Science Fiction and Fantasies Literary Talents

Apr 10th, 2011 Frederick Hail

Every great science fiction or fantasy writer has to get his or her start somewhere. Jules Verne, the "father" of science fiction, first exercised his literary talent as co-author of a comic opera libretto, Colin-Millard, in 1848, and saw his first novel, Five Weeks in a Balloon, published in 1863. His most memorable novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth" was published in 1864. So enticing was the story that one hundred years later, the story was made into a movie several different times including a children's animated series.

Stephen King's earliest stories were presented in his brother's mimeographed periodical, Dave's Rag, leading to the serialized, "I Was a Teenage Grave Robber," published over several issues of the 1965 fanzine Comics Review. His first novel, Carrie, released in 1974, was an international best seller and later became a successful movie. In addition to science fiction and fantasy, he wrote equally well in the suspense and horror genres and many of his works also made it to Hollywood.

Marion Zimmer Bradley, author of the bestselling Mists of Avalon, got her start with the publication of "Falcons of Narabedia" in the May 1957 issue of Other Worlds. Inauspicious as they were, these maiden publications marked the beginnings for some of the most successful and popular writers in the history of science fiction writing.

L. Ron Hubbard, whose first published work, Tah, appeared in the school newspaper of George Washington University in 1932. A tale of military adventure, more akin to Rudyard Kipling than Jules Verne, it is the story of Tah, a 12-year-old soldier in the Chinese army, forced to undertake a grueling march to a terrifying battle site at which the young combatant loses his life in grisly fashion. In what is clearly an early work, the seeds of Hubbard's brilliance for characterization can clearly be seen, as the author takes pains to delve into the psyche of the young man, demonstrating Hubbard's talent for making a fictional moment real, and drawing the reader inexorably into the action on the page.

Isaac Asimov wrote what many consider as hard science fiction. The "Foundation Series," originated as a series of eight short stories in "Astounding Magazine" but later became seven full hard core novels which later earned him a Hugo Award.

Another outstanding writer was J.R.R. Tolkien. His "Lord of the Rings" series was hugely successful and profitable. He noted in a letter he wrote in 1968, that the journey his character "Bilbo Baggins" took over the "Misty Mountains," came from his personal experiences on a hiking trip he took with 12 others in the mountains of Switzerland. It was another great series that Hollywood would eventually recreate.

For lovers of great storytelling everywhere, the science fiction and fantasy genre have some literary giants and you owe it to yourself to acquaint yourself with these master wordsmiths.

About the Author:

Frederick Hail is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning through audio books on cd collections. Galaxy Press Publishing, publisher of "The Golden Age Stories" and all genres of pulp fiction stories and novels, offers a convenient subscription service, so you never have to miss an issue. It's a pulp fiction lover's dream!

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