Today, October 21, marks the birth of Edmond Hamilton (1904-1977). Hamilton isn’t well remembered outside of pulp aficionados, and we aren’t getting any younger, are we guys?

(I’m using the word “guys” in a gender neutral, nonsexist kind of way.)

Hamilton wrote for the pulps, beginning with “The Monster-God of Mamurth” in the August 1926 issue of Weird Tales. Much of Hamilton’s early fiction was published in Weird Tales.

Hamilton is best remembered today for his space opera. Series such as The Star Kings and The Star Wolves helped to cement Hamilton’s reputation as one of the leading practitioners of space opera.

He wrote many of the Captain Future pulps in the forties. A number of these were later reprinted in paperback with some amazing Frazetta covers. Unfortunately, this pulp was considered to be juvenile, and Hamilton’s work on it has eclipsed much of his more adult-oriented fiction.

That fiction includes such stories as “He That Hath Wings”, “What’s It Like Out There?”, and “The Pro”.

“What’s It Like Out There?” was one of the first stories to take a pessimistic view of space travel. Perhaps pessimistic isn’t the right word. It focused on how hard and difficult space travel would be. The story was published in the December 1952 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories. It’s in my opinion one of Hamilton’s best stories, if not his best.

Hamilton married fellow author Leight Brackett on December 31, 1846. Their only collaboration was “Stark and the Star Kings”, which was supposed to have appeared in Last Dangerous Visions sometime in the late seventies. It was finally published by Haffer Press in 2005.

Hamilton also wrote for DC Comics, primarily for Superman and Batman.

Much of Hamilton’s early work wasn’t as polished as his later books and stories. That’s to be expected as a writer learns his craft. I once read an introduction by Isaac Asimov to a Hamilton story in which he criticized Hamilton for flagrant violation of the laws os physics. Get over it, Isaac.

Hamilton’s brand of space opera would be quite popular if it were being published today. I read the Star Wolf series in an omnibus edition when I was in high school. I loved it, and I thought at the time it was well-written with good characterization.

I’m not sure how I would feel about it now, as it’s been [REDACTED] years since I read it.

One thing that’s missing from much science fiction these days is a sense of fun. I’m not talking about a sense of wonder, although that’s in short supply as well. I’m talking about fun. Like the original Star Wars movie.

Since Hollywood can’t seem to come up with an original idea these days, maybe someone could adapt Hamilton’s space opera for film

No, on second thought, scratch that. After what they’ve done to other properties, it would be best Hollywood kept its hands to itself.

So, raise a glass to Hamilton, and if you have a chance and can get your hands on a copy of his work, read some in his memory.