Libraries in fiction
The library in fiction involves a library or libraries as presented or characterized in works of fiction.[1] Libraries in fiction have sometimes been characterized as existent in secret rooms, hidden by sliding bookcases.[1] Public and private libraries have been characterized in fictional works.[1] Librarians have also been characterized in fictional works.[1]
List of libraries and librarians in fiction[edit]
Below is a chronology of notable fictional and semi-fictional stories (including films, episodes in TV series, as well as literary works) that are either set, either wholly or partially, in a library, or in which librarians feature prominently. The years listed on the left refer to the year of release of the works.
In print[edit]
1940s[edit]
- 1941 - "The Library of Babel", a short story by Jorge Luis Borges, depicts a universe consisting of a library of hexagonal rooms.
1950s[edit]
- 1953 - Fahrenheit 451. In Ray Bradbury's science fiction novel, books are outlawed. Some rebels fight back by memorizing works, making themselves living libraries.
1980s[edit]
- 1980 - The Name of the Rose. Umberto Eco's first novel is a murder mystery revolving around an abbey's library.
2000s[edit]
- 2007 - Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians. The first in Brandon Sanderson's series of young adult comic novels about a young teen with an unusual skill who finds himself battling against a cult of evil librarians who secretly rule the world.
Films[edit]
1950s[edit]
- 1957 - Desk Set stars Katharine Hepburn as the head of a reference library; she and her staff are seemingly threatened with replacement by an early computer invented by Spencer Tracy's character.
1960s[edit]
- 1966 - Fahrenheit 451, an adaptation of Ray Bradbury's book (see above).
1980s[edit]
- 1985 - The Breakfast Club. Five high school students serve a Saturday detention in the school's library.
- 1986 - The Name of the Rose, an adaptation of Eco's novel (see above).
2000s[edit]
- 2004 - The Day After Tomorrow. A group of people take shelter from sudden freezing cold in the New York Public Library, burning books to keep warm.
- 2004 - The Librarian: Quest for the Spear
- 2006 - The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines
- 2008 - The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice
Television[edit]
1950s[edit]
- 1959 - The Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough at Last". Burgess Meredith plays a survivor of a nuclear war. With no more responsibilities, he is delighted to finally be able to read as much as he wants. He gathers stacks of books from the public library, only to have Fate play a cruel trick on him.
1960s[edit]
- 1961 - The Twilight Zone episode "The Obsolete Man". A totalitarian state, having banned books, pronounces a death sentence on a librarian for the crime of being obsolete.
- 1969 - Star Trek: The Original Series episode "All Our Yesterdays". Captain Kirk, McCoy and Spock are transported back in time by the sole remaining inhabitant of a doomed planet: the librarian Mr. Atoz.
1990s[edit]
- 1997 - In the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Rupert Giles, a librarian, serves as Buffy Summers' mentor and surrogate father figure.
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "The Library World". Volume 6. Library Supply Company. 1904. pp. 126–130.
- "New Library World". Library Supply Company. 1924.
- Burns, Grant (1998). "Librarians in Fiction". McFarland. ISBN 0786483164. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- Stevens, Norman D. (1986). "A Guide to Collecting Librariana". Scarecrow Press. pp. 57–60. ISBN 0810818744.
- "The Library Association Record". Volume 20. Library Association. 1920. pp. 186, 210–.
Further reading[edit]
- Flood, Alison (31 July 2014). "Libraries in fiction quiz – test your shelf knowledge". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2015.CS1 maint: Date and year (link)
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