Exploring the history of sci-fi

The origin of the name Bovril is just one of the mysteries uncovered in a new exhibition about the history of science fiction.

The show at the British Library in London features copies of some of the earliest works in the genre, including a 1647 edition of the True History by Lucian, originally published in the 2nd century AD, which recounts the story of a group of adventurers who travel to the moon.

A manuscript of a novel called The Coming Race by Victorian writer Edward Bulwer-Lytton will also be on show.

It tells the story of a race of beings called the Vril-ya who live underground and have developed a mysterious substance called Vril as an energy source.

The story was so popular when it was published that it inspired the makers of meat extract Bovril, which was originally called Johnston’s Fluid Beef, to change its name in 1886.

Exhibition curator Andy Sawyer said: “There is no doubt that science fiction has split literary experts for decades and remains a source of debate and discussion across the world. What this exhibition shows is that science fiction is a way of asking questions about the world, its future, and our place in it that has roots in a number of literary traditions and cultures. What we call ‘science fiction’ has a long tradition and will continue to dominate popular culture for a long time to come.”

Visitors to the exhibition will also see a copy of Thomas More’s 1516 work Utopia which described life in an imaginary island society.

There will also be a series of events featuring prominent science fiction writers including Iain M Banks, Michael Moorcock and Brian Aldiss and musicians including American funk legend George Clinton talking about the influence of science fiction on their work.

The free exhibition runs from May 20 to September 25.