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
