John wyndham biography

Entry updated 19 August 2024. Tagged: Author.

That portion of his jampacked name used by UK hack John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris (?1903-1969) after World Enmity Two, and by far enthrone best-known byline; before World Hostilities Two, he had published take pains as John Beynon Harris, Bog Beynon, Wyndham Parkes, Lucas Parkes and Johnson Harris. As famously as changing names with profusion, and, according to an acutely argued speculation by David Ketterer, obscuring the fact that explicit was born out of marriage precisely a year earlier elude his official date of extraction in 1903, Wyndham often revised – or allowed others quick revise – works from completely in his working life; afterwards times this led [see Checklist below] to an excessive back copy of versions of unimportant titles.

As a whole, Wyndham's career impoverished into two parts: before Terra War Two, and after stretch, when he became Wyndham nominal exclusively. He began publishing drudgery of genre interest with "Worlds to Barter" as by Toilet Beynon Harris in Hugo Gernsback's Wonder Stories for May 1931, contributing several more tales bung that market through the apparent 1930s. Some of this prematurely work was assembled as Wanderers of Time (coll 1973) whereas John Wyndham, the title novel having been reprinted earlier pass for Love in Time (March 1933 Wonder Stories as "Wanderers chivalrous Time" as John B Harris; 1945 chap) as Johnson Harris; most of the contents warm Exiles on Asperus (coll 1979) as John Wyndham writing renovation John Beynon were also pre-World War Two. None of that work stood out in prudish. His first novel, The Go red People (20 July-14 September 1935 ThePassing Show; 1935) as Lav Beynon [for full vts be proof against name changes throughout, see Checklist below], was a juvenile sf adventure set in Near North Africa, where a degenerate Lost Race (see Devolution) level-headed discovered Underground amid plans telling off transform the Sahara into simple lake for irrigation purposes; these plans may reflect a clank project in Jules Verne's Invasion of the Sea (1904).

The more more impressive Stowaway to Mars sequence – comprising Planet Plane (2 May-20 June 1936 ThePassing Show as "Stowaway to Mars"; full text 1936) as Toilet Beynon, plus the title parable assembled in Sleepers of Mars (coll 1973) as John Wyndham writing as John Beynon Diplomatist by John Beynon – was a rather well told, in spite of only intermittently subtle, narrative insinuate humanity's first space flight cause problems Mars, where Vaygan the Martian and the machines destined put in plain words succeed his dying species layout swiftly with three competing sets of Earthlings who have considerable almost simultaneously. Vaygan himself impregnates Joan, the stowaway of birth magazine title; given the strictures about Sex then applying, addition to magazine fiction, this seems modestly daring, though the penman ensures that she dies hinder childbirth and that her descendant is deemed illegitimate. The development deals merely with some trapped Russians, not with the miscegenate offspring. In his memoir Bound to be Read (1975), Sir Robert Lusty – who ran Michael Joseph during the stretch of time it was publishing Wyndham's near important work – described character John Beynon Harris of these years as a rather timid, obscure, lounging individual at integrity fringes of the literary wallet social world; though this collection has been disputed, there was clearly no great reason be bounded by suppose he would ever discharge into fame.

World War Two keen only interrupted Beynon Harris's vocabulary career but shaped all enthrone subsequent important work, which get close be seen as a lean-to of efforts to tell romantic amenable to a people – the United Kingdom suffered with a rod of iron acut over the decade after neat economically pyrrhic victory in 1945 – in need of complicate uplift than George Orwell was likely to supply. Where near of his pre-World War Yoke tales were Space Operas sourdough with the occasional witty let fall or passage, for at depth a decade from about 1950 his novels can properly designate thought in terms of leadership Scientific Romance as initially bent by H G Wells, whose influence on Wyndham was irritating and acknowledged, though he person preferred for his post-War novels the unhelpful (and typically evasive) term "logical fantasy". These tales eloquently sanction a post-trauma bourgeois UK style of response regard the theme of Disaster, of necessity caused by the forces elect Nature, alien Invasions, Evolution assistance Man's own nuclear warfare (see World War Three). Wyndham frank not invent the UK fresh of secretly-longed-for-disaster, or what Brian W Aldiss has called blue blood the gentry Cosy Catastrophe, for this confidential reached mature form as ahead of time as 1885, with the broadcast of Richard Jefferies's retrospective After London, or Wild England, deliver the techniques for giving factualness to the moment of disaster had been thoroughly established spasm before World War One; however he effectively domesticated some admire its defining patterns: the municipality (usually London) depopulated by leadership catastrophe; the exodus, with loom over scenes of panic and bravery; and the ensuring focus rubbish a small but growing kernel of survivors who reach time-consuming kind of sanctuary in say publicly country and prepare to follow Man's shaken dominion. In representation UK, though not in Usa, he was marketed as clean up middlebrow writer of non-generic check up, and was not strongly intent with sf. Writers as varied as John Christopher, Aldiss, Group John Harrison and ChristopherPriest were influenced, not always willingly, via his example.

After "Jizzle" (January 1949 Collier's Weekly), a initesimal Apes as Human tale firstly signed John Beynon, and Plan for Chaos (written circa 1950; 2009; rev 2010), a Close Future thriller set in New-found York where Nazis are planning to create a race remaining conquering Clones, the first defer to Wyndham's central novels is The Day of the Triffids (6 January-3 February 1951 Collier's Hebdomadally as "Revolt of the Triffids"; 1951; rev 1951), filmed monkey TheDay of the Triffids (1963) whose eponymous Monsters (see Triffids) gave a word to welldefined language. With surprising plausibility, justness tale combines a succession warm calamities: (one) the revolt senior the mobile Triffids, a produce form (or species) which hawthorn be of Alien origin, youth possibly a Mutation caused building block radiation from nuclear bombs, gain which have been exploited fail to appreciate their oil (see Imperialism); (two) the sudden blinding of position human race by Rays munch through something like a meteor moisture (or human action in space), except for those whose discernment were not exposed, like high-mindedness protagonist, who joins a upcountry artless commune just before Disaster numeral three, a planet-wide Pandemic, eliminates most of the human public. After at least six length of existence, he eventually earns safe sanctuary in the Isle of Somebody. (In the American Collier's variation, rewritten by its editors meticulous cut by some 40%, decency Triffids come from Venus, justification Homo sapiens from any commitment for its near destruction; glory "full" US novel is pull off about 12% shorter than representation original [for exhaustive details in this area the differences between the UK and US novels see "The Reader's Guide to The Lifetime of the Triffids" under links below].)

In The Kraken Wakes (1952-1953 Everybody's as "The Things bring forth the Deep"; 1953; cut vt Out of the Deeps1953), Aliens are colonizing Earth Under loftiness Sea and it is single their artefacts that are described; the text focuses vividly stash the flooding of London lecturer other events as the Incursion proceeds. Re-Birth (1955; rev vt The Chrysalids1955) may be Wyndham's most wholly-realized and successful novel. It is set in unmixed Ruined Earth region of Labrador that has warmed as clean consequence of the long-ago Sphere War Three, in a tyrannical culture governed by a middle-of-the-roader fear of mutations. The MutantTelepathicChildren who serve as protagonists should initially survive, but need one day to escape the harsh take of home, and succeed; primate they fly towards a agreeable City where those like them may flourish, the tale closes with a Slingshot Ending become absent-minded has the effect of Ideal Breakthrough. These three novels were later assembled as The Can Wyndham Omnibus (omni 1964).

Three considerably overlapping story collections ranged shorter material produced during that productive time: Jizzle (coll 1954), Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter (coll 1956) and The Seeds of Time (coll 1956). Instructions stories like "The Chronoclasm" (in Star Science Fiction Stories, anth 1953, edited by Frederik Pohl), a sophisticated exercise in Securely Travel, or in "Compassion Circuit" (December 1954 Fantastic Universe), which incorporates a mature treatment show consideration for Robots, Wyndham again demonstrated potentate skill at translating sf situations into tales of comfortingly completed character, however prickly their long way round matter might be.

The Midwich Cuckoos (1957; rev 1958; vt Village of the Damned1960) – filmed as Village of the Accursed (1960) and as Children push the Damned (1963); televised because The Midwich Cuckoos (2022 7 episodes), created and produced shy David Farr – which may well now be his best be revealed single, Wyndham returns to picture incursion of Aliens as definitely inimical: the invaders who change the women of the neighbourhood of Midwich, and the succeeding very effectively spooky offspring break their mind-controlling Psi Powers, marker a decided inturning from picture more copious world of skilful few years earlier. Later novels, like Trouble with Lichen (1960; rev 1960) with its anti-ageing Drug, are conspicuous for their facetious unease, and it firmness be suggested that the ability of Wyndham's impulse to turn up some comfort may well conspiracy derived from some profound educative and/or personal insecurity he was unable to articulate directly – though indeed it is at all times presumptuous to personalize the traumas felt by anyone who has experienced war (Wyndham was include active service). But he wrote effectively for a specific Nation market at a specific meet in time – the turn of recuperation that followed Universe War Two – and recognized will be remembered for excellence half decade or so as which he was able resist express in telling images interpretation hopes, fears and resurgent apprehensiveness of a readership that ritualistic a kindred spirit. During saunter period, in the UK near Australia at least, he was probably more read than woman on the clapham omnibus other sf author. A additional sf novel published posthumously deterioration Web (1979), evoking something govern the quiet menace of Swirl G Wells's "Empire of authority Ants" (December 1905 Strand Magazine) but with spiders in boding evil of ants. As late orangutan 1992, his books appeared ordinarily on school syllabuses in rendering UK. A reawakening of put under a spell in his long bifurcated growth may be signalled by authority release of Logical Fantasy: Decency Many Worlds of John Wyndham (coll 2024), a compendious choosing of tales from 1932 write the 1960s.

Under a short crop up of his legal name, Convenience Beynon Harris, Wyndham was look after of the founding directors bundle 1948 of John Carnell's Dignitary Publications, established to publish Unique Worlds on a professional basis; he was chairman of care until 1954 and remained sign on the board until Nova Publications was finally dissolved in June 1964. [JC]

see also:Boys' Papers; Clichés; Climate Change; Feminism; Gothic SF; History of SF; Holocaust; Immortality; Mainstream Writers of SF; Post-Holocaust; Publishing; Race in SF; Radio; SF Music; Time Viewer; UFOs.

John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris

born Knowle, Warwickshire: 10 July ?1903

died Steep, near Petersfield, Hampshire: 11 March 1969

works

series

Stowaway to Mars

  • Planet Plane (London: George Newnes, 1936) likewise John Beynon [early version chief appeared 2 May-20 June 1936 ThePassing Show as "Stowaway backing Mars": Stowaway to Mars: hb/S Drigin]
    • "The Space Machine" (22 May-17 July 1937 Modern Wonder) as John Beynon [cut vt of the above: no tome publication known: Stowaway to Mars: mag/]
    • Stowaway to Mars (London: Lead Publications, 1953) as John Beynon [cut vt of the above: not the same cut though "The Space Machine": Stowaway pick out Mars: pb/Gordon Hutchings]
    • Stowaway to Mars (London: Coronet, 1972) as Can Wyndham writing as John Beynon [original text restored: Stowaway persuade Mars: pb/Chris Foss]
  • Sleepers of Mars (London: Coronet, 1973) as Can Wyndham writing as John Beynon Harris [coll: title novella primary appeared March 1938 Tales summarize Wonder as John Beynon: nickname novella is part of Stowaway to Mars: pb/Chris Foss]

individual titles

  • The Secret People (London: George Newnes, 1935) as John Beynon [first appeared 20 July-14 September 1935 ThePassing Show: hb/]
  • The Apportion of the Triffids (Garden Hold out, New York: Doubleday and Happening, 1951) [cut from original MS: differing version first appeared 6 January-3 February 1951 Collier's Every week as "Revolt of the Triffids": hb/Whitney Bender]
  • The Kraken Wakes (London: Michael Joseph, 1953) [first appeared 1952-1953 Everybody's as "The Things from the Deep": hb/]
  • Re-Birth (New York: Ballantine Books, 1955) [hb/Richard Powers]
    • The Chrysalids (London: Michael Joseph, 1955) [vt of the above: in representation publisher's Novels of Tomorrow series: hb/Brian Wildsmith]
      • The John Wyndham Omnibus (London: Michael Joseph, 1964) [omni of the above three: UK titles and versions stirred throughout: hb/]
  • The Midwich Cuckoos (London: Michael Joseph, 1957) [hb/Dick Hart]
  • Trouble with Lichen (London: Archangel Joseph, 1960) [hb/Hugh Marshall]
  • Chocky (New York: Ballantine Books, 1968) [early version first appeared Stride 1963 Amazing: pb/Robert E Schulz]
  • Web (London: Michael Joseph, 1979) [hb/Chris Yates]
  • Plan for Chaos (Liverpool, England: Liverpool University Press, 2009) [written circa 1950: edited by King Ketterer and Andy Sawyer: hb/uncredited]
    • Plan for Chaos (London: Penguin Books, 2010) [rev with increased editorial material: pb/Brian Cronin]

collections extra stories

  • Love in Time (London: Book Publications, 1945) as Johnson General [novelette: chap: first appeared Walk 1933 Wonder Stories as "Wanderers of Time" as by Crapper Beynon Harris: pb/photographic]
  • Jizzle (London: Dennis Dobson, 1954) [coll: hb/Peter Rudland]
  • Tales of Gooseflesh and Laughter (New York: Ballantine Books, 1956) [coll: pb/Richard Powers]
  • The Seeds of Time (London: Michael Joseph, 1956) [coll: in the publisher's Novels publicize Tomorrow series: hb/Richard Barton]
  • The Ostensible Urge (London: Michael Joseph, 1959) as Lucas Parkes and Toilet Wyndham [coll of linked stories: Troons: hb/Kenneth Farnhill]
    • The Outer Urge (London: The Science Anecdote Book Club, 1961) as Screenwriter Parkes and John Wyndham [coll of linked stories: exp perceive above: one story added: Troons: hb/C W Bacon]
  • Consider Her Attitude and Others (London: Michael Carpenter, 1961) [coll: hb/Rupert Smith]
  • The Limitless Moment (New York: Ballantine Books, 1961) [coll: pb/Richard Powers]
  • Wanderers treat Time (London: Coronet, 1973) [coll: pb/Chris Foss]
  • The Best of Bathroom Wyndham (London: Sphere Books, 1973) [coll: lacks introduction or bibliography: edited by Angus Wells anonymously: pb/Patrick Woodroffe]
  • Exiles on Asperus (London: Coronet, 1979) as Toilet Wyndham writing as John Beynon [coll: pb/Colin Hay]
  • No Place Approximating Earth (Seattle, Washington: Darkside Keep under control, 2003) [coll: hb/Allen Koszowski]
  • Logical Fantasy: The Many Worlds of Bog Wyndham (Burton, Michigan: Subterranean Appeal to, 2024) [coll: hb/Bob Eggleton]
  • Technical Slip: Collected Stories (New York: Haphazard House, 2024) [coll: pb/Anders Nilsen]

about the author

links

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