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the SF Hub

for science fiction research

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Search help

The centrepiece of the SF Hub is its integrated set of search tools that will offer innovative and advanced search functionality. Our search tools are in various stages of development at present but by April 2005 they will all be fully functional, enabling you to quickly and easily find the resources you need.

Cross-search

We are currently working to activate the cross-search capability, which, unlike any other search tool, will offer seamless searching of all types of research resources. You will be able to quickly search our collections for books, periodicals, journals articles and archival materials (or a selection of just those materials that interests you most). Cross-searching will be available by April 2005.

Searching the SF Catalogue

The SF Catalogue forms part of the main Library Catalogue at The University of Liverpool. Basic search tips are contained within each search category of the Catalogue. The following tips are also provided to help you get the most out of the special features of the SF Catalogue in particular.

Short stories

We are indexing the contents of anthologies so that short stories may be easily retrieved by title searches. Please note, however, that not all anthologies have had their contents indexed. If you cannot find the short story you are looking for, try William G. Contento's Index to Science Fiction Anthologies and Collections and search our SF Catalogue by the title of the anthology or collection.

Subject searches

The Subject Index uses controlled terminology and U.S. English spellings. Key science fiction subject headings include:-

  • Science fiction -- Themes -- (topics applied to works of fiction, e.g. Artificial Intelligence)
  • Science fiction, English / French / German / American / etc.
  • Anthologies
  • Science fiction films (not just 'Films')
  • Science fiction television programs (i.e. American spelling and not just 'Television programs')
  • Fantasy fiction (not Fantastic fiction)

Critical works - Use a Subject search to find works of criticism, including biographies and book reviews:-

  • Science fiction -- History and criticism (not 'History and criticism' on its own)
  • Stapledon, Olaf (or any author's name, for all critical works, including biographies and book reviews, relating to a particular author).
  • Star Maker (or any title, for critical works relating to a particular book)

If you cannot find the subject you are looking for, follow the instructions in the Keyword section of the Catalogue to search for a particular word in a subject.

Keyword searches

Keywords are mostly used for general searches but Advanced Search in particular permits more sophisticated interrogation of the Catalogue. Features include Boolean operators for combining search terms, adjacency, proximity, truncation, specific field searching and the possibility of limiting and sorting results by a wide range of criteria. Full guidance is available on the Keyword search screen in the Catalogue.

Limiting your searches

If a search produces too many hits, you can limit your results by publication date, material type, publisher or with keywords in the author, title or subject. An 'Author + Title' search also narrows the scope. The LIMIT THIS SEARCH button appears at both the top and bottom of your search results screen.

Limiting to journal articles: If you would like to search for journal articles only, conduct your author, title or subject search as normal then limit your search by SCIFI ARTICLE from the 'Material type' drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can limit to journal articles initially by selecting ADVANCED SEARCH from the Keyword Search page, entering your keyword(s) and selecting SCIFI ARTICLE from the 'Material type' menu.

Additional features

Search history: Retrace your steps using the search history drop-down menu at the top and bottom of each screen. This remains active for the duration of your search session.

Saving and exporting your searches: Mark and save individual records or sets of records for later reference. Mark the records using the check boxes on the left of each screen, then click on 'Save Marked Records' beneath. Using the 'EXPORT SAVED LIST' at the top or bottom of the page, you may then email the results to yourself in the format of your choice.

Searching the Database of Finding Aids

The database of finding aids contains the full lists of the authors' archives we have catalogued in detail. Extensive search help is contained within the database.

You may browse or search the finding aids, which, at present, exist for the archives of Brian Aldiss, Vivian Beynon Harris, John Brunner, Ramsey Campbell, Colin Greenland, Eric Frank Russell, Olaf Stapledon and John Wyndham.

More finding aids will be added to the database as cataloguing progresses. We are also striving to enable searching within the individual finding aids. For more online finding aids to science fiction-related archives, try the Archives Hub