The Special Collections holds various materials for science fiction research. Many different formats comprise our various collections dedicated to science fiction and fantasy, including hardback and softback books, manuscripts, personal papers, major holdings of fanzines and pulp magazines, comic books, posters, and artwork. Researches include those who seek to understand the future.
To learn more about science fiction in general, the origins of sci fi pulp fiction, the sci fi community, fanzines, and notable sci fi authors, see our Science Fiction Pulps & Fanzines online exhibit.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Books
The Azriel Rosenfeld Science Fiction Book Collection contains hardback and softback books, including many first editions by significant writes such as Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Harlan Ellison, Ursula LeGuin, and Brian Daly.
Science Fiction & Fantasy Fanzines
The Coslet-Sapienza Fantasy and Science Fiction Fanzine Collection contains tens of thousands of amateur press sci fi and fantasy magazines (fanzines) from 1937-1972. Learn more…
What are fanzines?
- For a more in depth explanation, see the 2018 UMBC Co-Lab online exhibit
Science Fiction & Fantasy Pulps
Our holdings of “pulps,” magazines printed on cheaper, wood pulp paper, includes substantial holdings of famous titles from the genre from the 19th century to the present day, including: Amazing/Analog, Thrilling Wonder Stories, Weird Tales among others and more ephemeral titles like Comet, Rocket Stories and Satellite Science Fiction. Learn more…
What are pulps?
- For a more in depth explanation, see Jess Nevins’ Primer on the Pulps
Science Fiction & Fantasy Literary Manuscripts
The literary manuscripts collections at UMBC include manuscripts, galley and page proofs and other pre-publication materials, primarily by science fiction and fantasy authors. Some personal papers may be included. Related materials in the Azriel Rosenfeld Science Fiction Research Collection include science fiction and fantasy pulps, comics, fanzines, and published works.
David F. Bischoff papers, Collection 7
Brian C. Daley papers, Collection 26
Thomas F. Monteleone papers, Collection 28
Stephen Tall papers, Collection 36, Special Collections
Joseph L. Sanders correspondence, Collection 92
A. Bertram Chandler manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 169
Robert Chilson manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 172
Isaac Asimov manuscripts, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 173
Roger Zelazny Papers, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 174
Gerard F. Conway manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 175
Gordon R. Dickson manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 176
John K. Diomede manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 179
Herbert Franke manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 180
M. A. Foster manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 181
Raymond Z. Gallun manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 182
Joseph Green manuscripts, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 183
Charles L. Harness papers, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 184
Michael Kurland manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 185
John Norman manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 186
Frederik Pohl manuscripts, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 187
John Rackham manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 188
Cecil Snyder III manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 189
Brian Stableford manuscripts, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 190
Louis Trimble manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 191
E. C. Tubb manuscripts, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 192
William Walling manuscript, Science Fiction Literary Manuscripts, Collection 193
Comics
UMBC’s Special Collections holds over 6,500 comic books, featuring a variety of genres, from superhero comics to underground comix, from the 1960s to the present. Search, browse, and learn more…
What kinds of comics do we have?