This 12-chapter book discusses the scientific facts behind the ideas included in the novels of Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Frederik Pohl, Arthur C. Clark and other science fiction writers. Areas explored in the first 11 chapters include: exploration of deep space; energy and exotic power sources; likelihood of extra-terrestrial life and the forms it may take; imaginary science (such as alternative universes, antigravity, speeds faster than light, instantaneous communications); time travel and other universes; warfare; intelligent machines; men and supermen (biological engineering); mechanisms of artificial intelligence; unidentified flying objects (UFOs); powers of the mind; and future societies (considering machines and the leisure society, conditioning and brainwashing, psychotropic drugs, crime and punishment). The final chapter is devoted to the places where science fiction writers have gotten their science all wrong as well as some famous bad predictions. (A list of stories and novels cited along with a brief list of non-fiction books for further background reading are included.) (JN)