Watson, Frederick
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
(1885-1935) UK publisher and author who also wrote as by Ian Ferguson and John Ferguson. He is of sf interest for The Ghost Rock; Or, White Man's Gold (1912; vt The Treasure of the Hills circa 1920s), a Lost Race tale narrated by a young man whose exceedingly vigorous inventor uncle (see Inventions) – who may have been moulded on Watson's father, John Watson (1850-1907), a notoriously if genially domineering figure who wrote as by Ian Mclaren – embroils him in various adventures, including violent chase scenes in New York, voyages in an exceedingly swift Airship, and the discovery of a hidden City in Brazil occupied by ancient Phoenicians. Credulity Island (1916) is a spoof Robinsonade; Pandora's Young Men (1920) is an essentially nonfantastic Satire on those who avoided World War One, in which Watson served, by taking up jobs in the Ministry of Recreation. [JC]
Frederick Watson
born Liverpool, England: 1885
died 1935
works (selected)
- The Ghost Rock; Or, White Man's Gold (London: James Nisbet and Company, 1912) [illus/hb/John Cameron]
- The Treasure of the Hills (London: James Nisbet and Company, circa 1920s) [vt of the above: illus/hb/John Cameron]
- Credulity Island (London: Herbert Jenkins, 1916) [hb/]
- Pandora's Young Men (London: W Collins Sons and Company, 1920) [hb/]
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