Herbert, Benson
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
(1912-1991) UK editor and author with a master's degree in science who began publishing sf in US magazines with "The World Without" for Wonder Stories in February 1931 and was fairly active in the 1930s. Crisis! – 1992 (October 1935-January/February 1936 Wonder Stories as "The Perfect World"; 1936), with an introduction by M P Shiel, deals with the ominous passage of another planet close to Earth's orbit, and with what humans discover when they land on it: the planet is actually a World Ship. During World War Two Herbert wrote several very short, moderately exuberant Space Operas: Hand of Glory: Strange Adventures in the Pennines (circa 1943 chap); Thieves of the Air (?1943 chap) with Festus Pragnell; Strange Romance (1943 chap) and The Red-Haired Girl (1944 chap). With Walter Gillings as director, Herbert financed and founded Utopia Publications, which published some sf, including the American Fiction series and Strange Tales. He edited the Journal of Paraphysics from 1967 until his death. [JC/PN]
Benson Herbert
born Wallsend-on-Tyne, Tyne and Wear: 16 May 1912
died Boscombe, Bournemouth, Hampshire: 21 April 1991
works
- Crisis! – 1992 (London: Richards Press, 1936) [first appeared October 1935-January/February 1936 Wonder Stories as "The Perfect World": introduction by M P Shiel: hb/]
- Hand of Glory: Strange Adventures in the Pennines (London: Lloyd Cole, ?1943) [chap: pb/]
- Thieves of the Air (London: Lloyd Cole, circa 1943) with Festus Pragnell [chap: pb/H W Perl]
- Strange Romance (London: Lloyd Cole, 1943) [chap: pb/]
- The Red-Haired Girl (London: Lloyd Cole, 1944) [story: chap: pb/]
links
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