Davenport, Basil
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author, Critic, Editor.
(1905-1966) US academic and anthologist. His connection with sf began with An Introduction to Islandia [for subtitle see Checklist] (1942 chap), a book about Islandia (1942) by Austin Tappan Wright; his introduction to Stephen Vincent Benét for that author's Selected Works (coll 1942 2vols) is strong and sympathetic. Then came a short critical and historical study, Inquiry into Science Fiction (1955 chap). Describing himself as a "toastmaster", Davenport also introduced (though Earl Kemp actually edited, anonymously) the critical anthology, The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism (anth 1959; rev 1964), which contains lectures delivered by Alfred Bester, Robert Bloch, Robert A Heinlein and C M Kornbluth at a 1957 symposium at the University of Chicago. His Anthologies are in the main fantasy rather than sf, though Invisible Men (anth 1960) deals with the Invisibility theme in both genres. Three of these anthologies were compiled with the aid of Allen de Graeff, uncredited; it has been suggested that de Graeff may have edited them entirely. [PN]
see also: SF in the Classroom.
Basil Davenport
born Louisville, Kentucky: 7 March 1905
died New York: 7 April 1966
works
nonfiction
- An Introduction to Islandia: Its History, Custom, Laws, Language, and Geography, as Prepared by Basil Davenport from Islandia: History and Description, by Jean Perrier, First French Consul to Islandia; And Translated by John Lang, First American Consul (New York: Farrar and Rinehart, 1942) [chap: ostensible nonfiction: hb/]
- Inquiry into Science Fiction (London: Longmans, Green, 1955) [nonfiction: chap: hb/]
works as editor
series
Tales to Be Told
- Ghostly Tales to Be Told: A Collection of Stories from the Great Masters, Arranged for Reading and Telling Aloud (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1950) [anth: Tales to Be Told: hb/]
- Tales to Be Told in the Dark: A Selection of Stories from the Great Authors, Arranged for Reading and Telling Aloud (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1953) [anth: Tales to Be Told: hb/]
- Tales to Be Told in the Dark: A Selection of Stories from the Great Masters, Arranged for Reading and Telling Aloud (London: Faber and Faber, 1953) [anth: cut version of the above: Tales to Be Told: hb/Margaret Wolpe]
- Horror Stories from Tales to Be Told in the Dark: A Selection of Stories from the Great Authors (New York: Ballantine Books, 1960) [anth: cut vt of the above: Tales to Be Told: pb/Richard Powers]
individual titles as editor
- Deals with the Devil: An Anthology (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1958) with Allen de Graeff, uncredited [anth: hb/]
- Twelve Stories from Deals with the Devil: An Anthology (New York: Ballantine Books, 1959) with Allen de Graeff, uncredited [anth: cut vt of the above: pb/Richard Powers]
- Invisible Men (New York: Ballantine Books, 1960) with Allen de Graeff, uncredited [anth: pb/Richard Powers]
- 13 Ways to Dispose of a Body: An Anthology (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1966) [anth: hb/]
- Famous Monster Tales (Princeton, New Jersey: Van Nostrand, 1967) with Allen de Graeff, uncredited [anth: hb/Thomas Ruzicka]
nonfiction works as editor
- The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism (Chicago, Illinois: Advent: Publishers, 1959) [nonfiction: anth: intro by Davenport, but actually edited by Earl Kemp anonymously: Davenport is not listed as editor: hb/Jon Stopa Associates]
- The Science Fiction Novel: Imagination and Social Criticism (Chicago, Illinois: Advent: Publishers, 1964) [nonfiction: anth: exp version of the above: intro by Davenport, but actually edited by Earl Kemp: hb/Jon Stupa]
links
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