As I’m writing this, there are still a few hours left of November 25, which makes it Poul Anderson’s birthday (b. 1924), but most of you will read this on November 26, making it Frederik Pohl’s 100th birthday (b. 1919). Continue reading
“Rustle of Wings”
Fredric Brown
First published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1953
Fredric Brown was born on this date, October 29, 1906. He passed away in 1972.
Brown was probably the only writer to be equally regarded in both the science fiction & fantasy and mystery fields. He’s experiencing something of a renaissance in the mystery field right now. He deserves to be rediscovered as a writer of science fiction and fantasy. His only science fiction in print that I’m aware of are the two Fredric Brown megapacks from Wildside Press. Continue reading
“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
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
Today (September 24) there are several birthdays of note (waves at John Kessel), but I want to focus on two of them. The first is a little-known British writer, Charles Birkin (1907-1985). The other, and this is an exception to my unwritten rule of focusing on dead writers in these birthday posts, is David Drake (b. 1945). Continue reading
“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
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
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.
Today (September 1) is the birthday of two literary giants, Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) and Harold Lamb (1892-1962). Continue reading
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