Category Archives: birthday

“He That Hath Wings”

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“He That Hath Wings”
The Best of Edmond Hamilton
edited by Leigh Brackett
paperback $14.99
ebook $6.99
Original appearance Weird Tales July 1938

Edmond Hamilton was born on this date, October 21, in 1904.  He passed away in 1977. Last year for his birthday, I looked at “Monster-God of Mamurth“.  This year I want to look at “He That Hath Wings”.

“He That Hath Wings” is one of Hamilton’s best works, so I was surprised to find that it hasn’t been reprinted very often.  Fortunately, The Best of Edmond Hamilton is in print, although the cover illustration of the current edition (see below) isn’t nearly as good.

Just so you know, I’m going to discuss this story in detail, so expect spoilers. Continue reading →

The Art of J. Allen St. John

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J. Allen St. John

Artist J. Allen St. John was born on this date, October 1, in 1872.  He is best remembered for illustrating the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the covers he did for various pulp magazines, especially Weird Tales.  Burroughs (Edgar Rice, not William S.) is reputed to have said St. John was his favorite artist.  It’s easy to see why.  In honor of his birthday, I want to highlight some of his art work. Continue reading →

Brian McNaughton’s “Ringard and Dendra”

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“Ringard and Dendra”
The Throne of Bones
Brian McNaughton
Print $16.95
Ebook $2.99

Brian McNaughton was born on this date, September 23, in 1935. He passed away in 2004. McNaughton was never prolific, and based on the story I read for today’s post, that’s a shame.  The Throne of Bones won a World Fantasy Award.  From reading this story, I can see why.

I had read one of his stories years ago and liked it quite a bit.  Turns out it was this one, reprinted in Black Gate.  I had intended to read more of his work.  I had a copy of this collection. But things happened, and I never got around to it.  You know how these situations tend to go at times, don’t you?  Of course you do.

I will not make that mistake this time. Continue reading →

Two by Tanith

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Strindberg’s Ghost Sonata and Other Uncollected Tales
Tanith Lee
Immanion Press
Paper $18.99
Ebook $4.99

Tanith Lee was born on this date, September 19, in 1947.  She passed away in 2015.  Lee wrote in a variety of genres, including fantasy, horror, and science fiction.  She was highly prolific, and many of her short stories haven’t never been collected.

Until now.  Immanion Press is collecting all of her work that hasn’t appeared in any of her collections.  In observance of her birthday, I read two stories from the collection Strindberg’s Ghost Sonata and Other Uncollected Tales. Continue reading →

Grant and Foster

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Charles L. Grant

No, I said Grant and Foster, not Foster Grant.  As in Charles L. Grant and Alan Dean Foster.

Today, September 12, marks the birth of Charles L. Grant (1942-2006).  Grant was one of the major practitioners of what is known as quiet horror.  In addition to writing horror, Grant also wrote fantasy and bit of science fiction.  Much of this work was published under other names, the most common being Lionel Fenn.

Much of his fiction is set in the city of Oxrun Station.  These stories and novels are among Grant’s best.

Continue reading →

Burroughs and Lamb

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Today (September 1) is the birthday of two literary giants, Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) and Harold Lamb (1892-1962). Continue reading →

Jack Vance and “Liane the Wayfarer”

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Jack Vance was born on this date, August 28, in 1916.  We lost him on May 26, 2013.  Vance was a master of both science fiction and fantasy.  He often wrote in a highly stylistic manner.  I first read Vance in The Hugo Winners, edited by Isaac Asimov, when I was a freshman in high school.  That volume contained “The Dragon Masters” and “The Last Castle”.  Later I read The Demon Prince Novels, a quintet in which a man seeks revenge on the criminals who destroyed his home world.  He goes after a different one in each book.  I highly recommend them. Continue reading →

The Art of Frank Kelly Freas

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One of my favorite artists, Frank Kelly Freas, was born on this date, August 27, in 1922.  We lost him in 2005.

Freas painted a number of covers for paperback books, in addition to covers and interior illustrations for pulps and later digest science fiction magazines.  He had a easily recognizable style.

Sadly, we never attended a convention together.  I would have loved to have met him.  I picked up a signed print of his painting of Skylab at an American Space Society meeting about 15 years ago that proudly hangs in my bedroom.  You can see it below.

Here are some samples of his work. Continue reading →

The Art of Earle Bergey

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Artist Earle Bergey was born this date, August 26, in 1901.  He passed away on September 30, 1952. Bergey’s covers for pulp magazines established the trope of the scantily clad girl (often in a brass bra) being menaced by a BEM (Bug Eyed Monster) while a square-jawed hero comes to her rescue. In other words, stuff that would be considered 100% politically incorrect by certain of today’s standards.

What I want to know is why the men had to wear full spacesuits while the women wore bikinis and fishbowl helmets.  I guess the women were just made of tougher stuff back then.

Enough philosophizing.  Let’s enjoy some of Earle Bergey’s art. Continue reading →