Difference between revisions of "James Blish"
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(May 23, 1921 – July 30, 1975) | (May 23, 1921 – July 30, 1975) | ||
| − | Blish was an early | + | '''James Blish''' was an early [[actifan]], but is primarily remembered today as a [[pro]] writer and [[critic]]. He wrote [[sf]] under his own name, and criticism under the [[pen name]] of [[William Atheling, Jr.]] |
| − | In the late | + | In the late ’30s and early ’40s, he edited a [[fanzine]], ''[[The Planeteer]]'', was a member of the [[Futurians]] (and was one of those to be thrown out in 1945 according to the "[[X Document]]"), and attended one of the [[Early Conventions|earliest conventions]], the [[Second Eastern States Science Fiction Convention]]. He was a member of [[VAPA]], book reviewer for ''[[Fantasy Times]]'', [[critic]] for ''[[Sky Hook]]'', and a member of the [[Science Fiction Advancement Association]]. After the [[War]], he founded [[Vanguard Records]] with [[Robert Lowndes]]. |
Blish was married to the literary agent [[Virginia Kidd]] from 1947 to 1963, and later to [[Judy Lawrence]]. | Blish was married to the literary agent [[Virginia Kidd]] from 1947 to 1963, and later to [[Judy Lawrence]]. | ||
| − | He was [[Worldcon]] [[GoH]] at [[Pittcon]], and won the [[1959 Best Novel Hugo]] for the novel-length version of ''A Case of Conscience'', the [[1954 Best Novelette Retro Hugo]] for "Earthman Come Home" and the [[1954 Best Novella Retro Hugo]] for "A Case of Conscience". He was also nominated for the [[1956 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1970 Best Novella Hugo]], and the [[1951 Best Novelette Retro Hugo]]. He is credited with coining the term | + | He was [[Worldcon]] [[GoH]] at [[Pittcon]], and won the [[1959 Best Novel Hugo]] for the novel-length version of ''A Case of Conscience'', the [[1954 Best Novelette Retro Hugo]] for "Earthman Come Home" and the [[1954 Best Novella Retro Hugo]] for "A Case of Conscience". He was also nominated for the [[1956 Best Short Story Hugo]], [[1970 Best Novella Hugo]], and the [[1951 Best Novelette Retro Hugo]]. He is credited with coining the term ''gas giant.'' |
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His criticism was collected and published by [[Advent]] as | His criticism was collected and published by [[Advent]] as | ||
* ''[[The Issue at Hand]]'', by [[William Atheling, Jr.]] (1964) | * ''[[The Issue at Hand]]'', by [[William Atheling, Jr.]] (1964) | ||
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* ''[[The Tale That Wags the God]]'', by James Blish (1987) | * ''[[The Tale That Wags the God]]'', by James Blish (1987) | ||
| − | The short-lived [[James Blish Award]] for criticism was named after him, | + | The short-lived [[James Blish Award]] for criticism was named after him, as is the [[William Atheling, Jr. Award]]. He was one of the founders of the [[Milford Conference]] and of the [[Science Fiction Foundation]]. |
| − | Blish was born in New Jersey, lived in Milford, Pennsylvania until the mid-1960s. In 1968, he emigrated to England, and lived in Oxford until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame. | + | Blish was born in [[New Jersey]], lived in Milford, [[Pennsylvania]], until the mid-1960s. In 1968, he emigrated to [[England]], and lived in [[Oxford]] until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame. |
{{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKFowEqJ6QM | text=GoH Speech video at Pittcon}} | {{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKFowEqJ6QM | text=GoH Speech video at Pittcon}} | ||
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* 1970 -- [[SCI-CON 70]] | * 1970 -- [[SCI-CON 70]] | ||
* 2002 -- [[SF Hall of Fame]] | * 2002 -- [[SF Hall of Fame]] | ||
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| + | [http://jamesblish.com/ Official website] | ||
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{{person | website=http://jamesblish.com/ | born=1921 | died=1975}} | {{person | website=http://jamesblish.com/ | born=1921 | died=1975}} | ||
Revision as of 14:23, 4 October 2020
(May 23, 1921 – July 30, 1975)
James Blish was an early actifan, but is primarily remembered today as a pro writer and critic. He wrote sf under his own name, and criticism under the pen name of William Atheling, Jr.
In the late ’30s and early ’40s, he edited a fanzine, The Planeteer, was a member of the Futurians (and was one of those to be thrown out in 1945 according to the "X Document"), and attended one of the earliest conventions, the Second Eastern States Science Fiction Convention. He was a member of VAPA, book reviewer for Fantasy Times, critic for Sky Hook, and a member of the Science Fiction Advancement Association. After the War, he founded Vanguard Records with Robert Lowndes.
Blish was married to the literary agent Virginia Kidd from 1947 to 1963, and later to Judy Lawrence.
He was Worldcon GoH at Pittcon, and won the 1959 Best Novel Hugo for the novel-length version of A Case of Conscience, the 1954 Best Novelette Retro Hugo for "Earthman Come Home" and the 1954 Best Novella Retro Hugo for "A Case of Conscience". He was also nominated for the 1956 Best Short Story Hugo, 1970 Best Novella Hugo, and the 1951 Best Novelette Retro Hugo. He is credited with coining the term gas giant.
His criticism was collected and published by Advent as
- The Issue at Hand, by William Atheling, Jr. (1964)
- More Issues at Hand, by William Atheling, Jr. (1970)
- The Tale That Wags the God, by James Blish (1987)
The short-lived James Blish Award for criticism was named after him, as is the William Atheling, Jr. Award. He was one of the founders of the Milford Conference and of the Science Fiction Foundation.
Blish was born in New Jersey, lived in Milford, Pennsylvania, until the mid-1960s. In 1968, he emigrated to England, and lived in Oxford until his death in 1975. He is buried in Holywell Cemetery, Oxford, near the grave of Kenneth Grahame.
GoH Speech video at SCI-CON 70
Awards, Honors and GoHships:
- 1954 -- Best Novelette Retro Hugo for "Earthman Come Home", Best Novella Retro Hugo for "A Case of Conscience"
- 1959 -- Best Novel Hugo for A Case of Conscience
- 1960 -- Pittcon
- 1967 -- Lunacon 10
- 1970 -- SCI-CON 70
- 2002 -- SF Hall of Fame
| Person | Website | 1921—1975 |
| This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names. |
