Some of the leading authors in the field tackle this fascinating subject in a series of essays reprinted from one of the genre's most respected critical journals, Foundation Whether veterans like octogenarian Jack Williamson, acclaimed literary personalities like Ursula K.

Foreword; A.C.Clarke - Notes on the Contributors - Introduction; M.Jakubowski & E.James - The Way it Was, 1933-1937; J.Williamson - The Development of a Science Fiction Writer; J.Blish - Wonderful Deathless Ditties; N.Mitchison - From Shanghai to Shepperton; J.G.Ballard - A Citizen of Mondath; U.K.Le Guin - Backwards Across the Frontier; R.Cowper - Where I Get my Crazy Ideas; N.Spinrad - By Chance out of Conviction; D.G.Compton - The Writer as Nomad; P.Sargent - Thank You for the Music; M.Coney - The Profession of Science Fiction; G.Wolfe - The Profession of Fiction; M.J.Harrison - Confessions of a Bradbury Eater; G.Kilworth - A Shaman's View; D.Brin - Riddles in the Dark; G.Jones - Git Along, Little Robot; R.Grant - Index