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The article looks at the science-fiction and fantasy (sf/fantasy) literary genre. According to publisher Toni Weisskopf, the genre's mainstream success in is largely due to positive interactions between sf/fantasy publishing and mainstream media adaptations. Details on racial gender, and sexual diversity among sf/fantasy books and authors are presented. Books discussed include the "Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R. R. Martin and "Uprooted" by Naomi Novik.

The article focuses on the popularity of the mystery crime fiction genre as of February 2015. The author examines the role of diversity and minority characters within mystery fiction, explores the genre-blending of crime with science fiction and fantasy, and discusses several books including "Skies of Ash," by Rachel Howzell Hall, "A Blossom of Bright Light," by Suzanne Chazin, and "Made To Kill," by Adam Christopher.

The article features ten top science fiction writers. Steven Barnes was one of the earliest science fiction writers to feature African-American protagonists. African-American Octavia Butler was the first speculative fiction author to win a MacArthur Foundation Genius grant. Jamaican-born Nalo Hopkinson won the Locus Award for Best First Novel and the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer for her work "Brown Girl in the Ring."

An interview with Fonda Lee, author of the book "Green Bone Saga," about the connections and divergences in science fiction and fantasy, martial arts, and the authors that inspire her, is presented. Lee talks about how her background in material arts inspired certain aspects of her writing, connections, divergences, or interesting overlaps she sees between science fiction and fantasy, and one thing that she wanted librarians to know about the "Green Bone Saga."

An interview with Ben Cox and Scott Barbour, science fiction and fantasy (sff) experts at Cuyahoga County Public Library in Ohio, is presented about working with readers, building collections, and promoting genres. They talk about what they can share with libraries who do not read sf to help them understand it, appreciate it, and work with readers; authors whom they would suggest libraries new to sf read; and factors they consider when building a standout sf collection.

The article focuses on popular science fiction (sf) and fantasy fiction literature in 2012 and 2013. New writers, such as Doyce Testerman and Lee Collins, are debuting as other best-selling sf/fantasy authors are finishing their series. Cable television network Home Box Office's (HBO) series "Game of Thrones," which was adapted from the "A Song of Ice and Fire" series by George R.R. Martin, has invigorated interest in epic fantasy series. It is suggested that Peter Jackson's film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" will further increase the popularity of dragons in epic fantasy. The article states that young adult horror author R.L. Stine has published his first adult horror novel, "Red Rain."

The article reports that the literary genre science fiction/fantasy epic has made a comeback, citing the success of Patrick Rothfuss's "The Wise Man's Fear", and George R. R. Martin's "Game of Thrones". The latter helped spur first-day sales of both print and electronic book copies for Random House Publishers. Included in the article is a list of 20 classic and contemporary works of the fantasy epic genre. INSETS: SF/Fantasy on the Web;Map to the SF/Fantasy Galaxy;Epic Fantasy: 20 Core Titles.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues. Roles of a librarian; Issues concerning library management and the image of librarians; Comparison between science fiction and fantasy.

Presents letters to the editor referencing articles and topics discussed in previous issues of the "Library Journal." Reaction to a letter about the article "Science Fiction: Disturber of the Literary Peace"; "The Page Problem," which was about library management; Response to Brian Alley's review of the book "Glory," by Jack Curtis.

Recommends books on science fiction. 'The Long Afternoon of Earth,' by Brian Aldiss; 'Tau Zero,' by Poul Anderson; 'The Foundation Trilogy, 1951,' by Isaac Asimov; 'The Crystal World,' by J.G. Ballard; 'Blood Music,' by Greg Bear. INSET: SF Awards 1987-1988.

Focuses on science fiction (SF). Problems of librarians in SF collections;Definition of SF; Recommended critical and biographical SF.

An interview is presented with author John Scalzi. Scalzi discusses his science fiction novel "Fuzzy Nation," an adaptation of the 1962 book "Little Fuzzy," by H. Beam Piper. He states he has no objections to other authors using his works once they are in the public domain, as by that time he will be dead. Scalzi says there is no one single business model for the relationship between authors and publishers.

The article lists best seller books including Sophia, Princess Among Beasts and Dark Age.

An interview is presented with Liz Gorinsky, president at speculative fiction publisher Erewhon. Topics discussed include partnership with Workman for distribution of electronic books (ebooks) and print; relationship with library marketing team of Workman and knowledge of librarians about literary science fiction, small presses or startups.

The article suggests ways for librarians to become more comfortable with science fiction (SF) and fantasy and better at connecting library patrons with the genre. Topics discussed include popular titles with fantastic or science fictional elements, the emergence of genre blending as a trend in sf/fantasy, and the importance of understanding a reader's key appeal factors in matching them with the right book.

The article introduces a series of reviews of science fiction/fantasy books included in the current issue of "Library Journal."

The article features Marlene Harris, a librarian and reviewer in various categories, with expertise in science fiction/fantasy genre.

An introduction is presented discussing the books reviewed in the science fiction section of the periodical including "Valiant Dust" by Richard Baker, "Terminal Alliance" by Jim Hines, and the space opera subgenre of science fiction.

The article offers information on several books based on horror and scientific fiction which include An Unkindness of Ghosts, The Murders of Molly Southbourne, and A Plague of Giants.

An Introduction to a section of periodical is presented which features reviews of several science fiction and fantasy books including "Autonomous" by Annalee Newitz, "The Punch Escrow" by Tal M. Klein, and "Urban Enemies" by several authors.

The article presents science fiction and fantasy books which provide readers a sense of the variety in cultures and settings in both genres.

The author talks about several science fiction books with good ending including "Within the Sanctuary of Wings", "City of Miracles", and "Down Among the Sticks and Bones".

An introduction to a section of science fiction and fantasy book reviews published within the issue is presented.

An introduction to a series of science fiction and fantasy book reviews is presented including "Death's Mistress" by Terry Goodkind, "Seven Surrenders" by Ada Palmer, and "A Closed and Common Orbit" by Becky Chambers.

The article features book author J. K. Ulrich and her views on gender inequality in the science fiction literary genre. Ulrich observes that there is a scarcity of women authors or females as characters in science fiction literature, which she said was pioneered by women starting in 1818 with Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." She believes that there is a need to challenge gender biases in this genre and encourage other authors and librarians to help in this endeavor.

The article introduces a series of reviews of science fiction and fantasy books.

The article discusses the role and types of series in science fiction and fantasy which include the traditional multi-volume saga such as "A Song of Ice and Fire" by George R. R. Martin, mystery genre, and series in which all of the stories take place in the same universe.

The article looks at solar system science fiction-themed books which include "Nemesis Games" by James S. A. Corey, "Time Salvager" by Wesley Chu, and "Zero World" by Jason M. Hough.

This article looks at research on readers of science fiction. Despite the stereotype of the average reader as a young male engineer, probably white, sci-fi readers are male and female, straight, gay, trans, young, and old. They span the racial spectrum and have various education and employment backgrounds. A person is a sci-fi reader because he or she reads sci-fi. Look carefully at the differences between a reader and a fan, terms that are used almost interchangeably in much of the available work on sf reading. Generally, fans self-identify, and, as both Joyce Saricks and Patty Campbell have pointed out, they can be very demanding patrons yet have low expectations of libraries. Science fiction and fantasy are both fantastic, speculative genres, but the speculation in sci-fi is based on science and technology. In most fantasy, the speculation is based on myth, magic, and the supernatural. According to the study, the three strongest goals, or "purposeful reasons," for reading sci-fi are the exploration of ideas, the affirmation of worldview, and escape. To help a reader select sf, it is important to find out what the particular sf reader is looking for at the time. The reader may have goals that change from time to time, yet will still look for and be satisfied by science fiction.

The article presents an update on upcoming science fiction/fantasy novels for the summer 2015 season, including "End of All Things" from John Scalzi and "The Two of Swords," by K. J. Parker.

An interview is presented with author Ann Leckie, focusing on her latest novel "Ancillary Sword," a sequel to her award-winning debut novel "Ancillary Justice." Topics include her portrayal of a society lacking the concept of gender, the sequel's shift to a narrower focus on the central character Breq, and the depiction of the belief system of the fictional Radch Empire.

Explores the science fiction genre. Number of science fiction writers who have died; Increase in the number of books published; Readership of science fiction; Buyouts of publishing companies; Circulation of science fiction magazines; Earnings of science fiction and fantasy films.

The article offers reviews of science fiction (sf) video games and board games including Microsoft's "Halo" series, "System Shock 2," and Fantasy Flight Games publishing of a "Star Wars" card game.

An introduction is presented to a section of the issue on speculative fiction titles, including fantasy and science fiction, published in 2014.

An introduction is presented to a series of articles that review fantasy and science fiction books such as "The Last Dark," by Stephen R. Donaldson, "Esrever Doom," by Piers Anthony, and "Gods of the Nowhere," by James Tipper.

An interview with science fiction writer, Kim Stanley Robinson, is presented. Topics discussed include her 2013 paleontological novel "Shaman," how much science can readers expect to find in the book, and what specific events, if any, she incorporated into "Shaman" as a result of her participation in the Sequoia Park Foundation's Artists in the Back Country program in California.

An interview with Sarah Peed, associate director at Hydra, the digital-only science fiction (sf)/fantasy imprint of publishing company Random House Publishing Group, is presented. Topics include the importance of focusing on digital publishing as a separate market from print, whether there will be a print-on-demand for book titles that will be published by Hydra, and her insights about sf, fantasy and horror.

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various book reviews within the science fiction and fantasy section of the journal, including reviews for "Elsewhens," by Melanie Rawn, "Imager's Battalion" by L. E. Modesitt, Jr., and "Zombies of Byzantium" by Sean Munger.

The article presents news briefs related to science fiction and fantasy writing including discussions of the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University, the book "The Fall of Arthur," by J.R.R. Tolkien, and the winners of the 2012 British Fantasy Awards.

The article discusses the release of science fiction and fantasy books, including "Bloodfire Quest: The Dark Legacy of Shannara," by Terry Brooks, "Vale of Stars," by Sean O'Brien, and "Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem," by Melissa Lemon.

An introduction is presented in which the author discusses various science fiction/fantasy books within the issue with a Halloween-related theme including "Zombie, Illinois," by Scott Kenemore, "The Devil of Echo Lake," by Douglas Wynne, and "Every House Is Haunted," by Ian Rogers.

An interview with editor Alex Carr is presented. When asked how the Amazon Publishing imprint 47North came about, he said that it launched in October 2011 and that as a fan of science fiction and fantasy and an editor he's exciting to help develop a talented group of authors. He mentioned the growth of the urban fantasy setting and his interest in expanding the supernatural at 47North. He talked about the benefits of the digital format and electronic books.

The article presents two lists of best-selling books: The SF Site Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2011: Readers' Choice and The SF Site Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2011: Editors Choice, which includes "Ghost Ship," by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller, "Embassytown," by China Miéville, and "The Silver Wind," by Nina Allan.