Category Archives: birthday

Lupoff and the Voorish Sign

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Richard A. Lupoff Source: Open Library

I was going to write this post for RIchard A. Lupoff’s (1935-2020) birthay (February 21), which was yesterday, but I didn’t have time to read anything by him. Then I saw the news about Steve Miller and wrote that post. Which I didn’t hit Publish on until earlier today because it was late, and I was tired.

Lupoff isn’t as well-known as he probably shoulde be because he didn’t confine himself to one genre but wrote horror, fantasy, science fiction, and mystery. He also tended to write at shorter lengths rather than novels. He is probably best remembered for the novel Lovecraft’s Book, which mixes fiction with fact and features several real-life pulp writers. He was also known as a writer who could provide a short story for an anthology or magazine on short notice. He should be considered another writer whose work deserves to be remembered.

Lupoff wrote a number of Lovecraftian stories. I’m going to look at one of them today. Continue reading →

Richard Matheson

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Today, February 20, is the birthday of Richard Matheson (1926-2013).  Matheson was one of the great fantasy writers of the Twentieth Century. I doubt he needs any introduction here.

But why should I let that stop me?

His first published short story, “Born of Man and Woman”, appeared in the Summer 1950 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It was a chilling look at what happens when a child is born with grotesque mutations. With this story, Matheson set a high standard for himself, as well as other writers. It’s considered by many to ba a classic. Continue reading →

Margaret St. Clair

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Margaret St. Clair (1911-1995) was born on this date, February 17.  She only wrote eight novels, most of them published the the 1960s. She did, however, write a number of shorter works, starting with “The Perfectionist” in 1946. In the 1950s, she published a number of stories under the byline of Idris Seabright. Most of the Seabirght stories were published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. She was still publishing as St. Clair at the same time. The fifities were her most prolific time.

“The Man Who Sold Rope to the Gnoles” (1951), which was originally  F&SF under her Seabright pseudonym, was the first story fo hers I read. I think it was in an Alfred Hitchcock anthology in the school library, but I’m not sure which one. It’s been too long. I do know that it was reprinted under her real name.

She continued to write into the 1960s, but her output dropped off by the middle of the decade. She only published four stories in the seventies, and two in the eighties.

St. Clair was once one of the leading women writers in the field, especially when writing as Idris Seabright. These days she’s not very well-known. That’s a shame, since she had an impact on the field.

But that seems to be the way of literature and publishing. Crtically-acclaimed today, forgotten tomorrow. But that’s another post for another day. Maybe.

Emsh

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Artist Ed Emshwiller (1925-1990) was born today, February 16. He signed his work Emsh.

Emshwiller was best known for his covers for Galaxy in the 1950s and for F&SF in the early sixties. That’s one of my favorites there ont he left. He also did a series fo Christmas covers for Galaxy. Mush of his work for Galaxy had a a whimsical flavor to it.

His covers for F&SF and other magazines tended to be more serious and even dark at times.

In the 1970s his interests moved to film. Here are som of his covers. Continue reading →

Jo Clayton

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Jo Clayton (1939-1998) was born on this day, January 15.

In a post earlier this  year, I asked what writers should be remembered. One of the suggestions was Jo Clayton.

I’ve never read her work, although based on some of the covers, they look like a lot of pulpy fun. The Diadem series was publiished  back in the days when DAW was still being run by Donald A. Wolheim. And old Don, he did love him some pulp.

I have most of this series in a box (or boxes) somewhere that I haven’t unpacked yet. I picked most of them up at the Friends of the Library sale on the cheap.

They are on my radar and have been for q while. I just haven’t worked them in. I’ll be unpacking boxes when I get the new bookcases next week, and I’ll keep an eye out for them.

This isn’t the only series Clayton wrote, but it is the one I’ve seen most associated with her. I’m not familiar with her other work.

DAW covers back in the 1970s really made the books look like fun. Those yellow spines were an eye-catching thing in a bookstore when the books were shelved spine out.

If any of you have read Clayton, what do you think of her work in general and this series specifically?

 

Terry Bisson

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January 12, today as I write this, is the birthday of Terry Bisson (1942-2024). We lost Terry last month.

He was a critically acclaimed writer. I hate to say that I’ve not read much of his work. Maybe a few short stories over the years.

If any of you have read much of his work, what would you suggest I read?

Two by Hautala

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Today, February 3, is the birthday of Rick Hautala (1949-2013). I actually had some time today while sitting in the Husband Holding Area while my wife did some shopping, so I read a couple of his stories. Both of these stories can be found in Glimpses: The Best Short Stories of Rick Hautala.

I’ve read some of Hautala’s work before, but that was years ago. It was good to be reminded of why I like his stuff.  Feel free to consider this post to be another in the informal series I’ve been doing of writers whose work shouldn’t be forgotten.

Before I get to the stories, let me say that Glimpses is a great  collection. I’ve only read a little of it, and the stories I chose are in the middle of the book, but if you want to sample Hautala’s work, especially at shorter lengths, then this is a great place to start. Continue reading →

C. L. Moore, Pioneer of Fantasy and Science Fiction

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Catherine Lucille (C. L.) Moore (1911-1987) was born in Indianapolis on this date, January 24. She is the third of three major fantasy writers whose birthdays are every other day in January. The first was A. Merritt, and the second was Robert E. Howard.  She is someone whose work should not be forgotten. If you haven’t read her work, or if it’s been a while, do yourself a favor and do so.

Like Howard, I’ve written about Moore so many times over the years that it’s becoming a challenge to come up with something  new. Work and some travel have kept me from doing much reading for the last week, so there won’t be a review of any particular story.  Forgive me if I rehash things from older posts. Continue reading →