1955 in science fiction

The year 1955 was marked, in science fiction, by the following events.

Births and deaths

Births Catherine Asaro Bruce Bethke Pierre Bordage Steven Brust Sue Burke Richard Chwedyk Massimo Citi Brenda Clough Julie E. Czerneda Jeffrey Ford James Alan Gardner Steven Gould Simon R. Green Karen Haber Geoffrey Landis Paul J. McAuley Pat Murphy Richard Parks Nisi Shawl Jack Skillingstead Suzanne Weyn

Deaths Nat Schachner (b. 1895)

Literary releases

First editions Address: Centauri by F. L. Wallace, a group of disabled outcasts escape to Alpha Centauri and encounter butterfly-like aliens. Alien Minds by E. Everett Evans, a secret service agent has the ability to read minds. The Big Jump by Leigh Brackett, about humanity's first faster-than-light space mission. The Chrysalids by John Wyndham, set in a post-apocalyptic world where telepathic children must hide their abilities. Earthlight by Arthur C. Clarke, centers on political tensions and a scientific mystery on the Moon. The End of Eternity by Isaac Asimov, time manipulators struggle with the ethical implications of altering history. Gladiator-At-Law by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth, critiques corporate control and social inequality in a future society. Hell's Pavement by Damon Knight, about dealing with asocial behavior by giving everyone a mental imprint of an authority figure that intervenes whenever violent or otherwise harmful acts are contemplated.See also bicameral mind. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett, post-nuclear war society regresses to agrarian life, shunning technology. The Magellanic Cloud by Stanisław Lem (in Polish), depicts a space expedition and the challenges of interstellar travel. Not This August by C. M. Kornbluth, explores a Cold War scenario where the U.S. is occupied by Soviet forces. The Other Side of Here by Murray Leinster, tells the story of an invasion from the fourth dimension, foiled by an insurrection against the invaders' home government.Originally serialized in Astounding Stories in 1936. Revolt on Alpha C by Robert Silverberg, colonists on a distant planet rebel against an oppressive government. Solar Lottery by Philip K. Dick, a dystopian future where leaders are chosen by random lottery and face constant assassination threats. Star Bridge by Jack Williamson and James E. Gunn, an adventure story. Star Guard by Andre Norton, mercenaries from Earth serve alien civilizations in a galactic federation. This Fortress World by James E. Gunn, concerns a man's fight against the power of a future church. Timeliner by Charles Eric Maine, a scientist travels forward in time by repeatedly replacing the consciousness of other men. Under the Triple Suns by Stanton A. Coblentz, the survivors of the destruction of the earth attempt to settle a new planet.

Short stories "The Star" by Arthur C. Clarke, Infinity Science Fiction (November).

Short story collections The Martian Way and Other Stories by Isaac Asimov.

Juveniles Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by , a novelization of the first two films in the Godzilla franchise produced by Toho, Godzilla (1954) and Godzilla Raids Again (1955), both of which were based on story outlines by Kayama. The Secret of the Martian Moons by Donald A. Wollheim (juvenile), a Teenager believes to have found Martians Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein (juvenile), students must survive on a hostile planet after a survival test goes wrong.

Children's books Mission to Mars by Patrick Moore, a young man joins a rescue mission to Mars, saves a stranded expedition, and encounters intelligent alien creatures.

Movies

Title Director Cast Country Subgenre/NotesThe Beast with a Million EyesDavid KramarskyPaul Birch, Lorna Thayer, Dona Cole, Dick SargentUnited StatesHorror Uncredited. There is no hint of other directors on the reel, on air or on AMC TV. Co-directed by Lou Place and Roger Corman.Bride of the MonsterEdward D. Wood Jr.Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, Tony McCoy, Loretta KingUnited StatesHorrorCreature with the Atom BrainEdward L. CahnRichard Denning, Angela Greene, S. John LaunerUnited StatesCrime Horror Thriller Conquest of SpaceByron HaskinWalter Brooke, Eric Fleming, Mickey ShaughnessyUnited StatesThe Phantom from 10,000 LeaguesDan MilnerKent Taylor, Cathy Downs, Michael WhalenUnited StatesHorrorDay the World EndedRoger CormanRichard Denning, Lori Nelson, Paul Birch, Touch ConnorsUnited StatesHorrorGodzilla Raids Again (a.k.a. Gigantis, the Fire Monster)Motoyoshi OdaHiroshi Koizumi, Minoru Chiaki JapanHorror Kaijū (released in U.S. in 1959)It Came from Beneath the SeaRobert GordonKenneth Tobey, Faith Domergue, Donald CurtisUnited StatesHorror Journey to the Beginning of TimeKarel ZemanJosef Lukáš, Petr Herrmann, Zdeněk Husták, Vladimír BejvalCzechoslovakiaDinosaurs King DinosaurBert I. GordonJosef Lukáš, Petr Herrmann, Zdeněk Husták, Vladimír BejvalUnited StatesAdventure Half HumanIshirō HondaAkira Takarada, Akemi NegishiJapanHorror. Japanese version. See 1958 for USA versionThe Quatermass Xperiment Val GuestBrian Donlevy, Jack Warner, Richard Wordsworth, Margia DeanUnited KingdomHorror U.S. title: The Creeping Unknown.Revenge of the CreatureJack ArnoldJohn Agar, Lori Nelson, John Bromfield, Nestor PaivaUnited StatesHorrorTarantulaJack ArnoldJohn Agar, Mara Corday, Leo G. Carroll, Nestor PaivaUnited StatesHorrorThis Island EarthJack Arnold, Joseph NewmanJeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, Rex ReasonUnited StatesHorror MysteryTimeslip (a.k.a. The Atomic Man (USA))Ken HughesGene Nelson, Faith DomergueUnited Kingdom

Awards

They'd Rather Be Right (also known as The Forever Machine) by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.

See also 1955 in science

Notes

References