Phillips, Alexander M
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
(1907-1991) US author and long-time sf fan, based in Philadelphia, who wrote a small body of science fiction, fantasy and nonfiction. He was a technical writer and draughtsman as well as an amateur naturalist and photographer. His first professionally published story was "The Death of the Moon" (February 1929 Amazing), in which advanced Aliens from the Moon attempt to conquer Earth in the Dinosaur era and are killed by a Tyrannosaurus rex. "The Thing on the Afterdeck", a 34,000 word novella, was serialized in two parts in Top-Notch for December 1936 and January 1937. He wrote other science fiction tales including "Beast of the Island" (September 1939 Amazing) and "An Enemy of Knowledge" (April 1947 Astounding) but he is best remembered for the humorous fantasy The Mislaid Charm (February 1941 Unknown; 1947), later published in book form by the Philadelphia-based Prime Press as their initial offering. Though he had no inkling at the time, he was later to marry the daughter of James Williams, one of the co-owners of Prime Press. In addition to ten genre stories, he also wrote the articles "Time Travel Happens" (December 1939 Unknown) about the Moberly-Jourdain incident in Versailles, and "Do We Need More Scientists?" (January 1930 Amazing). He largely ceased to write after returning from service in World War Two. [LW]
Alexander Moore Phillips
born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 17 August 1907
died Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 4 May 1991
works
- The Mislaid Charm (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Prime Press, 1947) [February 1941 Unknown: hb/L Robert Tschirky]
links
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