The True History of Science Fiction Novels Part 1 - Mr. Sci-Fi Original Series 

At one time or another, I had 90% of the books with the same covers displayed on your bookshelf backdrop! Unfortnately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I lost 90% of those! Bottom line: your books made me feel at home in your library, and I'm looking forward to watching your series on the History of SF. Thank you for doing this.

This going to help me a lot with a story I been working for a tv series. Thanks Marc for your time and share your knowledge.

i always enjoyed reading the scifi novels from the 1930s and such, right now hunting a copy of "Cities in flight". eager for when i get to settle down and get started on building a personal library to cherish and enjoy in the family decades after im gone. Of course ill have a section of my own poetry and technoWizardry.

A wonderful tour of sci-fi history. Don't forget about all the works of Isaac Asimov, especially Foundation!

Hi sir. I just discovered your channel and these videos on the history of sci-fi books and they blew my mind! All the wealth of information, the gorgeous books and figurines behind you killed me because it's like being in a candy store! I just couldn't believe my eyes! You have an awesome, beautiful collection and I'm so jealous. Today, I found and ordered a lot of "vintage" books, particularly one with a beautiful cover of City with the robot on it. Sir, if I could trouble you to ask, what kind of plastic bags you used to protect your books (that is, any particular brand that won't stick to the covers over time)? Thanks for your time. LLAP!

OH WHY must you tease us with your awesome bookshelf!!

Great video!

Thank you, Marc. It will be good to see how this series develops.

For anyone interested, there is this show, The Venture Bro. which is comedy about the death of the space age. It was written by two people growing up reading science fiction, watching science fictions, and believeing in the space age. The shows larger theme is the death of the space age. It's smaller theme is bad parenting. It does have is a minor sub plot of Walt Disney trying to take over the world, which our host used the same theme in his first published work. It's free on Adult Swim, or you can watch it on hulu. For a show being a comedy, it takes it self very seriously. laughs, and very grim story. Funny thing is, it is often listed as one of the best TV shows ever made. Kind of weird for show you never heard of.

I'd love to have a browse at those shelves. I don't know anyone who reads or collects proper Sci Fi novels.

Sir, I forgot to ask you if you have seen the robot made of Phillip K. Dick which does highlight his beautiful, piercing blue eyes, like you said? It looks so real that it is spooky. Just like the face of the Mr. Spock figurine - it looks so much like Leonard that it's a bit disconcerting. Incredible!

Love these anecdotes, Marc.

Lensman was always my favorite. Julius Schwartz used that as the inspiration for The Green Lantern Corps. EDIT: Is that a Men Into Space lunchbox I see behind you? I LOVE that series. You've got a fantastic collection.

Thanks Marc. Just bought a set of H.G. Wells books for Kindle for less than $2. Looking forward to reading them

"A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" with this actress Keshia Knight Pulliam was great adaptation, underrated. Really great story and actors!!!

I think society in that sci fi era were more like curious, daydreaming about what’s out there . I don’t know if I should put it this way, folks were more in tune with themselves, more holistic.

This is brilliant, I'm really looking forward to the rest of this series. Thanks Marc!

If science fiction is reflective of an alternative society, then several earlier books exist UTOPIA, GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, and my favourite Cyrano de Bergerac's comedy STATES AND EMPIRES OF THE MOON

I've been reading sci-fi /fantasy for 45 plus years,this world would be a completely different place without these authors.They will always have a place in my heart.

What an education! Thanks!

Can't wait for Pt2.

The ending of The Time Machine redefined my life.

You are truly the Mr. Wizard of science fiction Marc!

what is your favorite filmed version of Frankenstein? I'm partial to Frankenstein the true story.

Hey Marc! Nice summation, but what keeps killing me is - there's not a book behind you that Ialso have in my own collection! Good stuff!

Mary Shelley was Mary Wollstencraft at the time but it should be pointed out she wasn't THE Mary Wollstencraft because that was her mother.

Fully agree that Wells was very influential in the creation of 'Sub-Genres'! Not to give away anything you may cover in future installments... but it could be argued his work jump-started the Post-Apocalyptic story!

I quite enjoy reading Science Fiction short stories from those old 30's magazines. Some of the stories are dated and don't hold up to well but others are not bad at all.

The Island Of Dr. Moreau -ended up as a really cursed movie project where everything that can go bad in the movie business got worse. There is a good documentary about the movie and Richard Stanley the guy who started the project (and got fired and a nervous breakdown) called "Lost Souls".

Marc, you should read Felix J. Palma's Victorian trilogy. The main character is HG. Wells. Great books! Begin with The Map of Time.

What about of continuation of "TIme Machine " story.

In a reprint of Issac asimovs foundation trilogy he says the original gnome press printings of the books cost about $50 each whereas now they would cost a grand each

I think with the Island of Doctor Moreau, themes of vivisection are often imposed upon it by the reader, but I think Wells' intention is that it is an allegory about theology and the amorality of the Judeo-Christian God, to create these creatures, impose upon them a system of rules that is not in their nature and then punish them for not being able to adhere to them even though you were the one that created them in the first place and be narcissistic enough to not see that as your own failing as a creator. The beastmen fear a "house of pain" where Moreau punishes transgressors and this clearly stands as an analogue for Hell. This interpretation is cemented when the narrator returns to London and sees his fellow humans as being not dissimilar from the beastmen on the island. This interpretation makes The Island of Doctor Moreau a forerunner to Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" series as being a humanist critique of religion.

Never read any Verne; I don’t remember ever seeing him on any bookstore or library shelf ever.

I see many old friends on your shelves sir, some I have not seen in decades. My first encounter with scifi was probably the Tom Swift series and Burroughs of course.Later graduating to the Grand Master and the Good Doctor. By the way is that a copy of the Red Planet over your head? If that is the movie version of Starship Troopers to your right, for shame sir, for shame.

First fiction, The Bible

Out of the big three Clarke was the best and out of the fathers Wells was the best these are facts not opinions