- Canadian science fiction
A strong element in contemporary Canadian culture is rich, diverse thoughtful and witty
science fiction .History of Canadian science fiction
Like many aspects of Canadian culture, Canadian science fiction emerged from a variety of isolated sources, including
A. E. van Vogt , the fantasy works ofJohn Buchan , the poetry ofPhyllis Gotlieb , and a handful of other writers. Political upheavel in the United States brought such talents asSpider Robinson andJudith Merril .In 1973, the
World Science Fiction Convention was held again inToronto , bringing a new generation of interest to writers likeJudith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens . This led to a range of activities and interest in the genre. Merril began hosting quarterly gatherings of authors in a loose group called "Toronto Hydra", a tradition she had brought from the New York SF community.In the early 1980s, the Ontario Science Fiction Club was set up by
Robert J. Sawyer , while theBunch of Seven became the first known science fiction writing circle in Canada, helping the success of authors likeS.M. Stirling andTanya Huff , which later led to the Cecil Street Irregulars that included writers likeCory Doctorow .Charles de Lint and thenGuy Gavriel Kay became notable for using Canadian settings in science fiction and fantasy, andWilliam Gibson pioneered thecyberpunk subgenre with his novel "Neuromancer ".In Quebec,
Élisabeth Vonarburg and other authors developed a related tradition of French-Canadian SF. The [http://www.congresboreal.ca/prix.htm Prix Boreal] was established in 1979 to honour Canadian science fiction works in French. TheAurora Award s (briefly preceded by the Casper Award) were founded in 1980 to recognize and promote the best works of Canadian science fiction in both French and English.Regular annual science fiction conventions, notably Ad Astra, brought fans and writers together to further broaden awareness and appreciation of science fiction literature in Canada.
By the 1990s, Canadian science fiction was well established and internationally recognized; mainstream authors such as
Margaret Atwood began including SF in their repertoire.The
Canadian Broadcasting Company began producing science fiction as early as the 1950s. CTV producedThe Starlost at the CFTO studios in Scarborough. In the early 1990s, Toronto and Vancouver became prominent centres of television and film production, with shows likeForever Knight andRobocop , thenThe X-Files raised the profile of Canadian science fiction television much higher. By the late 1990s, a significant fraction of science fiction and fantasy on television was produced in Canada. In the early 2000s, due to changes in tax laws, production companies shifted much of their operations from Toronto to Vancouver.Canadian science fiction authors
Some of the most famous Canadian writers of science fiction include
Margaret Atwood ,John Clute ,Charles de Lint ,James Alan Gardner ,William Gibson ,Ed Greenwood ,Tanya Huff ,H.L. Gold ,Nalo Hopkinson ,Guy Gavriel Kay ,Judith Merril ,Spider Robinson ,Robert J. Sawyer ,Karl Schroeder ,Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens andA. E. van Vogt .Canadian science fiction in film and television
Some of the most popular science fiction movies and TV shows seen around the world are made primarily or entirely in
Vancouver orToronto , often calledHollywood North , or elsewhere in Canada.Quebec also produces shows in French. Canadian studios also produced a large volume of animation, notably specializing in 3D animation.Canadian science fiction films of note include:
*eXistenZ
* Cube
* Nothing
* Johnny Mnemonic
*Scanners
* Screamers (1995)
* Last NightAwards
* [http://www.prix-aurora-awards.ca/ Prix Aurora Awards] -- Canadian science fiction novels (English and French), administered by the Canadian Science Fiction & Fantasy Association
* [http://www.congresboreal.ca/prix.htm Prix Boréal] - Canadian science fiction awards for works in French
* [http://www.sunburstaward.org/ Sunburst Award] - annual juried award for Canadian speculative fiction novel in two categories: adult and young adult
* [http://constellations.tcon.ca/ Constellation Award] - given to actors, writers, and technical artists for excellence in science fiction film and television, as selected by the Canadian viewing publicExternal links
* [http://www.sfcanada.ca/ SF Canada]
* [http://www.geocities.com/canadian_sf/ "Made in Canada" comprehensive website about Canadian science fiction] (No longer updated)
* [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/3/6/index-e.html Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy at the Library and Archives of Canada site]
*SF Site - world-renowned resource on science fiction literature (based in Ottawa)
* [http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/uni_spe_mer_index.jsp The Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculation] - major science fiction library collection, part of the Toronto Public Library system
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