Edwardsville High School Media Center
Mystery and Science Fiction Resources

This is a list of major reference sets and resources for mystery, science fiction, fantasy and horror. Most of these items are in the Reference Collection. The Reference Collection is located on the top level of the Media Center. At the end of this list are Dewey Classification numbers, which will point you to relevant areas of the collection. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask at the Circulation Desk.

General Literature Resources

Encyclopedia of World Literature in the 20th Century R 808.8 ENC

Information on authors, subjects, and theory are arranged alphabetically

Twentieth Century Literary Criticism R 809 GAL

Index arranged by title instead of author.

*Beacham’s Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction R 809.3 BEA

Biographies and analysis of great writers and their most famous works. Works are restricted to the 20th century. Books are indexed by title, and arranged by analysis and biographical information. Arranged in alphabetical order.

*Magill Critical Survey of Long Fiction R 809.3 CRI

Analysis of novels and epics published in languages other than English.

Popular World Fiction 1900-Present (1987) R 809.3 POP

Arranged Alphabetically by author. Contains extensive analysis of major works.

Great Writers of the English Language R 820.9 GRE

Moulton’s Library of Literary Criticism R 820.9 MOU

English and American Authors through the beginning of the twentieth century.

*Magill Critical Survey of Long Fiction R 832.09 CRI

Wide ranging analysis of English language novels and epics.

Dictionary of Literary Biography R 920 BRU

*Something About the Author R 920 COM

Specializes in authors and illustrators of children and adolescent literature.

*Contemporary Authors R 920 CON

Covers the entire spectrum of twentieth century writers. This set has several cumulative indexes to help in locating information. Indexes have bands of green tape on the spine.

Contemporary Authors Revised Edition R 920 CON

Updates information given in the Contemporary Authors set.

*Authors and Artists for Young Adults R 920.03 AUT

Geared more toward authors popular among high school and middle school students such as Stephen King and Richard Peck. Very good information in an easy to use format. Last volume has a cumulative index.

American Literature

American Writers Before 1800 R 810.9 AME

A biographical and critical dictionary. Arranged Alphabetically

Magill’s Survey of American Literature R 810.9 MAG

Beacham’s Popular Fiction in America R 813.5 BEA

Biographical information and literary analysis on American authors. Arranged alphabetically.

American Authors 1600-1900 R 920.03 KUN

One volume reference book.

American Writers R 920.03 AME

Includes extensive information in to American Writers such as William S. Burroughs, Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald

British Literature

*British Writers R 920.03 BRI

Includes extensive information on top British writers such as P.G. Wodehouse and George Orwell.

British Authors Before 1800 R 920.03 KUN

One volume reference book.

British Authors of the 19th Century R 920.03 KUN

One Volume reference book on authors the British Empire.

European Authors 1000-1900 R 920.03 KUN

One volume reference book.

On-Line Resouces

The Linköping Science Fiction & Fantasy Archive

http://sf.www.lysator.liu.se/sf_archive/

Science Fiction Crowsnest

http://www.computercrowsnest.com/

Science Fiction

Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction R 016.808 ANA

Anatomy of Wonder: Science Fiction R 016.8083 BAR

Bibliographic Guide for Science Fiction

The New Encyclopedia of Science Fiction R 700 NEW

Twentieth Century Science-Fiction Writers R 823.08 TWE

R 808.8 GRA

Mystery and Detective Fiction

Oxford Companion to Crime and Mystery Writing R 809.3872 HER

Short synopsis of every aspect of crime and mystery writing. Good place to get initial information.

Writers of Mystery and Suspense R820.9 GRE

Extensive resource for Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe, Wilkie Collins, and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Fantasy Fiction
Horror Fiction
Specialty Texts

Oxford Book of Villains R 808.8 OXF

Encyclopedia of Villains and their parts in literary works.

Imaginary People R 809 PRI

Who’s who of modern fictional characters, their origins and their creators.

Literary Theory and Almanacs

Literature: The New York Public Library Book of Answers R 800 COR

Dictionary of Literary Terms R 803 SHA

Dewey Ranges for Literature

These are areas in the collection that may contain sources relevant to your research.

PB Paperbacks

800 Literature

926 Science and Technology Biographies

927 Entertainment, Music, Film, and Sports Biographies

928 Author and Literature Biographies

F Fiction

SC Story Collections

* General literature resources that will be particularly helpful.