1956 in science fiction

The year 1956 was marked, in science fiction, by the following events.

Births

 * K. A. Applegate
 * Gillian Bradshaw
 * Simon Brown
 * Aleksandr Bushkov
 * Jack Campbell
 * Storm Constantine (d. 2021)
 * Hugh Cook (d. 2008)
 * Nabil Farouk (d. 2020)
 * Richard Foss
 * Mary Gentle
 * Rick Kennett
 * Tom Kratman
 * Jean-Marc Ligny
 * Ian R. MacLeod
 * R. M. Meluch
 * Robert A. Metzger
 * Brian Plante
 * Robert Reed
 * Shauna S. Roberts
 * Joan Slonczewski
 * Sonny Whitelaw
 * Jack Womack

Deaths

 * Archibald Low (b. 1888)
 * Vladimir Obruchev (b. 1863)
 * Bob Olsen (b. 1884)
 * Fletcher Pratt (b. 1897)
 * F. Orlin Tremaine (b. 1899)

Serialized novels

 * The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov, Astounding Science Fiction (October–December), published in book form in 1957.
 * The Power by Frank M. Robinson, Blue Book (March), published in book form in May.

Novels

 * The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke, a man questions the perfect but stagnant future city of Diaspar.
 * The Crossroads of Time by Andre Norton, an agent travels between parallel worlds to prevent a catastrophic war.
 * The Death of Grass by John Christopher, a global famine leads to societal collapse and desperate survival.
 * Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein, an actor impersonates a politician in a complex political scheme.
 * Highways in Hiding by George O. Smith, intertwines ESP, a disease that turns people to stone, and a secret society with a hidden cure.
 * The Man Who Japed by Philip K. Dick, a satirical novel about rebellion in a totalitarian society.
 * No Man Friday by Rex Gordon, a science fiction robinsonade set on Mars.
 * The Power by Frank M. Robinson, a thriller that explores the concept of a man with the ability to control others.
 * The Shrinking Man by Richard Matheson, a man battles to survive as he inexplicably shrinks in size.
 * Slave Ship by Frederik Pohl, explores the psychological impact of futuristic warfare and slavery.
 * Tiger! Tiger! by Alfred Bester, a man seeks revenge across the galaxy using newfound teleportation powers.
 * To Live Forever by Jack Vance, society is divided by the quest for immortality and a man's struggle against it.
 * The World Jones Made by Philip K. Dick, a man who can see a year into the future grapples with his power and destiny.

Short stories

 * "The Country of the Kind" by Damon Knight, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (February).
 * "The Last Question" by Isaac Asimov, Science Fiction Quarterly (November).
 * "The Man Who Came Early" by Poul Anderson, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction (June).
 * "The Minority Report" (novella) by Philip K. Dick, Fantastic Universe.

Juveniles

 * Danny Dunn and the Anti-Gravity Paint by Raymond Abrashkin and Jay Williams, a lab mishap leads to the creation of anti-gravity paint and an unintended space voyage.
 * Time for the Stars by Robert A. Heinlein (juvenile), telepathic twins communicate across vast distances during space exploration.

Children's books

 * The Domes of Mars by Patrick Moore, second of a six-book series following Mission to Mars (1955).
 * Stowaway to the Mushroom Planet by Eleanor Cameron, children embark on another adventure to the Mushroom Planet.

Awards

 * Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein won the Hugo Award for Best Novel.