Henry Beam Piper was born on this day, March 23, in 1904. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1964.
Piper is not well known today, and that’s a shame. In his lifetime, he was best known for two series, The Paratime Police and the Terro-Human Future History, as well as the stand-alone short story “Omnilingual”. His best known novels include the Little Fuzzy subseries of his future series and Space Viking, which was a major influence on Jerry Pournelle. Piper was a student of history who built his future history by using real history as a guide, similar to what Poul Anderson was doing with his Technic future history.
I read most of Piper’s works that were in print when I was in high school, which was most of them. The only thing I didn’t read were the Paratime stories. For several years, I had a summer job flagging for a crop dusting company that was spring mesquite trees in cow pastures. What that means is that several men walked across the pasture in (hopefully) a line so the pilot would know where to spray. We would move out of the way ahead of the plane. (These days this is all done by GPS.) One summer I carried a Piper paperback in my backpack and read three or four of his books while I would wait for the plane to get a refill and come back.
I think I’ll read one of the Paratime stories tonight to honor his memory.
At least some commentators put “Omnilingual” as a part of the THFH. But, if so, it is a very early part and reads perfectly well as a stand alone.
You’re correct. I had forgotten that. As you say, the story occurs so early in the timeline that it is essentially a stand alone.
Given your stat of residence, you might try Lone Star Planet/A Planet For Texans. This one is stand-alone. The book probably should not be taken too seriously, but I shall always enjoy the open season on politicians. 🙂
I read it when I was in high school, back nineteen -mumblty-mum, and rather enjoyed it.
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Thank you, Mr. West, for reminding me that it was H. Beam Piper’s birthday. I think it might be more accurate to say that Piper himself was a major influence on Jerry Pournelle. They were good friends, so much so that Dr. Pournelle could not believe that Piper’s death was suicide and went so far as to travel to Williamsport PA to look into the matter. I heard him speak of it on one occasion; he said it was the suicide note that convinced him, it was written so completely in Piper’s own voice.
I owe hours of entertainment and a life-long interest in history to Mr. Piper and Dr. Jerry Pournelle. Here’s a toast to H. Beam Piper on is birthday.
You’re quite welcome. And I agree. Your wording is more accurate. Piper definitely kindled my interest in history, along with Poul Anderson. He deserves to be better remembered today.