The Archive · A decade in science fiction

1950s

Post-war optimism meets Cold War anxiety. The space race inspires grand visions of humanity among the stars.

1592 titles 482 authors

Defining themes

Social SF Space Opera First Contact Colonization Hard SF Psychic Powers Dystopia Post-Apocalyptic

Its notable voices

Stephen Marlowe Randall Garrett Robert Silverberg Bryce Walton Alan Edward Nourse H. Beam Piper Murray Leinster Winston K. Marks

The collection

The Soul Stealers

Cover of The Soul Stealers by Chester S. Geier

The Soul Stealers

Chester S. Geier · 1950

1 hr 4 min read

HorrorPsychic Powers

The Ultimate Quest

Cover of The Ultimate Quest by Hal Annas

The Ultimate Quest

Hal Annas · 1950

Post-ApocalypticSocial SF

The call from beyond

Cover of The call from beyond by Clifford D. Simak

The call from beyond

Clifford D. Simak · 1950

HorrorSpace Opera

The death crystal

Cover of The death crystal by George O. Smith

The death crystal

George O. Smith · 1950

Hard SFSpace Opera

The miniature menace

Cover of The miniature menace by Frank Belknap Long

The miniature menace

Frank Belknap Long · 1950

First ContactSpace Opera

The shades of Toffee

Cover of The shades of Toffee by Henry Farrell

The shades of Toffee

Henry Farrell · 1950

3 hr 59 min read

FantasySocial SF

Cover of The terror by Alfred Coppel

Alfred Coppel · 1950

First ContactPost-Apocalyptic

Cover of The vanishers by Arthur J. Burks

Arthur J. Burks · 1950

First ContactPost-Apocalyptic

The world-mover

Cover of The world-mover by George O. Smith

The world-mover

George O. Smith · 1950

1 hr 43 min read

Alternate HistoryHard SF

Tourists to Terra

Cover of Tourists to Terra by Mack Reynolds

Tourists to Terra

Mack Reynolds · 1950

First ContactSocial SF

Cover of Transfer Point by Anthony Boucher

Anthony Boucher · 1950

Post-ApocalypticTime Travel

Two worlds for one

Cover of Two worlds for one by George O. Smith

Two worlds for one

George O. Smith · 1950

DystopiaHard SF

Cover of Ultimatum by Roger D. Aycock

Roger D. Aycock · 1950

First ContactSocial SF

Unwelcome Tenant

Cover of Unwelcome Tenant by Roger D. Aycock

Unwelcome Tenant

Roger D. Aycock · 1950

First ContactPsychic Powers

Warrior-Maid of Mars

Cover of Warrior-Maid of Mars by Alfred Coppel

Warrior-Maid of Mars

Alfred Coppel · 1950

1 hr 8 min read

AdventureSpace Opera

Who Goes There?

Cover of Who Goes There? by Charles H. Davis

Who Goes There?

Charles H. Davis · 1950

First ContactSpace Opera

Wind in Her Hair

Cover of Wind in Her Hair by Kris Neville

Wind in Her Hair

Kris Neville · 1950

ColonizationSpace Opera

A Little Journey

Cover of A Little Journey by Ray Bradbury

A Little Journey

Ray Bradbury · 1951

Social SFSpace Opera

Cover of A Pail of Air by Fritz Leiber

Fritz Leiber · 1951

Hard SFPost-Apocalyptic

Cover of A World Apart by Sam Merwin

Sam Merwin · 1951

Absolutely no paradox

Cover of Absolutely no paradox by Lester Del Rey

Absolutely no paradox

Lester Del Rey · 1951

Cover of Ambition by William L. Bade

William L. Bade · 1951

An Eel by the Tail

Cover of An Eel by the Tail by Allen Kim Lang

An Eel by the Tail

Allen Kim Lang · 1951

And there was light

Cover of And there was light by Lester Del Rey

And there was light

Lester Del Rey · 1951

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