NationMaster - Encyclopedia: E. E. Doc Smith

E. E. Smith, also Edward Elmer Smith, Ph.D., E.E. "Doc" Smith, Doc Smith, "Skylark" Smith, and (to family) Ted (May 2, 1890 - August 31, 1965) was a science fiction author who wrote the Lensman series and the Skylark series, among others. E. E. Smith, Grey Lensman (part of the Lensman series) in Astounding, Oct 1939 This is a magazine cover. ... E. E. Smith, Grey Lensman (part of the Lensman series) in Astounding, Oct 1939 This is a magazine cover. ... Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Note that this partial list contains some authors whose works of fantastic fiction would today be called science fiction, even if they predate, or did not work in that genre. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ...

Biography

Edward Elmer Smith was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin on May 2, 1890 to Fred Jay Smith and Caroline Mills Smith, both staunch Presbyterians of British ancestry.^[1] His mother was a teacher; his father was a sailor, born in England; they moved to Spokane, Washington that winter.^[2] In 1902 the family moved to Seneaquoteen^[3], near the Pend d'Oreille River, in northern Idaho.^[4] He had four siblings, three of whom were named Daniel, Rachel, and Mary Elizabeth. He worked primarily as a manual laborer until he injured his wrist, at the age of 19, while escaping from a fire. Sheboygans downtown along N. 8th St. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ... Presbyterianism is part of the Reformed churches family of denominations of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of John Calvin which traces its institutional roots to the Scottish Reformation, especially as led by John Knox. ... Spokane (pronounced spÅ-CAN) is the county seat of Spokane County in the State of Washington, USA. It was originally incorporated as Spokan Falls (without an e at the end), drawing on the Spokan Native American group of that name, which means Children of the Sun. ... Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Boise Boise Area Ranked 14th - Total 83,642 sq. ...

He attended the University of Idaho, where he is installed in the Alumni Hall of Fame; he entered its prep school in 1907, and graduated with two degrees in Chemical Engineering in 1914. He was president of the Chemistry Club, the Chess Club, and the Mandolin and Guitar Club, and captain of the Drill and Rifle Team; he also sang the bass lead in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas.^[5] The University of Idaho is the states land-grant and primary research university, located in Moscow. ... In the United States a preparatory school, or prep school, is usually a private secondary school (or high school) designed to prepare a student for higher education. ... Carved and round backed mandolins (front) A mandolin is a small, plucked, stringed musical instrument, descended from the mandora. ... Playwright/lyricist Sir W. S. Gilbert (1836-1911) and composer Sir Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) defined operettas or comic operas in Victorian England with a series of their internationally successful and timeless works known as the Savoy Operas. ...

On October 5, 1915 he married Jeanne Craig MacDougall, the sister of his college roommate, Allan Scott MacDougal.^[6] (Her sister was named Clarissa MacLean MacDougall; the heroine of the Lensman novels would later be named Clarissa MacDougall.) Jeanne MacDougall was born in Glasgow, Scotland; her parents were Donald Scott MacDougall, a violinist, and Jessica Craig MacLean. Her father had moved to Boise, Idaho when the children were young, and later sent for his family; he died while they were en route. Her mother worked at, and later owned, a boarding house on Ridenbaugh Street. October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). ... 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation) George Square and Glasgows City Chambers Glasgow is Scotlands largest city, located on the River Clyde in West Central Scotland. ... Motto: Energy Peril Success Nickname: City of Trees Map Political Statistics Founded 1863 Incorporated 1864 County Ada County Mayor David H. Bieter Geographic Statistics Area - Total - Land - Water 165. ...

The Smiths had three children, Roderick N., born c. 1918 (a design engineer at Lockheed Aircraft); Verna Jean (later Verna Smith Trestrail), born c. 1920, his literary executor until her death in 1994 (her son Kim Trestrail is now the executor^[7]); and Clarissa M., born c. 1921.^[8] The Lockheed SR-71, remarkably advanced for its time and unsurpassed in many areas of performance The Lockheed U-2 first flew in 1955 providing much needed intelligence on Soviet bloc countries Lockheed Corporation was an aerospace company founded in 1912 which merged with Martin Marietta in 1995 to form...

After graduating from college, he worked as a junior civil service chemist for the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C., working on standards for butter and oysters.^[9] He apparently served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Cavalry in World War I, but in what capacity is not known.^[10] One evening in 1915, while the Smiths were visiting their neighbors in the Seaton Place Apartments, Dr. Carl and Lee Hawkins Garby, Mrs. Garby suggested that Dr. Smith write a story set in outer space. Smith said that he would do so if Mrs. Garby would handle the love interest. The two had completed about a third of The Skylark of Space by the end of 1916, when they gradually abandoned work on it. The Smiths were the basis for the Seatons in the novel, and the Cranes were drawn from the Garbys.^[11] As a non-regulatory agency of the United States Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration, the National Institute of Standards (NIST) develops and promotes measurement, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. ... Nickname: the District Motto: Justitia Omnibus (Justice for All) Official website: http://www. ... The Skylark of Space is one of the earliest novels of interstellar travel. ...

Smith received a master's degree in Chemistry from George Washington University in 1917, studying under Charles E. Munroe, ^[12] and a doctorate in Chemical Engineering^[13] in 1918.^[14] Chemistry (derived from alchemy) is the science of matter at or near the atomic scale. ... The George Washington University (GWU) is a private university in Washington, D.C., founded in 1821 as The Columbian College. ... Charles Edward Munroe (24 May 1849 - 1938) was a U.S. chemist, and discoverer of the Munroe effect. ... Chemical engineering is the application of science, in particular chemistry, physics and mathematics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms. ...

In 1919 Dr. Smith took a job as chief chemist for F.W. Stock & Sons of Hillsdale, Michigan, working on doughnut mixes.^[15] Late in the year, when baby-sitting (presumably for Roderick) while his wife attended a movie, he resumed work on The Skylark of Space, finishing it in the spring of 1920.^[16] He submitted it to many book publishers and magazines, spending more in postage than he would eventually receive for its publication. He received an encouraging rejection letter from Bob Davis, editor of Argosy, in 1922, saying that he liked the novel personally, but that it was too far out for his readers.^[17] (According to Warner, but no other source, Dr. Smith began work on the sequel, Skylark III, before the first book was accepted.) Finally, upon seeing the April 1927 issue of Amazing Stories, he submitted it to the magazine; it was accepted, initially for $75, later raised to $125. ^[18] It was published in the August – September 1928 issues. It was such a success that Sloane requested a sequel before the second installment had been published.^[19] Hillsdale is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. ... Argosy was an American pulp magazine, considered to be the first pulp magazine, published by Frank Munsey. ... Amazing Stories magazine, sometimes retitled Amazing Science Fiction, began in April 1926, becoming the first science fiction magazine and one of the pioneers of science fiction in the United States. ...

Mrs. Garby wasn't interested in collaborating further, so Dr. Smith began work on Skylark Three on his own.^[20] It was published in the August through October 1930 issues of Amazing. This was as far as he had planned to take the Skylark series; it was praised in Amazing's letter column, and he was paid 3/4¢ per word, surpassing Amazing's previous record of half a cent.^[21]

Dr. Smith then began work on what he intended as a new series, starting with Spacehounds of IPC,^[22] which he finished in the autumn of 1930.^[23] In this novel he took pains to avoid the scientific implausibilities which had bothered some readers of the Skylark novels;^[24] even in 1938, after he had written Galactic Patrol, Dr. Smith considered it his finest work,^[25] and at the end of his career he considered it his only work of true science fiction.^[26] It was published in July through September 1931 issues of Amazing, but with unauthorized changes by managing editor T. O'Conor Sloane.^[27] Fan letters in the magazine complained about the novel's containment within the solar system, and Sloane sided with the readers. So when Harry Bates, editor of Astounding Stories, offered Smith 2¢/word—payable on publication—for his next story, he agreed; this meant that it could not be a sequel to Spacehounds.^[28] T. OConor Sloane ( 1851- 1940) was the editor of Amazing Stories from 1929 through 1938, when publisher Ziff-Davis moved production of the magazine to Chicago and named Raymond A. Palmer as Sloanes successor. ... Major features of the solar system (not to scale) The solar system comprises the Earths Sun and the retinue of celestial objects gravitationally bound to it. ... Harry Bates (1900-1981) was an American science fiction editor. ... Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ...

This book would be Triplanetary, "in which scientific detail would not be bothered about, and in which his imagination would run riot."^[29] Indeed, characters within the story point out its psychological^[30] and scientific^[31] implausibilities, and sometimes even seem to suggest self-parody.^[32] At other times they are conspicuously silent about obvious implausibilities.^[33] ^[34] The January 1933 issue of Astounding announced that Triplanetary would appear in the March issue, and that issue's cover illustrated a scene from the story, but Astounding's financial difficulties prevented the story from appearing.^[35] Dr. Smith then submitted the manuscript to Wonder Stories, whose editor, Charles D. Hornig, rejected it, later boasting about the rejection in a fanzine.^[36] 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... Wonder Stories was a science fiction pulp magazine which published 66 issues between 1930 and 1936, edited by Hugo Gernsback. ... A fanzine (see also: zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular subject for the pleasure of others who share their interest. ...

In January 1936 he took a job, for salary plus profit-sharing, as a food technologist (a "cereal" chemist) at the Dawn Doughnut Company of Jackson, Michigan. This initially entailed almost a year's worth of eighteen-hour days and seven-day workweeks. Once the new firm was profitable, Dr. Smith wrote an eighty-page outline for what became the core of the Lensman novels. Jackson is a city located in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ...

He worked for the US Army between 1941 and 1945. Persistent but unconfirmed accounts maintain that Dr. Smith developed the first process for "sticking" powdered sugar on doughnuts. An extended segment in Triplanetary, one of his novels, suggests intimate familiarity with explosives and munitions manufacturing.

He also lived in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Florida. Some of his biography is captured in an essay by Robert A. Heinlein, which was reprinted in the collection Expanded Universe in 1980. There is a more detailed, although allegedly error-ridden, biography in Sam Moskowitz's Seekers of Tomorrow. Official language(s) None Capital Largest city Madison Milwaukee Area - Total - Width - Length - % water - Latitude - Longitude Ranked 23rd 169,790 kmÂ² 420 km 500 km 17 42Â°30N to 47Â°3N 86Â°49W to 92Â°54W Population - Total (2000) - Density Ranked 18th 5,453,896 38. ... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Largest city Lansing Detroit Area Ranked 11th - Total 102,384 sq. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area Ranked 22nd - Total 65,794 sq. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 â€“ May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ...

Robert A. Heinlein and Dr. Smith were friends. Heinlein reported that E.E. Smith perhaps took his "unrealistic" heroes from life. He reported that E.E. Smith was a large, blond, athletic, very intelligent, very gallant man, married to a remarkably beautiful, intelligent red-haired woman named MacDougal (thus perhaps the prototypes of 'Kimball Kinnison' and 'Clarissa MacDougal'). In one of Heinlein's books, he reports that he began to suspect Smith might be a sort of "superman" when he asked Dr. Smith for help in purchasing a car. Smith tested the car by driving it on a back road at illegally high speeds with their heads pressed tightly against the roof columns to listen for chassis squeaks by bone conduction—a process apparently improvised on the spot. Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 â€“ May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Bone conduction is the conduction of sound to the inner ear through the bones of the skull. ...

Critical opinion

His novels are generally considered to be the original space operas and offer almost non-stop action. However they are, to a fair extent, still "true" science fiction, in that they use the extrapolation of known science and, often, the extrapolation of existing and historic social and political patterns of the early to mid-twentieth century. Smith himself expressed a preference for inventing fictional technologies that were not strictly impossible (so far as the science of the day was aware) but highly unlikely: "the more unlikely the better" was his phrase. Space opera is a subgenre of speculative fiction or science fiction that emphasizes romantic adventure, exotic settings, and larger than life characters. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ...

The Lensman novels were particularly interesting for their imaginative use of extra-terrestrial, non-human characters as major heros, another science fiction "first."

In recent years many critics have characterized his writings as cliché-ridden, or as using tired old themes. Dr. Smith, however, invented many of these themes. It is his imitators who made them tired old cliches. They were often totally new when he wrote them. With a little tolerance and imagination, a sense of wonder is easy to recapture, because Smith had it when he was writing his work. His excitement and enthusiasm shine through his writing and make his books well worth reading despite their age and their obvious literary flaws.

Cultural references

Vortex Blasters (a.k.a. Masters of the Vortex) is set in the same universe as the Lensman novels. It is an extension to the main storyline which takes place between Second Stage Lensman and Children of the Lens, and introduces a different type of psionics from that used by the Lensmen. Spacehounds of IPC is not a part of the series, despite occasional erroneous statements to the contrary.

Robert A. Heinlein reported that Doc had planned a seventh Lensman novel, set after the events described in Children of the Lens, which was unpublishable at that time (the early 1960s). Careful searches by people who knew Doc well (including Frederik Pohl, Doc's editor, and Verna Smith Trestrail, Doc's daughter) have failed to locate any material related to such a story. Doc apparently never wrote any of it down. Doc told Heinlein that the new novel proceeded inexorably from unresolved matters in Children, a statement easily supported by a careful reading of Children. Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 â€“ May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Frederik Pohl (born November 26, 1919) is a noted American science fiction writer and editor, with a career spanning over sixty years. ...

On 14 July 1965, barely a month before his death, E. E. Smith gave written permission to William B. Ellern to continue the Lensman series, which led to the publishing of New Lensman in 1976. Smith's long-time friend, Dave Kyle, wrote three authorized added novels in the Lensman series that provided background about the major non-human Lensmen. July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... William B. Ellern (born November 30, 1933) is a science fiction author, who in July 1965 asked for, and received, permission from E. E. Smith to extend the Lensman series of novels. ...

Randall Garrett wrote a parody entitled Backstage Lensman which Dr. Smith reportedly enjoyed. Harry Harrison also parodied Smith's work in the novel, Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers. Randall Garrett (December 16, 1927 - December 31, 1987) was a prolific writer for Astounding and other science fiction magazines in the 1950s. ... Backstage Lensman is short story by Randall Garrett, a parody or pastiche of the Lensman series of E.E. Doc Smith. ... At the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, August 2005 Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, March 12, 1925 in Stamford, Connecticut) is an American science fiction author who has lived in many parts of the world including Mexico, England, Denmark and Italy. ... Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers (1973) is a comic science fiction novel by Harry Harrison. ...

Steve 'Slug' Russell wrote the original computer game Spacewar inspired by the space battles from the Lensman series. Screenshot of Spacewar Spacewar was an early video game by Stephen Slug Russell, a multiplayer space-combat simulation inspired by Doc Smiths Lensman series of science fiction novels. ...

The GURPS role-playing game includes a worldbook based on the Lensman series. The Generic Universal Role-Playing System, commonly known as GURPS is a form of a role-playing game (RPG) designed to adapt to any imaginary gaming environment. ...

There is a Japanese Lensman anime, but it is more an imitation of Star Wars than a translation of the Lensman novels. Aficionados of Dr. Smith's writing prefer not to speak of it. Efforts to print translations of the associated manga in the United States in the early 1990's, without payment of royalties to the Smith family, were successfully blocked in court by Verna Smith Trestrail with the help of several noted science fiction fans. The cover of the 2004 DVD widescreen release of the modified original Star Wars Trilogy. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ... For other uses, see Manga (disambiguation). ...

In his biography, George Lucas reveals that the Lensman novels were a major influence on his youth, completing the tie from the books to modern popular culture through Star Wars. The factual accuracy of this article is disputed. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ...

Scientific references

As well as influencing the course of popular culture, Smith was also a huge influence on modern warfare. His books were widely read by scientists and engineers from the 1930s until the 1970s. Ideas that arguably entered the military-scientific complex from Smith's work included SDI (Triplanetary), stealth (Gray Lensman) and OODA-loops/C3 based warfare and the AWACS (Gray Lensman). One underlying theme of the novels was the difficulty in maintaining military secrecy—as advanced capabilities are revealed, the opposing side can often duplicate them. For the computer game, see S.D.I. (video game) The Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), commonly called Star Wars after the popular science fiction movies, was a system proposed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan on March 23, 1983[1] to use ground-based and space-based systems to protect... F-117 Stealth Fighter Stealth technology covers a range of techniques used with aircraft, ships and missiles, in order to make them less visible (ideally invisible) to radar and other detection methods. ... The military science term command, control, and communications or C3 designates a telecommunications network used by the command hierarchy for the command and control of a military force. ... Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) is a radar-based electronic system designed to carry out airborne surveillance, and C2BM (command and control, battle management) functions for both tactical and air defence forces. ...

An influence that is inarguable was described in a letter to Doc from John W. Campbell (the editor of Astounding magazine, where much of the Lensman series was originally published). In it, Campbell relayed Admiral Chester Nimitz's acknowledgment that he had used Smith's ideas for displaying the battlespace situation (called the "tank" in the stories) in the design of the United States Navy's ships' Combat Information Centers. "Your entire set-up was taken specifically, directly, and consciously from the Directrix in your story. Here you reached the situation the Navy found itself in — more communication channels than integration techniques to handle them. In your writing you proposed precisely such an integrating technique and proved how advantageous it could be."^[37] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ... Chester Nimitz Chester William Nimitz (February 24, 1885 â€“ February 20, 1966) was the Commander in Chief of Pacific Forces for the United States and Allied forces during World War II. He was the United States leading authority on submarines, as well as Chief of the Navys Bureau of Navigation... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations around the globe. ... A Combat Information Center (CIC), or Action Information Center (AIC) is the tactical center of a warship, manned and equipped to collect, present, manage, evaluate and disseminate information for the use of the embarked flag officer, commanding officer, and control agencies. ...

The beginning of the story the Skylark of Space describes in relative detail the protagonists research into separation of platinum group residues, subsequent experiments involving electrolysis and the discovery of a process evocative of cold fusion (over 50 years before Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann). He describes a nuclear process yielding large amounts of energy and producing only negligible radioactive waste—which then goes on to form the basis of the adventures in the Skylark books. Smith's general description of the process of discovery is highly evocative of Röntgen's descriptions of his discovery of the X-ray. Charles Bennett examines three cold fusion test cells at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA Cold fusion is a nuclear fusion reaction that takes place at or near room temperature and normal pressure instead of the millions of degrees and thousands of pounds of force required for plasma fusion reactions. ... Stanley Pons was a chemist at University of Utah who, while working with Martin Fleischmann of the University of Southampton, announced the discovery of cold fusion on March 23, 1989. ... Martin Fleischmann (1927-) is a chemist at the University of Southampton who, while working with Stanley Pons of University of Utah, announced the discovery of cold fusion on March 23, 1989. ... In the NATO phonetic alphabet, X-ray represents the letter X. An X-ray picture (radiograph) taken by Röntgen An X-ray is a form of electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength approximately in the range of 5 pm to 10 nanometers (corresponding to frequencies in the range 30 PHz...

Another theme of the Skylark novels involves precursors of modern information technology. The humanoid aliens encountered in the first novel have developed a primitive technology called the "mechanical educator," which allows direct conversion of brain waves into intelligible thought for transmission to others or for electrical storage. By the third novel in the series, Skylark of Valeron, this technology has grown into an "Electronic Brain" which is capable of computation on all "bands" of energy—electromagnetism, gravity, and "tachyonic" energy and radiation bands included. This is itself derived from a discussion of reductionist atomic theory in the second novel, Skylark Three, which is evocative of modern quark and sub-quark theories of elementary particle physics.

In his later non-series novels, Galaxy Primes, Subspace Explorers, and Subspace Encounter, E. E. Smith explores themes of telepathy and other mental abilities collectively called "psionics," and of the conflict between libertarian and dictatorial influences in the colonization of other planets.

Literary influences

In his essay "The Epic of Space," Dr. Smith listed (by last name only) authors he enjoyed reading: John W. Campbell, L. Sprague de Camp, Robert A. Heinlein, Murray Leinster, H.P. Lovecraft, A. Merritt (specifically The Ship of Ishtar, The Moon Pool, The Snake Mother, and Dwellers in the Mirage, as well as the character John Kenton), C.L. Moore (specifically Jirel of Joiry), Roman Frederick Starzl, John Taine, A.E. van Vogt, Stanley G. Weinbaum (specifically Trweel), and Jack Williamson. In a passage on his preparation for writing the Lensman novels, he notes that Canstantinescu's "War of the Universes" was not a masterpiece, but says that Starzl and Williamson were masters; this suggests that Starzl's Interplanetary Flying Patrol may have been an influence on Dr. Smith's Triplanetary Patrol, later the Galactic Patrol. He also complains about loose ends at the end of one of Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels. Dr. Smith acknowledges the help of the Galactic Roamers fan club, plus E. Everett Evans, Ed Counts, an unnamed aeronautical engineer, Dr. James Enright, and Dr. Richard W. Dodson. Dr. Smith's daughter Verna lists the following authors as visitors to the Smith household in her youth: Lloyd Eshbach, Robert Heinlein, Dave Kyle, Bob Tucker, Jack Williamson, Fred Pohl, A. Merritt, and the Galactic Roamers. Dr. Smith cites Bigelow's Theoretical Chemistry–Fundamentals as a justification for the possibility of the intertialess drive. There is also an extended reference to Rudyard Kipling's "Ballad of Boh Da Thon" in Gray Lensman. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... L. Sprague de Camp (centre) with Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov Lyon Sprague de Camp, (November 27, 1907, New York City â€“ November 6, 2000, Plano, Texas) was an American science fiction and fantasy author. ... Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 â€“ May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... Murray Leinster (June 16, 1896 - June 8, 1975) was the nom de plume of William Fitzgerald Jenkins, an American science fiction and alternative history writer. ... Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 â€“ March 15, 1937) was an American author of fantasy, horror and science fiction, noted for combining these three genres within single narratives. ... Abraham Merritt (January 20, 1884-August 21, 1943) was an American editor and author of works of fantastic fiction. ... Catherine Lucile Moore (January 24, 1911 _ April 4, 1987) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. ... Catherine Lucile Moore (January 24, 1911 - April 4, 1987) was an American science fiction and fantasy writer. ... Roman Frederick Starzl (1899 â€“ 1976) was an American author. ... Eric Temple Bell (1883 - 1960) was a mathematician born in Scotland who lived in the USA from 1903 until his death. ... Alfred Elton van Vogt (April 26, 1912 - January 26, 2000) was a Canadian-born science fiction author. ... Stanley Grauman Weinbaum (1902-1935) was an American science fiction author. ... John Stewart Williamson (born April 29, 1908), who writes as Jack Williamson but has occasionally used the pseudonym Will Stewart, is considered the Dean of Science fiction. // Life Williamson spent his early childhood in western Texas. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ... The Galactic Patrol was an intergalactic organization in E.E. Doc Smiths Lensman series. ... Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 â€“ March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan, although he also produced works in many genres. ... Robert A. Heinlein Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 – May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential authors in the science fiction genre. ... David Kyle is a New York-based fan since the earliest days of organized science fiction fandom. ... Wilson Tucker (born 1914) is an American science fiction writer and fan. ... John Stewart Williamson (born April 29, 1908), who writes as Jack Williamson but has occasionally used the pseudonym Will Stewart, is considered the Dean of Science fiction. // Life Williamson spent his early childhood in western Texas. ... Frederik Pohl (November 26, 1919â€”) is an American science fiction writer and editor. ... Abraham Merritt (January 20, 1884-August 21, 1943) was an American editor and author of works of fantastic fiction. ... Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling (December 30, 1865 â€“ January 18, 1936) was a British author and poet, born in India. ...

Sam Moskowitz's biographical essay on Dr. Smith in Seekers of Tomorrow states that he regularly read Argosy magazine, and everything by H.G. Wells, Jules Verne, H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Allan Poe, and Edgar Rice Burroughs. Moskowitz also notes that Dr. Smith's "reading enthusiasms included poetry, philosophy, ancient and medieval history, and all of English literature." The influence of these is not readily apparent, except in the Roman section of Triplanetary, and in the impeccable but convoluted grammar of Dr. Smith's narration. Some influence of nineteenth century philosophy of language may be detectable in the account in Galactic Patrol of the Lens of Arisia as a universal translator, which is reminiscent of Frege's strong realism about Sinn, i.e., thought or sense. Argosy (originally meaning a large cargo ship) may refer to: American pulp magazine Argosy Magazine a 1920s British airliner, the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy a 1960s British military transport aircraft, the Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy the Space Navy of the Systems Commonwealth from the science fiction television series Andromeda. ... H. G. Wells at the door of his house at Sandgate Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 - August 13, 1946) was an English writer best known for his science fiction novels such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. ... Jules Verne. ... H. Rider Haggard, author Sir Henry Rider Haggard (June 22, 1856 â€“ May 14, 1925), born in Kessingland, in Suffolk, England, was a Victorian writer of adventure novels set in locations considered exotic by readers in his native England. ... Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 â€“ October 7, 1849) was an American poet, short story writer, editor, critic and one of the leaders of the American Romantic Movement. ... Edgar Rice Burroughs Edgar Rice Burroughs (September 1, 1875 â€“ March 19, 1950) was an American author, best known for his creation of the jungle hero Tarzan, although he also produced works in many genres. ... Philosophy of language is the branch of philosophy that studies language. ... The Galactic Patrol was an intergalactic organization in E.E. Doc Smiths Lensman series. ... Arisia is a Boston-area science fiction convention, named for a planet in series of Lensman novels by Edward Elmer Smith, also known as Doc Smith. ... The universal translator is a fictional device common to many science fiction works. ... Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege Friedrich Ludwig Gottlob Frege (November 8, 1848 - July 26, 1925) was a German mathematician, logician, and philosopher who is regarded as a founder of both modern mathematical logic and analytic philosophy. ... Realism is commonly defined as a concern for fact or reality and rejection of the impractical and visionary. ...

Both Moskowitz and Smith's daughter Verna Smith Trestrail report that Dr. Smith had a troubled relationship with John Campbell, the editor of Astounding. It is noteworthy that Dr. Smith's most successful works were published under Campbell, but the degree of influence is uncertain. The original outline for the Lensman series had been accepted by F. Orlin Tremaine,^[38] and Dr. Smith angered Campbell by showing loyalty to Tremaine at his new magazine, Comet, when he sold him "The Vortex Blaster" in 1941.^[39] Campbell's announcement of Children of the Lens, in 1947, was less than enthusiastic.^[40] Campbell later said that he published it only reluctantly,^[41] though he praised it privately,^[42] and bought little from Smith thereafter. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ... The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ... F. Orlin Tremaine was an American science fiction editor. ...

Fictional appearances

Doc himself appears as a character in the 2006 novel The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril by Paul Malmont. The novel describes friendship and rivalry among pulp writers of the 1930s; it also includes Walter Gibson, creator of The Shadow, and Lester Dent, creator of Doc Savage. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Daniel Defoes Robinson Crusoe; title page of 1719 newspaper edition A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ... Walter Gibson was an American author who created the pulp fiction character The Shadow. ... Who knows what evil lurks?â€”The Shadow, as seen on the cover of the July 15, 1939 issue of The Shadow Magazine. ... Lester Dent (b. ... Doc Savage is a fictional character, one of the most enduring pulp heroes of the 1930s and 1940s. ...

Bibliography

Series

Lensman^[43] The Lensman series is a serial science fiction space opera by E. E. Smith. ...

Novels

Articles

Astounding Stories was a seminal science fiction magazine founded in 1930. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... Mike Resnick (born March 5, 1942) is a popular and prolific science fiction author. ... ISFiC Press is the small press publishing arm of ISFiC. Although the press officially released its first book, Robert J. Sawyers Relativity, on November 12, 2004, the people responsible for the press issued a filk CD two years earlier, entitled A Walk on the Windy Side. ... This is the song that never ends yes it gos on and on my friends some people started singing it not knowing what it was they just started singing it forever just becauseThis is the song that never ends yes it gos on and on my friends some... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Secondary sources

Heinlein autographing at the 1976 Worldcon Robert Anson Heinlein (July 7, 1907 â€“ May 8, 1988) was one of the most influential and controversial authors of hard science fiction. ... The Internet Speculative Fiction Database is a database of bibliographic information on science fiction and related genres such as fantasy fiction and horror fiction. ... Sam Moskowitz (1920-1997) was an early fan and organizer of interest in science fiction and, later, a writer. ...

References

Categories: 1890 births | 1965 deaths | American science fiction writers | Space opera | Science Fiction Hall of Fame T. OConor Sloane ( 1851- 1940) was the editor of Amazing Stories from 1929 through 1938, when publisher Ziff-Davis moved production of the magazine to Chicago and named Raymond A. Palmer as Sloanes successor. ... T. OConor Sloane ( 1851- 1940) was the editor of Amazing Stories from 1929 through 1938, when publisher Ziff-Davis moved production of the magazine to Chicago and named Raymond A. Palmer as Sloanes successor. ... Hugo Gernsback (August 16, 1884 - August 19, 1967) was an inventor and magazine publisher who also wrote science fiction and whose publication included the first science fiction magazine. ... For a non-technical introduction to the topic, please see Introduction to Special relativity. ... A frame of reference in physics is a set of axes which enable an observer to measure the aspect, position and motion of all points in a system relative to the reference frame. ... Faster-than-light (also superluminal or FTL) communications and travel are staples of the science fiction genre. ... Terra or Tellus was a primeval Roman goddess, mother of Fama. ... September 29 is the 272nd day of the year (273rd in leap years). ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... Clifford Donald Simak (August 3, 1904 _ April 25, 1988) was an American science fiction author. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1953 calendar). ... Gharlane of Eddore was a character in Doc Smiths Lensman novels, Master Number Two of the Innermost Circle of the All-Highest of Eddore. ... Amazing Stories magazine, sometimes retitled Amazing Science Fiction, began in April 1926, becoming the first science fiction magazine and one of the pioneers of science fiction in the United States. ...

Contents

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