This collection investigates the origins and development of American science fiction during the nineteenth century to challenge the assumption that the genre emerged solely in the twentieth century. H. Bruce Franklin, a scholar of American literature and science fiction, compiles a diverse array of primary texts to demonstrate how industrialization, technological advancement, and social change shaped early speculative narratives. By contextualizing these works within their historical period, Franklin argues that nineteenth-century authors were actively engaging with the scientific and social anxieties of their time through imaginative prose.

Scholars and critics frequently cite this volume as a foundational text for understanding the pre-history of American science fiction. Readers often note the academic rigor of the introductions, which provide necessary historical context for the primary source materials included.