From publisher blurb: We live in a society that grew up on pulp science fiction; the characters and iconic images from Star Wars and Star Trek are part of our culture. The spirit of freedom and optimism that pervades these films and the endless possibilities offered by the genre continue to be deeply attractive. This supplement explores the history of pulp sci-fi, from its beginnings with King of the Rocket Men, and the Flash Gordon series, through the Golden and Silver Ages of science fiction, then the visions of Gene Roddenberry and George Lucas to the modern television series (Stargate, Battlestar Galactica) and the novels of Ian M. Banks, Peter Hamilton and Ken MacLeod.