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
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, explores the dangers and discoveries of 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, the story postulates a technique for dealing with asocial behavior by giving everyone an "analogue", a mental imprint of an authority figure that intervenes whenever violent or otherwise harmful acts are contemplated. The Long Tomorrow by Leigh Brackett, post-nuclear war society regresses to agrarian life, shunning technology.The Magellanic Cloud by Stanisław Lem, 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.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 in the classic Williamson tradition.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
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 and Godzilla Raids Again, both of which were based on story outlines by Kayama.The Secret of the Martian Moons by Donald A. Wollheim, playing world-class hide-and-seek with the Martians, a teenager believes he has found them... until the real Martians show up. Tunnel in the Sky by Robert A. Heinlein, 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
Awards
- They'd Rather Be Right by Mark Clifton and Frank Riley won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.