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

Man in a Sewing Machine

Cover of Man in a Sewing Machine by Jr. L. J. Stecher

Man in a Sewing Machine

Jr. L. J. Stecher · 1956

Military SFSpace Opera

Man of Distinction

Cover of Man of Distinction by Michael Shaara

Man of Distinction

Michael Shaara · 1956

Meeting at the Summit

Cover of Meeting at the Summit by Ivar Jorgensen

Meeting at the Summit

Ivar Jorgensen · 1956

DystopiaSocial SF

Mezzerow Loves Company

Cover of Mezzerow Loves Company by F. L. Wallace

Mezzerow Loves Company

F. L. Wallace · 1956

First ContactSocial SF

Mr. Chipfellow's Jackpot

Cover of Mr. Chipfellow's Jackpot by Dick Purcell

Mr. Chipfellow's Jackpot

Dick Purcell · 1956

Social SFSpace Opera

Mr. Replogle's dream

Cover of Mr. Replogle's dream by Evelyn E. Smith

Mr. Replogle's dream

Evelyn E. Smith · 1956

Artificial IntelligenceSocial SF

My sweetheart's the Man in the Moon

Cover of My sweetheart's the Man in the Moon by Stephen Marlowe

My sweetheart's the Man in the Moon

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

Hard SFSpace Opera

Mystery at Mesa Flat

Cover of Mystery at Mesa Flat by Ivar Jorgensen

Mystery at Mesa Flat

Ivar Jorgensen · 1956

First ContactSocial SF

Name Your Symptom

Cover of Name Your Symptom by Jim Harmon

Name Your Symptom

Jim Harmon · 1956

DystopiaSocial SF

Nothing But the Best

Cover of Nothing But the Best by Alan Cogan

Nothing But the Best

Alan Cogan · 1956

Alternate HistorySocial SF

Of All Possible Worlds

Cover of Of All Possible Worlds by William Tenn

Of All Possible Worlds

William Tenn · 1956

Social SFTime Travel

Of Time and Texas

Cover of Of Time and Texas by William F. Nolan

Of Time and Texas

William F. Nolan · 1956

Social SFTime Travel

Cover of PRoblem by Alan Edward Nourse

Alan Edward Nourse · 1956

Hard SFSocial SF

Peter Merton's private mint

Cover of Peter Merton's private mint by Harlan Ellison

Peter Merton's private mint

Harlan Ellison · 1956

Hard SFSocial SF

Cover of Plague Ship by Andre Norton

Andre Norton · 1956

3 hr 44 min read

ColonizationSpace Opera

Cover of Planet of Doom by Stephen Marlowe

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

AdventureSpace Opera

Point of Departure

Cover of Point of Departure by Vaughan Shelton

Point of Departure

Vaughan Shelton · 1956

Hard SFSpace Opera

Police Your Planet

Cover of Police Your Planet by Lester Del Rey

Police Your Planet

Lester Del Rey · 1956

2 hr 58 min read

ColonizationSocial SF

Political Application

Cover of Political Application by John Victor Peterson

Political Application

John Victor Peterson · 1956

Psychic PowersSocial SF

Prison of a Billion Years

Cover of Prison of a Billion Years by Stephen Marlowe

Prison of a Billion Years

Stephen Marlowe · 1956

Space OperaTime Travel

Cover of Project Hi-Psi by Frank Riley

Frank Riley · 1956

1 hr 55 min read

First ContactPsychic Powers

Cover of Rattle OK by Harry Warner

Harry Warner · 1956

Social SFTime Travel

Cover of Rebuttal by Betsy Curtis

Betsy Curtis · 1956

Hard SFSocial SF

Cover of Reject by John Johnson

John Johnson · 1956

DystopiaSocial SF

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