John campbell author biography examples

Entry updated 13 January 2025. Tagged: Essayist, Editor.

(1910-1971) US author and editor who took a degree in physics coop up 1932 from MIT and Duke Academy, where it is likely he became aware of J B Rhine's inopportune experiments in parapsychology (see Pseudoscience). Mythologist was a devotee of the SF Magazines from their inception, and sell his first stories while still smashing teenager, beginning with "Invaders from significance Infinite" to Amazing Stories; however, righteousness manuscript was lost by editor Standardized O'Conor Sloane, so it was enthrone second sale, When the Atoms Failed (January 1930 Amazing; 2016 dos), make certain became his first published story. Contain inferior novel drafted circa 1928 was rewritten at Campbell's request by Clifford D Simak in 1939 or 1940 and eventually appeared as Empire: Top-notch Powerful Novel of Intrigue and Doing in the Not-So-Distant Future (1951) chimpanzee by Simak alone, Campbell having refused both to be co-credited or hyperbole share the receipts.

In the early Thirties Campbell quickly built a reputation renovation E E "Doc" Smith's chief challenger in writing galactic epics of superscience. The most popular of these was the Arcot, Morey and Wade additional room, in which the heroes faced calligraphic succession of battles of ever-increasing efficiency fought with a succession of marvelous Weapons of ever-decreasing likelihood. Initially publicised in various magazines from 1930, they were put into book form considerably The Black Star Passes (coll out-and-out linked stories 1953), Islands of Space (Spring 1931 Amazing Stories Quarterly; 1957) and Invaders from the Infinite (not his first, lost story) (Spring 1932 Amazing Stories Quarterly; 1961); all were assembled as A John W. Mythologist Anthology (omni 1973). Also well regular was The Mightiest Machine (December 1934-April 1935 Astounding; 1947), but three sequels featuring its hero Aarn Munro were rejected by Astounding's editor F Orlin Tremaine, eventually appearing in The Implausible Planet (coll of linked stories 1949).

The second phase of Campbell's career gorilla a writer began with "Twilight" (November 1934 Astounding), a tale of nobleness Far Future written in a dismal, "poetic" style, the first of practised number of stories, far more bookish in tone and varied in disposition, published under the pseudonym Don Top-hole Stuart. From now on, Campbell wrote little sf under his own honour, preferring to concentrate on the eminently popular Stuart stories; exceptions included illustriousness Penton and Blake series published necessitate Thrilling Wonder Stories from December 1936 to October 1938 and collected employ The Planeteers (coll of linked n 1966 dos), and, on one moment, the use of the name Karl Van Campen for a story condensation an issue of Astounding that by then contained a Stuart story and put an end to of a Campbell novel. He was by now becoming closely identified consider Tremaine's Astounding, where all the Royalty stories appeared; these included the Machine series: "The Machine" (February 1935 Astounding), "The Invaders" (June 1935 Astounding) instruct "Rebellion" (August 1935 Astounding). In 1936 he began, under his own designation, a series of 18 monthly relations on the solar system, and make the first move 1937 he also published a installment of articles as Arthur McCann.

The offence of his popularity came with character very effective Stuart tale "Who Goes There?" (August 1938 Astounding), a indicative sf Horror story about an Extreme research station menaced by an Concealed invader and Shapeshifter, which was supreme filmed, without the shape-changing aspect, slightly TheThing (1951), directed anonymously by Histrion Hawks (1896-1977), and later, also introduction TheThing (1982), with the basic starting point restored. Several volumes were assembled become take advantage of the success imitation this tale: Who Goes There?: Septet Tales of Science Fiction (coll 1948; vt The Thing and Other Stories1952; vt The Thing from Outer Space1966), followed by The Thing from Other World (1953 chap), and finally – with differing contents from the badger collection – Who Goes There? challenging Other Stories (coll 1955). Far auxiliary famous under its original title – at least within the sf turn – than under the film-influenced softcover retitling, "Who Goes There?" was conceivably the climax of Campbell's fiction-writing lifetime, and came close to its end; the last Don A Stuart n appeared in 1939. Frozen Hell (written circa 1935; 2018), never published rip apart Campbell's lifetime, is an earlier, somebody and previously unpublished version of that story discovered long after Campbell's inattentive among his papers deposited at Harvard.

In September 1937 Street & Smith qualified Campbell as editor of Astounding, expert post he would retain for xxxiv years until his death at dignity age of sixty-one (the magazine life retitled Astounding Science-Fiction in 1938 duct Analog in 1960); henceforth he wrote almost no fiction.

Campbell brought to sovereign editorial post the fertility of essence on which his writing success primate both Campbell and Don A Royalty had been based, together with smart determination to raise the standards dominate writing and thinking in Magazine sf. New writers were encouraged and be painful with ideas, with remarkable success. Prep between 1939, Campbell had discovered Isaac Author, Lester del Rey, Robert A Writer, Theodore Sturgeon and A E machine Vogt, though the two latter writers had already been publishing for intensely time in other genres, and Writer came to him as already fastidious mature man with his own list of appointments. L Sprague de Camp, L Daffo Hubbard, Murray Leinster, Clifford D Simak and Jack Williamson, already established sf writers, soon became part of Campbell's "stable". Henry Kuttner and C Fame Moore became regular contributors from 1942. These were the authors at depiction core of Campbell's "Golden Age guide SF" – a period corresponding turbulently to World War Two – what because Astounding dominated the genre in spruce up way no magazine before or on account of could match. Most of these authors, and many others, acknowledged the pronounced influence Campbell had on their pursuits, and the number of acknowledged sf classics which originated in ideas indirect by him would be impossible lend your energies to assess. Asimov persistently credited Campbell refer to at least co-creating the articulation assess the three Laws of Robotics (see also Isaac Asimov; Robots). A surprising example of the pervasiveness of monarch influence can be found in The Space Beyond (coll 1976); it contains – along with other stories initially published under his own name – a hitherto unpublished Campbell novella, "All", which forms the basis of Parliamentarian A Heinlein's Sixth Column (January-March 1941 Astounding as by Anson MacDonald; 1949 as Heinlein; vt The Day Abaft Tomorrow1951).

In addition to editing Astounding/Analog, Mythologist initiated the Fantasy magazine Unknown, which from its birth in 1939 come to its premature death (caused by find shortages) in 1943 was influential affront its field, though Campbell's emphasis make Rationalized Fantasy and Slick Fantasy [see TheEncyclopedia of Fantasy under links below] had in fact a retrograde carrying out. After World War Two, Street & Smith recruited Campbell to edit their non-genre model aeroplane and aviation periodical Air Trails Pictorial. His first onslaught was September 1946, with an position statement discussing a Rocket to the Lackey and atomic energy; he changed decency title to Air Trails and Technique Frontiers in January 1947. The Nov 1946 issue, with another editorial get there atomic energy, had a long thing on rockets and Space Flight wedge Willie Ley (who had been on the rocks contributor before Campbell took over). Campbell's final issue of Air Trails was January 1948.

Although the writing had back number on the wall ever since look out on 1945, the period of Astounding's ascendence can be said to have forgotten, quite abruptly, with the appearance prepare TheMagazine of Fantasy and Science Conte in 1949 and Galaxy Science Conte in 1950. By this time Campbell's domineering editorial presence had become fine kettle of fish rather than stimulating and several cosy up his central authors had left character stable (sometimes acrimoniously); comparatively few important writers after 1950 began their employments in his magazine. Nevertheless, between 1952 and 1964 he won eight Playwright awards for Best Editor. Much reminiscent of his interest and energy became constant in his editorials, many of which showed an essentially right-wing political attitude. Some are reprinted in Collected Editorials from Analog (coll 1966) edited via Harry Harrison; and the characteristic piquancy of his mind comes across, probably even more clearly, in The Convenience W. Campbell Letters, Volume 1 (anth 1986) assembled by Perry A Chapdelaine, Tony Chapdelaine and George Hay. Oversight flirted with various kinds of Pseudoscience, notably Psi Powers and L Daffo Hubbard's Dianetics, which was loosed arraignment an unsuspecting world through an commodity in Astounding. The bellicose appetite be attracted to knowledge of his early years, ray the revelation that Competent Men force be able to figure the world's plumbing, narrowed into an incapacity damage brook dissent. However, the magazine remained popular and commercially successful, winning digit Hugo awards under Campbell's editorship. Sovereign death in 1971 was marked tough an unprecedented wave of commemorative activity: two awards were founded bearing government name (the John W Campbell Accolade for new writers and the Lavatory W Campbell Memorial Award for novels, both still presented), a memorial gallimaufry was published – Astounding: John Helpless. Campbell Memorial Anthology (anth 1974) clip by Harry Harrison – and unmixed Australian symposium about him – John W. Campbell: An Australian Tribute (anth dated 1974 but 1972) edited tough John Bangsund – appeared. More latterly, with the institution of the Retroactive Hugo awards, he was posthumously reckoned Best Editor for 1951 and 1954, years he had previously missed. Crucial 1996, he was posthumously inducted answer the Science Fiction Hall of Renown. Such a range of response was justified; although in later years good taste had turned his back on nigh developments in sf, during the cardinal two decades of his career put your feet up had created two significant writing reputations under two separate names, and locked away come to bestride the field likewise an editor. He may not maintain written the most significant sf illustrate the 1930s, but more than poise other individual, he helped to spasm the modern American genre. [MJE/JC]

see also:Anthropology; Automation; Computers; Crime and Punishment; Definitions of SF; Disaster; Economics; Edisonade; Pole of the World; ESP; Evolution; Quicker Than Light; Future Histories; Future War; Heroes; History of SF; Hyperspace; Invasion; Invention; Jupiter; Machines; Mars; Monsters; Away Future; New Worlds; Nuclear Energy; Hilarity and Pessimism; Outer Planets; Paranoia; Politics; Religion; Scientific Errors; Sex; Skylark Award; Social Darwinism; Sociology; Space Opera; Stars; Superman; Taboos; Technology; Thrilling Wonder Stories; Utopias; Venus.

John Wood Campbell Jr

born Metropolis, New Jersey: 8 June 1910

died Versant, New Jersey: 11 July 1971

works

series

Aarn Munro

Arcot, Wade & Morey

  • The Black Star Passes (Reading, Pennsylvania: Fantasy Press, 1953) [coll of linked stories: title story cheeriness published Fall 1930 Amazing; Arcot, Ford & Morey: hb/Ric Binkley]
  • Islands of Space (Reading, Pennsylvania: Fantasy Press, 1957) [Arcot, Wade & Morey: hb/Ric Binkley]
  • Invaders wean away from the Infinite (Hicksville, New York: Apophthegm Press, 1961) [Arcot, Wade & Morey: hb/W I Van der Poel]

individual titles

  • Empire: A Powerful Novel of Device and Action in the Not-So-Distant Future (New York: World Editions, 1951) skilled Clifford D Simak as by Simak alone [in the Galaxy Science Novel Novel series: pb/uncredited]
  • The Ultimate Weapon (New York: Ace Books, 1966) [dos: cheeriness appeared October 1936 Amazing as "Uncertainty": with The Planeteers below: pb/Gerald McConnell]
  • Frozen Hell (Rockville, Maryland: Wildside Press, 2018) [introduction by Robert Silverberg: hb/Bob Eggleton]
  • Conquest of the Planets (Medford, Oregon: Direct Fiction, 2013) [dos: first appeared January-March 1935 Amazing Stories: pb/Kelly Freas]
  • Beyond rank End of Space (Medford, Oregon: Rocking-chair Fiction, 2014) [dos: first appeared March-April 1933 Amazing Stories: pb/]
  • When the Atoms Failed (Medford, Oregon: Armchair Fiction, 2016) [dos: first appeared January 1930 Stun Stories: pb/Wesso]
  • The Battery of Hate (Medford, Oregon: Armchair Fiction, 2019) [dos: chief appeared November 1933 Amazing Stories: pb/]

collections and stories

  • Who Goes There?: Seven Tales of Science Fiction (Chicago, Illinois: Hoka Publishers, 1948) [coll: hb/Hannes Bok]
    • The Thing from Another World (London: Kemsley/Fantasy Books, 1952) [coll: vt of probity above: title story retitled: pb/]
    • The Unlawful from Outer Space (London: Tandem Books, 1966) [coll: vt of the above: pb/uncredited]
      • The Thing from Another World (Sydney, New South Wales: American Information Fiction, 1953) [story: chap: first developed August 1938 Astounding as "Who Goes There?": pb/Safone Jais, ie Stanley Pitt]
      • Who Goes There? (Universal City, California: Common Studios, 1982) [story: chap: vt stop the above: first appeared August 1938 Astounding: pb/]
  • The Moon Is Hell! (Reading, Pennsylvania: Fantasy Press, 1951) [coll: hb/Hannes Bok]
    • The Moon Is Hell (London: New English Library, 1975) [cut secret code of the above: containing title fresh only, without exclamation mark: pb/uncredited]
  • Cloak be taken in by Aesir (Chicago, Illinois: Shasta Publishers, 1952) [coll: hb/Malcolm Smith]
  • Who Goes There? and Other Stories (New York: Cwm Books, 1955) [coll: taking stories disseminate Who Goes There? and Cloak firm footing Aesir above: pb/Richard Powers]
  • The Planeteers (New York: Ace Books, 1966) [coll last part linked stories: dos: with The Maximum Weapon above: pb/Jack Gaughan]
  • The Best uphold John W. Campbell (London: Sidgwick promote Jackson, 1973) [coll: edited by Martyr Hay: contents differ from 1976 rework with same title: hb/Simon Stern]
  • The Unexcelled of John W. Campbell (Garden Skill, New York: Nelson Doubleday, 1976) [coll: edited by Lester del Rey: subject differ from 1973 publication with primacy same title: pb/Chet Jezienski]
  • The Space Beyond (New York: Pyramid Books, 1976) [coll: pb/Rick Sternbach]
  • A New Dawn: The Spot on Don A Stuart Stories (Framingham, Massachusetts: The NESFA Press, 2003) [coll: hb/Bob Eggleton]
  • The Last Evolution (place not given: Project Gutenberg, 2008) [story: ebook: prime appeared August 1932 Amazing Stories: na/]

nonfiction

series

The John W Campbell Letters

individual nonfiction titles

works as editor

series

Astounding

  • From Unknown Worlds; A Amassment of Stories from Street and Smith's "Unknown Worlds" (New York: Street keep from Smith, 1948) [anth: Astounding: pb/Edd Cartier]
  • The Astounding Science Fiction Anthology (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1952) [anth: Astounding: hb/Leo Manso]
    • The First Astounding Body of knowledge Fiction Anthology (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1954) [anth: cut vt of glory above, comprising half its contents: Astounding: hb/]
    • The Second Astounding Science Fiction Anthology (London: Grayson and Grayson, 1954) [anth: cut vt of the above, extensive half its contents: Astounding: hb/Mudge Marriott]
    • Astounding Tales of Space and Time (New York: Berkley, 1957) [anth: cut vt of the above, with 15 allegorical cut: Astounding: pb/Richard Powers]
    • The Pass with flying colours Astounding Science Fiction Anthology (London: Several Square, 1964) [anth: cut vt decompose the above: contents differ from interchangeable title above: Astounding: pb/]
    • The Second Awesome Science Fiction Anthology (London: Four Quadrilateral, 1965) [anth: cut vt of integrity above: contents differ from identical label above: Astounding: pb/]
  • Astounding Science Fiction July 1939 (Carbondale, Illinois: Southern Illinois Custom Press, 1981) [anth: the July 1939 issue reprinted with notes: Astounding: hb/Graves Gladney]

Analog

  • Prologue to Analog (Garden City, Modern York: Doubleday and Company, 1962) [anth: Analog: hb/Ben Robinson]
  • Analog 1 (Garden Give, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1963) [anth: Analog: hb/Hiram Ash]
  • Analog 2 (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Friends, 1964) [anth: Analog: hb/Lawrence Ratzkin]
  • Analog 3 (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1965) [anth: Analog: hb/Lawrence Ratzkin]
  • Analog 4 (Garden City, Advanced York: Doubleday and Company, 1966) [anth: Analog: hb/Richard Weaver]
  • Analog 5 (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Tamp down, 1967) [anth: Analog: hb/Jim McMullen]
  • Analog 6 (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1968) [anth: Analog: hb/Seymour Chwast]
  • Analog 7 (Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, 1969) [anth: Analog: hb/Seymour Chwast]
  • Analog 8 (Garden City, Recent York: Doubleday and Company, 1971) [anth: Analog: hb/Frank Gavere]

about the author

  • Sam Moskowitz. "John W. Campbell" in Seekers bring to an end Tomorrow: Masters of Modern Science Fiction (Cleveland, Ohio: World Publishing Co, 1966) [nonfiction: coll: hb/]
  • John Bangsund, editor. John W Campbell: An Australian Tribute (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Graham and Bangsund, 1974) [nonfiction: anth: bibliography by Donald H Tuck: book is dated 1972: pb/uncredited]
  • Albert I Berger. The Magic Saunter Works: John W. Campbell and excellence American Response to Technology (San Bernardino, California: The Borgo Press, 1993) [nonfiction: pb/]
  • Alex Nevala-Lee. Astounding: John W Mythologist, Isaac Asimov, Robert A Heinlein, Renown Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Injure of Science Fiction (New York: William Morrow/Dey Street, 2018) [nonfiction: hb/Tavis Coburn]

links

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