BUTOR, Michel

(1926-)

   French critic and novelist, principally known as a leading exponent of the nouveau roman. MB was one of the first mainstream and academic critics to consider sf seriously according to the same standards as general literature. He published an invigorating analysis of Jules VERNE as early as 1949, and examined the dilemmas and future potential of the field in his penetrating study, "La crise de croissance de la SF" (1953); this was first trans by Richard Howard as "SF: The Crisis of its Growth" for Partisan Review in 1967, and, as "The Crisis in the Growth of Science Fiction", appeared along with "The Golden Age in Jules Verne" (trans by Patricia Dreyfus for Repertoire [coll 1960]) in Inventory (coll trans 1968 US). MB has served on the jury panel of the Prix Apollo (AWARDS).

   MJ

   See also: CRITICAL AND HISTORICAL WORKS ABOUT SF.