1951 in science fiction explained

The year 1951 was marked, in science fiction, by the following events.

Births and deaths

Births

• A. A. Attanasio
• Michael A. Banks
• Greg Bear (d. 2022)
• David Bischoff (d. 2018)
• Orson Scott Card
• Christopher Evans
• Esther Friesner
• Barbara Hambly
• Simon Hawke
• Christopher Hinz
• P. C. Hodgell
• Theodore Judson
• James Patrick Kelly
• David Marusek
• Lisanne Norman
• Melinda Snodgrass
• John Steakley (d. 2010)
• K. D. Wentworth (d. 2012)
• Timothy Zahn

Deaths

Literary releases

Serialized novels

• The Continent Makers by L. Sprague de Camp. It first appeared in book form in the collection The Continent Makers and Other Tales of the Viagens, published in hardcover by Twayne Publishers in 1953.
• Planets in Combat by Robert A. Heinlein, Blue Book (September–October), first publication of Between Planets, also published in hardcover in October.

First editions

• The Astronauts by Stanisław Lem (in Polish), explores the challenges and philosophical implications of space exploration.
• The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, depicts a post-apocalyptic world where humanity faces deadly plants and societal collapse.
• Foundation by Isaac Asimov, chronicles the rise and fall of a galactic empire through the fictional science of psychohistory.
• Prelude to Space by Arthur C. Clarke, focuses on humanity's first steps towards space exploration and colonization.
• The Puppet Masters by Robert A. Heinlein, humanity battles against alien parasites that can control human minds.
• Rogue Queen by L. Sprague de Camp, explores a human-alien romance and the clash of cultures on an alien world.
• The Sands of Mars by Arthur C. Clarke, envisions the challenges and discoveries of the first human colony on Mars.
• The Stars, Like Dust by Isaac Asimov, follows a young man caught in political intrigue and rebellion across star systems.
• Time and Again by Clifford D. Simak, explores time travel and its effects on humanity and the natural world.
• The Weapon Shops of Isher by A. E. van Vogt, portrays a future society where citizens have access to advanced weaponry to defend against tyranny.

Novellas

• And Then There Were None by Eric Frank Russell, Astounding Science Fiction (June), anarchy in action—an Earth envoy encounters an alien society that rejects authority and government.

Short stories

• "The Fireman" by Ray Bradbury, Galaxy Science Fiction (February), later expanded into Fahrenheit 451 (1953)
• "Sentinel of Eternity" by Arthur C. Clarke, 10 Story Fantasy (Spring), renamed "The Sentinel" in subsequent collections.

Short story collections

• The Green Hills of Earth by Robert A. Heinlein (collection)
• The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (collection)

Juveniles

• Between Planets by Robert A. Heinlein (juvenile), follows a young man navigating between Earth and the colonies of Venus and Mars.

Movies

See main article: List of science fiction films of the 1950s.

Title	Director	Cast	Country	Subgenre/Notes
Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man	Charles Lamont	Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Nancy Guild	United States	Comedy Family Sport
	Spencer Gordon Bennet, Wallace Grissell	Judd Holdren, Gene Roth	United States	Adventure Serial film
The Day the Earth Stood Still	Robert Wise	Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe	United States	Drama ^[1]
Five	Arch Oboler	William Phipps, Susan Douglas, James Anderson	United States	Drama Horror
Flight to Mars	Lesley Selander	Marguerite Chapman, Cameron Mitchell, Arthur Franz	United States	Drama
I'll Never Forget You	Roy Ward Baker	Tyrone Power, Ann Blyth	United States
Lost Continent	Sam Newfield	Cesar Romero, Hillary Brooke, Chick Chandler	United States	Adventure Fantasy
Lost Planet Airmen	Fred C. Brannon	Tristram Coffin, Mae Clarke, I. Stanford Jolley	United States	Action Crime ^[2]
The Man from Planet X	Edgar G. Ulmer	Robert Clarke, Margaret Field, Raymond Bond	United States	Horror Romance Thriller
The Man in the White Suit	Alexander Mackendrick	Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood, Cecil Parker, Michael Gough, Ernest Thesiger	United Kingdom	Comedy Drama
Mysterious Island		Richard Crane, Marshall Reed, Karen Randle, Ralph Hodges	United States	Action Family Serial film
Superman and the Mole Men	Lee Sholem	George Reeves, Phyllis Coates, Jeff Corey	United States	Action Adventure Drama Family Fantasy Romance
The Thing from Another World	Christian Nyby	Margaret Sheridan, Kenneth Tobey, Robert Cornthwaite	United States	Horror
Two Lost Worlds	Norman Dawn, Norman Kennedy	James Arness, Laura Elliott	United States	Adventure Romance
Unknown World	Terrell O. Morse	Bruce Kellogg, Marilyn Nash, Jim Bannon, Otto Waldis	United States	Adventure
When Worlds Collide	Rudolph Maté	Richard Derr, Barbara Rush, Peter Hansen, John Hoyt	United States	Action Thriller

Awards

The main science-fiction awards known at the present time did not exist at this time.

See also

• 1951 in science

Notes and References

1. Winner of a Golden Globe Award for Best Film Promoting International Understanding in 1951.
2. Assembled from the serial King of the Rocket Men.