1956 in science fiction
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The year 1956 was marked, in science fiction, by the following events.
Births
- K. A. Applegate
- Gillian Bradshaw
- Simon Brown
- Aleksandr Bushkov (d. 2025)
- Jack Campbell
- Storm Constantine (d. 2021)
- Hugh Cook (d. 2008)
- Nabil Farouk (d. 2020)
- Richard Foss
- Mary Gentle
- Rick Kennett
- Tom Kratman
- Jean-Marc Ligny
- Ian R. MacLeod
- R. M. Meluch
- Robert A. Metzger
- Brian Plante
- Robert Reed
- Shauna S. Roberts
- Joan Slonczewski
- Sonny Whitelaw
- Jack Womack
Deaths
- Archibald Low (b. 1888)
- Vladimir Obruchev (b. 1863)
- Bob Olsen (b. 1884)
- Fletcher Pratt (b. 1897)
- F. Orlin Tremaine (b. 1899)
Literary releases
Serialized novels
- The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov, Astounding Science Fiction (October–December), published in book form in 1957.
- The Power by Frank M. Robinson, Blue Book (March), published in book form in May.
Novels
- The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke, a man questions the perfect but stagnant future city of Diaspar.
- The Crossroads of Time by Andre Norton, an agent travels between parallel worlds to prevent a catastrophic war.
- The Death of Grass by John Christopher, a global famine leads to societal collapse and desperate survival.
- Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein, an actor impersonates a politician in a complex political scheme.
- Highways in Hiding by George O. Smith, intertwines ESP, a disease that turns people to stone, and a secret society with a hidden cure.
- The Man Who Japed by Philip K. Dick, a satirical novel about rebellion in a totalitarian society.
- No Man Friday by Rex Gordon, a science fiction robinsonade set on Mars.
- The Power by Frank M. Robinson, a thriller that explores the concept of a man with the ability to control others.
- The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson, a man battles to survive as he inexplicably shrinks in size.
- Slave Ship by Frederik Pohl, explores the psychological impact of futuristic warfare and slavery.
- Tiger! Tiger! by Alfred Bester,[nb 1] a man seeks revenge across the galaxy using newfound teleportation powers.
- To Live Forever by Jack Vance, society is divided by the quest for immortality and a man's struggle against it.
- The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick, a man who can see a year into the future grapples with his power and destiny.
Short stories
- "The Country of the Kind" by Damon Knight, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (February).
- "The Last Question" by Isaac Asimov, Science Fiction Quarterly (November).
- "The Man Who Came Early" by Poul Anderson, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (June).
- "The Minority Report" (novella) by Philip K. Dick, Fantastic Universe.
Juveniles
- Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams, a lab mishap leads to the creation of anti-gravity paint and an unintended space voyage.
- Time for the Stars by Robert A. Heinlein (juvenile), telepathic twins communicate across vast distances during space exploration.
Children's books
- The Domes of Mars by Patrick Moore, second of a six-book series following Mission to Mars (1955).
- Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron, children embark on another adventure to the Mushroom Planet.