wey Handvok of Preach Popular Cale ‘imu, ean. Micon eo eb dnergence ane natn. Pa: Des, De Poaj, Caneel ster, Reymond, el Lex Cures populares, Toa: Saucon, MiP cra, rd pe, Pat La Duet gt, 180. ‘a Fi." Conenoray French Citanon 1 (98: 25-28 Tuite, “Les Nel esas ee onan” Contemporary Fone Cian 19 (1999) 227-3 Welcome, Geneve, ind Wier Ce earce:e 10-20 a,c ot Tit: Ot nm? Par amon, 6, Wotan, Darang Blog depron pub Une rie iq i ion, Pa 12 Science Fiction ARTHUR B, EVANS Paralling scotty wens a bh Areca and England, France as wi resid a cota ise a he popularity nde sade ay of "SF" ing te lateral ofthe event century Healy eles dine the 1950 and te early 195s refting the donate of Aagl-Amein Sn the Fach artic), SF wes in rane have nevertslee accede, ding the ‘vets andeighes, n ering ot 1 pei ihe fra een eon on {tne in werk sry ccs, Deserbd yon cite a" ean coca {Vere seltve American and Bris gee infieoes he para of Dick {Hard Herbert gota pale polis), ard French paps and ‘pula eomasce, wah an ae vst of scum, extents, plc ment, ad abt occupa aad by athe nape nao fate politcal awareness, peyote sgt saree whi, inane fy, and ner metaphysical bean power, compara French SF isn ntecually spicy sh ht fers vay of ne an nana tac to hae with ple for moder specu ft, HISTORICAL OUTLINE Athough he French nslogisn selec son as oly gute een gained ‘cal assepane in rane a + eer abel for thi band of wong as ‘ppeced 0 Fman dontcipaion, ar etnse—ts ction in he try of French het is ot ong anc, Te caviest wer of French SF the ‘tem hat ipa Fanny andar voyage uly sic) ae uno fy Rabel Garponua ane Poor ong ith bis Tie Livre, Quart Live, and Ll smante (1852-60) Rom tei tin of th lis Abbey oF Teme headend uve to st as of wonder, Reel20 Handto of freack Pilar Cate Renaisance giants ekempiy anaes nonconorisn, » ncht fo ‘rejelopeiceulton, an pasion or exploration yore aie he Trot. These waits wil er characterize rch of French sere ft, Mote iehy sce altiough just a fata) are ae Cana se Berger's ior comige det cere dea ane (657 ond Hive ‘amie de as ot pies du ste (186) In tee cael sail work the author journeys to te "Stns and Empires ofthe Moon abt Su et {0 dcus ss ring ‘om py 0 meth wth he indigo ie ‘Toms oe tere nso dina, Cyrano pray varying ete fern tary avelbotes of dew ataced to he boy, spring rockt thes, {tion of beef marow (0), laden abo chat, ad even tl. sere ene comtining at "lensaedon cyt" wel aan astonish, ‘umber ote wor ie phonogph-boks, mae aes, molecular she: ‘hilers nd oon. As apace Jes combining one tel, erin pi losopbiing, anda host of tcnolgie mares, Chan's wrk rept France's eat tne SF novels. na less ig aa more pragmaically date ee (vai fllomed by 1 ood deal of erly ren SE), Fontenelle’ Enreen sor la plaid mons (1686 sohbet och he ate of stony raion ‘Speculteon he posit of human ie iewseein he nie, Te toa Format sed—tht of ass f tstucive dialogues een 1 ert set Imei and cous young noblemomtaniclyectabinhe optical SF -aatve eit woul become highly Conventional in France ro be ae ‘eenteh centr froagh the ent ofthe nates sey During the Sle des Lunires, French SF senerly coins foils betven the dal pots of ove dtc tla Fate he scenic of ‘baral and polemical aon encounters” la Cyan, Wit he owing pop Uy of the come phoophigue and the reper ava exo ees twovght bck by explores ike Bougsnle nnd Cook, eat writers aces Ingly chore te “inugnay voyage” marae to frame te pan byt sting, hei edn (aod ec demonstton, andthe soll ss. Such works as Macau's ile des estes (1723), Vol’ Mle (2752), Dider’s Rive de &Alembert (1%9) ahd Spine wt Voyage de Bougaiile(172)notto mention he earn L'An 24 by Laie Sennen “Messier (171), Cassnva'ssabteranen nounéon (78), a Rest dei ‘Bretome'shighy mine La Décor autre (181) and Les Posto (1796, 1902)~al rect his psn met adn ees nd ail During thereon ey, andr the dil ips of Ss of| ‘xpeson in chosen subjects and marative frm (Roms sd the re Inionarysccial—andeoigial—ingut of unpecesend tschologa ‘rw (be tnd Revolton, Poin, the S ge auihed n Pence {never bef. Dating et al fe cent, mye SF vain yee tom ltiough ost, oortunsely fale 6 gin widespread ecogsion wl Science Fea a late tens cenury SF selahip succended i esuocting the meer Cousin de Grin’ ealisallyapedypic Le Dernier Homme (808), No ‘ier ai shor saris Harber and Levsho--Long (183), fear unis ia Lous Geotey’s Nopoéonepoorpe (18). Grandes Rote iasotion in Un are moe (8), the iat inl dy ‘epi Emile Sowent's Le Monde te gu ser (1845) he soilog 9 a re ovation in hates Deore Sar, up de Cassio 185), Seventh st SF tery thereto in Fl Boia’ Le Rama de Pavenit (tas. Buri ws especialy dig te later af ofthe century tht French sence fon was here io what ght be al is "olen age by he Voyages {xronnatesf les Vere Vere shape nfenceon he itor evoton of the geet ly in France bat wordwide—wae Sth porvaavesd listing Altough rnclycomervative in is poaaton here ae oan cforms cr fares ins novel) at bevy fice hi oaalve rips, Verne’ roman sletguer suceeded a ig be Indust Age ‘gin of sever gern fread. Hs Rona oes age ery rebut highly cxobe snore cee eo of eat, see, ad pee Tis hereeprotagonte~ofen via exon vel machine ad nab med wit enyenpedie scetc knowledge methodical explore these os, untol punters of dangers, fails recount chee observations nd dscrees, and thn eur (aseaheé and oman) 1 Georgia Plas of cpurre. Frm hs Ht "sic Ron’” Cg temas en lon {ise rg isearyprosince more Voyage cone deta Tor (16), De la Tere aa Le (1865), Vint ml ees sous les mers (1870) an Tle striae 187) ahi ae somewbatancience noel Sons dest desu {T8, oce drapea (1890), a Mate monde (190), oh pts land macs revamped, by bis Michel’ Etomane Avena de ein ‘Borge (919, Jules Veme's lvalume opt ef escing and eluctions rch voyanes" ane in ane fre andthe reptton fe along wit HG, Wells one othe "ounsing Tuer of oem SE ‘Although his ater are i na ely curate saratoga speak Ing), Vere di accomplishing vital fre SF ger: be wan he Set seed in popula the sarativejtspoon of since wth aver ‘on. CF couse, thet “popular” (at eas dung Vere'siftine) pre Ind respon ofthe Vonage Exrornies a ing econ Sy" Antti oy een ding test ew Scant Vernes oes ‘chive, he words fone comtemporary exe, "st atk poston he sory of French eu” (Ange "The pit of Iles Vere’ roman ces on he developing SF gee wade and dng the ter ars of he ieee etry and he begin ibe ett, tof French novel avn hs sige (ome wi con terial sce, hers ia), Into in ths sen ian of "Versase anda of Peach Ppa Cate Schoo” cidaticnaraties ioe Fesch muktpae were aa ost ‘of roves (ery sugpenvely ied) Voyages excnrqcs (1994-191), Lous Boussnar's Le Secret de Monar Sy 1888) and Le Tow di monde Fan pao de Paris (190), rye Gseny’s Vosges ones 1887) adit Georges Le Facts srl Avene exocrine wn sn ‘se (1889-86), and Mec Champ’ Les Recs de ls mr 907) sd et Sondre bine (191) ‘so inp ty Vers eample ding his -de-ste peid, at efsing to follow in bis exact mrsolopa foots, were te tema Cail Flammarion, the ilar Aer Robi, the cay den Villers ee Adam, aod wo SF autor who woul ary he gee well tthe saith ‘cea eave a permatem ark one eerste any Gurtive Le Rouge Sn Jc, Rosny Aine, Semis populrzer ul ents zal of kindof osm pitas, Fammnion ws ab acomplsbd astopomer who muah Roth ofeach raiment of asronoay ad oposlye his ove cetcoeinous bebe through sch wors ay the Academe tecognized svi clad Aronome Po. lie aed La Phat des monde heb (etap a stn of Foe elle’ ti? aswel an tough umber of nia tonal ant awh bs protagonist tach deters of bom he pyc a the metapyia unsere. This ae group of tex ince Las acted P nin (863), Rees “us (1885), Crane (18), La Fa monde (993), an See (1857, ‘albert Reid, sas par excellence and the been SF las sa carats of this en, alo pened cadre rumber of ute novels ‘sere leciologiclconjetre was nerd with (nose) naa ominetar. Begining With srl prod of Vern’s works in Voyage ‘crannies de Saran Faandoa! dans Son pated monde dn tour ler pay comma f me tacoma de Moser Iles Verne (187083), ‘Rotid's most characte SF waka of frit speculation cade Ving. te Site (ISK), La Vie lecrique (1893), an the are psc Es fee Vor Stans (1919, ‘Villers de seAdam i his ery Fuss ve ure (1886), ae ee nether moder SF vara with his woos anid rane Hay le {are Atinovlaubat who, nvestedby Thomas Ee ase "pets ene {nd the ideal companion, serves tigger a varity of ental ane aes ‘Stestns abou he fondant stro ay nd isi ceston i pe ‘esvelysybet word where hiss ze ml alway wht hey see Te wat othe wars of Gostave Le Rouge and eel 1 Rosy AS Dever, ta nder French SF wast bm Pal tb fore and ‘noe lyn the at, the SF mova eae 2 more plyemiccon sine td the dagticstutre ofthe mutates temic venture ell yond the "rina Pech pater of opin petlstn, sti dace sv Ste, oF pete got lame n these tutor spose typo f Sy ‘he reader's contin ete chalenged Wy want Angect i aed Seence ion a bea paradigms” inthe eng proces elf. And the many “len en utes within thse itor ead w be on fen marae they a ‘sitesi. Th Guste sR’ Le Pinner de plane Mars (190) an a Guerre des nmpes (908), for expe the fcinal role of ene an echaoogy Stk nurative wit from pris abject To pot secs) fom a ‘eae of explaining ad "Sealant unknown fo becoming» versal Stneblir ofthe po nds pureyor of obcurntst special ets" in Cre to cunt inact a lpthie aver of youre 5 ister Inca omeyiag ene atin, hse ext conte te cn Sinvcene, And th sinc lef mooted, agin, and wally ftom, Wotten in be" sin of Anuzing tories ane Ed Rice Bu oop’ Maran aks, Le Rowges novela tu xt th rowing param ‘apace per-comhr fanaa SE varie vty popular in Panos Suh tent intent entry a ecy tweet predating the ea of Hugo Gems cs nal ths purity maa atoog comeback in France inthe om of mane nfs of asi Aulo-Ameccan SF during the 195s, “Te pce of i, Romy Ain in the evlton of Pen SP and he sere ast) is sarinesy deen any rspet, Roy cular ‘hovld—te comieed the tae “athe” of mover French SF, bth cron Jngealy ml naratlogly, Remeber far mre fer histo reson fuel ibe Vamich (192), Lo Guore ot feu (1908, Holywocd's version: (Ques forte, 1983) an Le Fin an (18), Rasy aso et on ini thst on ranch SF wih sting varity of marates eating sry Sc if rms, pall wor, an wexphineé natural phenomena fictions ‘ta ce ighlyvisonary i ate bu, ae ste tine, Aly anchor ‘lai lusty Rosy Les Xiplas (1887) waste ist easily portayed nl ef mani’ encour wih etlge et ay mpenerable) Tien enon consid wll of nergy. This an thane was anon? ton endthe word cena nL fr de Tere (1910) wher te Reman ‘pee is inly sugested by higher albeit miserl) M fos led he Fromage, Un the sue ie, Ler Nevigeteur de Fifi (1925) od nur sequel Lev Aone pola highly evoied Narn race whose [al confgton a tse on trary symmetry, wo repatae By pa ‘hesoenes nd with fale spelen of whom ete Bt tine in SF 0 Iny Kpowfege) a visting Eating hurt very "allen love fla” Examples FSF nurtvs developing he terse word pra imenion mons ane {rom Cr nee moe 189) Da fe monde des Varo (199) sae Nymph (1890, Les Prafnders de Ryo (U9), Le Voyage (190), Le {eso ds To meige (1983) and Lex Hommetsoglrs (1929) ts aan, those doing with stunge (ough not superstar unexpuned phenomena [acade e Caatone (188) uo La Force mre (1913), the ie 08 thay tne sume for Artur Coan Doyle's he Potion Bel appearing Iter Chinn te sme yar Eanding he fiero Sint previously unexploredon Handa of Pron Pope Cau ‘hematic dons and hermeneac pats, Rosey Ang bought 3 new ive of Sepbistton anc ison the ere (slr, me espe 10 tat of CanpbetsAnounaing Store) nde te tage foc of whet was flow ring the ate weatt sentry ‘ter SF writers and wars this very ch ei fom 1880 10 1940s ‘Ane Laurie's (Pascal Grose) Les Bul del Tere 1887 the mili (Captive Dan's a Guerte de demain (189-1896), aes Lermi's Atri ‘me ara! (1889, Jo Aine Nos unas tut Conourp-zeining Force emi (1903), the ine pti ean den He's Re fuga (G90), Ande Couvrour's Une ivaion des mcrebes (1909, Cason de Pow Towsk' highly imagieative Voyage ou por del gure dimension (1012, 1923), Claude Fane's pessistially Durvinan Ler Condado (9920), Theo Vat and cave Jones tan epic Ley Tos det (0921) and L'Agonte dele Terre (1922), ose Movs arpesinay prope {a Fin ila (1925), Ems Pirocha's et Hames frente (192), Oe alr’ Les Pets Hommes de piace (927). Hao s persis ‘ois ombres sur Pais (1928, Ante Ma's (Max Anite Dazerges le ‘Satar(931), Rene hve’ le of mane Las Chasen hommes (193, Regs Mess deevatutonary Qulttrina (193), an Algae’ (Fe se Cause L Empire de lpr (193), and Rene Mucel de Nears Inre conven Vern-ike sagas Ler Voyager aie pete Parison (958-38) Daring this "gldenea "of Fench SF, evens number fina ‘erry authors suse abled in the gee: Laon Det mith his Let Moracles (188) and Le Napus, flea de an 2227 (1927), Arte France's {he des pig (1908), Mace Lab's Les Tris ous (B19) and Le FeynidtleBvenemen (1920) ad Ande aris wit his Le Pew des (0931) and La Machine @ lie Ter pone (1937. But to SE as of ths favo sere special tention: Masri Rena and Jacques Spt, Matic Nenad succeded in ising peer kn of specu Welaa SF wt offummenue horror ie work th ar th ey Morea tke Le Deter Lee suse (1908 ats aus Le Pei len (811, Man Ore 92, Hollywood's version: Ma Love 1934), abl Homme raga (1921). Spit, wing dng she scaly trea Woe War years, pepe ‘Rena’ hyeid SF aman narative rope bt ad pitch fel cs Ina ad's dash of pie ovetanee wth ach dkly sys wer LAgonte di plate (193), Ler Evade de Ton 000 (1936), Lo Gaere des motes (838), LHomm casigue (158), tthe very exist LC de gtr (1948) This "golden age of Fresh SF, weer, came oan abrupt le Wis he seat of Word War Ian, eons aber factors, he appar of en then booming “pulp” inst) of oul and magazines ike Lecter pour Tous Scenes Voges, Je sos tat, La Pete Husain, tne Rap cl sch peal" popula ural des Vvage ic, sly afer the ‘ar, wan ely eunectd it son wes he way oft sompunion pul sions. A small uber of SF veterans fom the 19208 an 1930 conned 0 fis a cesonl workLeon Gr with Ue ivasion de Slater (1941) id a Pande de rina! (194), Jacques Spitz wih Experienced dec ‘Mop (198 nL Pareie "2 (142), an the Belgas woes Ban Ray With Mulperin (1988)— tu the nce vohaminous ow of SF peodoction a race Seni nd otek The ely ow SF whe To emerge om Ghechmovol wacioen ance arin this petiod ere René Brel wit Ravase (1983) and Le Voyeur mpradet (1944) an th pyri Iagoes Aue with bik Camage 1942) Bom tne and aratve abject pesimisie ad abs sep Se tel tee few wok lagly re the ‘tobe bor f tts. in SF, arin any whe sapese of French sect, he te 140s in France vse pe of slow sbi and revatio. A ew seasoee wares ofthe [re somtnucd to poe: Léom Groc with Le Mate a soll (940) and T'Uniers ragatond (1950), Pal Agee wth La itd des glace (186) Demande oe (950), ané Maric Lie Maurice Lima) wth Un ame en rnc (1947) a Ls Comat dealt (198). few ators who had beg the SF carers during the previews desde persed nthe eat fh a Rene Barve with tbe apap Le Dable Pempore (198) and Joxques Aubert ith Opera de monte (947) And fw younger writes (ed the banat SF forthe st time BR, Bras (Roper Blond) wis Bs Snel Hoshino Er Plante sa -(946 abd Pre Devas (cir ofthe mony lashed SP collection "Science et Avestue” ont toward allecens) with is XP. 1S em fa! (940) and L'Bule de Pespace [OE7, Bu doit hse noted efor, de SF eon i Fane ding he Someta post Wold Wa year cou be ancl Gece es Weak ad en, string back oie at aking the igor of i preva a “To, betwee 1950 spd I9SS, sco (uli) moe sala, bt ost asin ivesonof France cued bres fansite" goiden Be Anglo ‘ns Fe the neat he ne: Bay. Crk, Hascn, Surgsn, Sak, Van Vogt, e alban sd ined ‘Neves i th Frac SF mabespace,Sesive oh public's esi oe mae fhe snes «numberof Fenen pointes ql responded with npr: the "Anpaton” sees by Fee Now and the Rayon Fantastique elle on Oy Gallia se Hachete in 1981, the French repens of the Areian | SF rmgiines Gola ant Mapisine of Fonasy and SP (dled Gola and Fito specie) fn 93, de "Prisence da Fuu” seiesby Deval 19si~al of which served ak major conduits ots growing Anglo-Ameion 5 ee nF al ak pad ny flo fo oa {ooking are ke Bove Van os, anal and wir Ga few high sama SP novse, Raymond Queneau, Stephin Spi. Nhe! Canoes nd Mics! Bator, the SF geare Ws once ain very Inde in French poplar a erry clsalng wi Ameest gab, Fllyweod i, a ja”236 anton of Peach Poplar Cate ‘The effete ofthis tial wave of Ango-Amevcan SF it postwar France rove wo be th postive and negative. On te one hand i served sun FEuwaken French interests SF and (infuse "new los” no the Pench SF eore-caew isn ote fate, nw nara enue, an nw Puig ‘Sits for sping moves “Onthe other hd, encourage jer itt of these successful fan thas tpl sipped the develope ia France of nore Weotaby indigenous S, adorned publtng nak songl preyed toward ans te pes ‘et during the fics and ely ses, #maner of French SF stor dt manag ie sove th tie. The) can erly ede nn cwoOvraping [Boups tov win spain elect space oper (ems fen publishing the “Anta” Callen of Pesve Now and ose sora more Fal Sos mst ee st publ abe ural Fiction and he “résence ot ‘tr sere) who wal mel ed French SF in its sun ence the 197 an 1980s Inthe former space oper” pou: the two pulpy bu highly lie wees ing the pouonym , Ricrd Bene with Such works as Le Congrats (de ners (1981), Sonsetee siéral (1934), Fle de Punvers 1987, 08 {es 7 anne de Rh (962; he equally pulpy Dt wo less poi Sm ‘Guca with Plone de atome 181), he award-winning Homme de epace 198) ad Bre de Bioesbe (1960): B. R. Briss with hs S08, Soweapes (0980), Terre. éce 24 (193), and La Guere des rors (195), andthe Sometines gic inovaived. G, Vandel with Ler Cheers de empace (1952 ‘Naufage des gaae (195), 08 Le Trotme Boal (1956. nih later move “ogi” poupe Fane Carac (Frangols Bor) it his mae descents of Ronny An's erromagntans a Ceut deal part (0953), bis "Spaceship Earth” voyage in Le Tere efit (1960), and is bcm ethnography i Ce Monde at nre (1962) the icmp Stefan Wa (rene Para) wih is swarming Retour 2 "0" (980), his pos Works ‘Warll pot of New Yor st Nort (1987, th sonshing and sveionary Te Temple dn pat (1958, the Spy ove! Page ar Zara (888), ad be ‘pocalypi Lt Mort vite (958); Chas Nahe Menwcberg Wath he fent-winning mybolopie epic La Naiman er dew (1988) al ha exo {eronguc ta Rte dr soe (959); Kut Steiner (Ani Ru) wt his Menace Oure Tore (1958) and especialy his fuel Aue Armes ‘Porng (1980; Gls dase Gert Klin) with hi Stpledonike galactic ‘yng in Le ambi de ey (1988) and Les Voir sll (961) 28 Sess Les Per de tony (1965); te polit aac Pere Barbs (Claude [ie with is noveintaced ttn Bae! 1908 (1962) Dane rode wih Ieavard-winsng bu ontrveral SE nosenn roman, Sue del plane {1983 Pipe Carvel Pig Tonch) wih tghynainaive ies ie fons in dew de eB (1987), Le lars de Venus (1960, an is at Sieg Le Rest de Meapae (980); Jaques Seber whi seat Science tion 27 sorter collins ike Lt Géomdrie dant impossible (1983) and Ene tut moms certains SST}, couse, the inseam wer Pre Boule, ws stie om the oman specie in a Pande des ies {0962s the popelar—and ose alated—Holywoed move an sem nay item smb of sinemati eels lowing ste sp sng the ery and i196 (and he demise of ste "Rages Fans caleston Ir (960, French SF tly began o cone {io its ovn ig the it ses an expel Hhouphout the sevens ad lr leit, No ong ising the imped space opera” mol prvalest “ving the postr did, new French selene fin sarge int the mate lac and eteaungly ventured in previously webu cognitive and marae ‘Euinn "Te ‘cons forth sudden and unexpected fenusance In Pench SF [Seven couple and undoubtedly te rea o€ many ifr fos. Bu, “moog te one must ote following the il upesvl i ace begun by te My 1968 revohtonary pte (andi accompanying Armes the fern inven of crainantetsbshent Anglo-American Nex ‘Wave SS writer ike #0. Bala nd Pap K_ Dick the advent of vc ‘uations i nie ues; the eco ad (epuicaonof aoay of Pench SF "ances sah as ues Vere, Rosy ‘ne and ust Le Rouge te sng popula of al SF comie magarines tk ral rl on liye aden elton of SF colestions uno Frosch polshing noes (Gerard Klein's “Ailes et Denn sens Pe by aff n 190) 0 wel ane extbninent of ver ary SF conventions dann he Pax Ap ia 1972 andthe Grand Pi de a Sees etn Fncaie i 1973), “xsl ome i caoned SF ite—suivr of the dicul 1950s so 196bstecrme tne fevognieed sabes of is ew Booms Un general thir wots eed te tow Hoop) peosaptios of he times—suthor ‘hse onal gels wore more pol aed soi nature ad who a Fates growed pryehoigy abd experiment ermenewie sts mae ‘en ar star cre ad laser wenpns Rig the crest ofthis "ae gon ge" was Poppe Curva, who wa avated the Grand Pot in 1975 forbs ‘Sessivly Fri Homme 2 rebours and wh, wo Yur Mer, won he ‘Sovee Fi Api for he pepbetewopasstopia Cech han theft Pench short recive the award—and wins poplaityhas extend lo tet 98D wth te eo L Pace coke di esi 980), Ensen? {iar 1983), and Comment jouer @ home ise en os eons 1988). Michel ary, atte fst novels (ubished inde the peony of Alber Fg) tr Machine da pot (1959) and Aur de destin (1960) were ces space opens, expanded snd atred Bs eperoie wth 2 seis of {maznt ve pyeorsoun polos es nLe Temps incerta (wine ibe Gran! Prof 198), Solel! tha poison des profes (1976, Le Tenors aman (1979), od er linensina a some mys ser eet Beemer sence (180) 1" Orbe ta rove 1983, Prix Apolo