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{{short description|American novelist}}
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'''Wilmar House Shiras''' (1908–1990) was an American [[science fiction]] author, who also wrote under the name '''Jane Howes'''. Her most famous story was "In Hiding" (1948), a novella included in the anthology, ''[[The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two|The Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]''.

{{Lead too short|date=November 2021}}

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'''Wilmar House Shiras''' (September 23, 1908 – December 23, 1990), born Wilmar Alberta House in Boston, was an American [[science fiction]] author, who also wrote under the name '''Jane Howes'''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilmar H. Shiras |url=http://womensf.loa.org/wilmar-h-shiras/ |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=The Future is Female! |publisher=[[Library of America]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Her most famous story was "In Hiding" (1948), a novella included in the anthology, ''[[The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two|The Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]''.


==Biography==
==Biography==
Born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]], Shiras attended [[University of Boston|Boston University]], but dropped out in her freshman year to get married, at the age of 18. Her husband Russell became the research supervisor for chemical engineering for [[Shell Development Company]]. Shiras attended the [[University of California at Berkeley]], studying history. She and her husband Russell raised five children, two boys and three girls,<ref name=Oakland>{{cite news|title=Oakland Author Has Busy Life|date=July 12, 1953|author=Nancy Barr Mavity|publisher=''[[Oakland Tribune]]''|pages=2C}} (note: Article includes photo)</ref> and it was for her family that Shiras began creating stories.
Born in [[Boston, Massachusetts]], Shiras attended [[University of Boston|Boston University]], but dropped out in her freshman year to get married, at the age of 18. Her husband Russell became the research supervisor for chemical engineering for [[Shell Development Company]]. Shiras attended the [[University of California at Berkeley]], studying history. She and her husband Russell raised five children, two boys and three girls,<ref name=Oakland>{{cite news|title=Oakland Author Has Busy Life|date=July 12, 1953|author=Nancy Barr Mavity|newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]]|pages=2C}} (note: Article includes photo)</ref> and it was for her family that Shiras began creating stories.


Her story "In Hiding" was submitted in 1948 to [[John W. Campbell, Jr.]]'s influential magazine ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'', where it was published in the November issue. The story, about extraordinarily gifted children who were struggling to find their place in the world, struck a chord with readers and became a classic, rapidly appearing in multiple anthologies.<ref name=Oakland/> Shiras published two sequels in the magazine: "[[Opening Doors]]," and "[[New Foundations]]." The three stories then became the first three chapters in the novel, ''[[Children of the Atom]]''.<ref>[http://www.redjacketpress.com/authors/wilmar_shiras.html Biography]</ref> It was published during her later-in-life sophomore year in college, attending the [[College of the Holy Names]]. Shiras also worked part-time as a translator for a New York publishing house. The book, about "the inevitable adjustments and maladjustments of minority genius to majority mediocrity", was hailed as another step in science fiction's coming of age, as it focused more in intellectual analysis and less on gadget-driven "[[space opera]]"<ref>{{cite news|title=How Orphaned Child Prodigy Reacts to Mediocre World|date=July 12, 1953|author=Nancy Nye|publisher=''[[Oakland Tribune]]''|pages=2C}} (note: Article includes photo)</ref> She was credited for writing which showed a deep knowledge of people, and also demonstrated a foundation of [[Thomistic]] philosophy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Berkeley Center of Gravity for the Fantasy Fictioneers|publisher=''[[Reno Evening Gazette]]''|date=September 24, 1953|pages=5|author=Anthony Boucher}}</ref>
Her story "In Hiding" was submitted in 1948 to [[John W. Campbell, Jr.]]'s influential magazine ''[[Astounding Science Fiction]]'', where it was published in the November issue. The story, about extraordinarily gifted children who were struggling to find their place in the world, struck a chord with readers and became a classic, rapidly appearing in multiple anthologies.<ref name=Oakland/> Shiras published two sequels in the magazine: "Opening Doors," and "New Foundations." The three stories then became the first three chapters in the novel, ''[[Children of the Atom]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wilmar Shiras: Author of Children of the Atom |url=https://www.redjacketpress.com/authors-wilmar-shiras |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=Red Jacket Press}}</ref> It was published during her later-in-life sophomore year in college, attending the [[College of the Holy Names]]. Shiras also worked part-time as a translator for a New York publishing house. The book, about "the inevitable adjustments and maladjustments of minority genius to majority mediocrity", was hailed as another step in science fiction's coming of age, as it focused more in intellectual analysis and less on gadget-driven "[[space opera]]"<ref>{{cite news|title=How Orphaned Child Prodigy Reacts to Mediocre World|date=July 12, 1953|author=Nancy Nye|newspaper=[[Oakland Tribune]]|pages=2C}} (note: Article includes photo)</ref> She was credited for writing which showed a deep knowledge of people, and also demonstrated a foundation of [[Thomistic]] philosophy.<ref>{{cite news|title=Berkeley Center of Gravity for the Fantasy Fictioneers|publisher=[[Reno Evening Gazette]]|date=September 24, 1953|pages=5|author=Anthony Boucher}}</ref>


==Works==
==Works==
* 1948, "In Hiding," novella first published in ''Astounding Science Fiction''
* 1948, "[https://archive.org/stream/Astounding_v42n03_1948-11_cape1736#page/n39/mode/2up In Hiding]", novelette, ''Astounding Science Fiction'', November 1948
* 1949, "[https://archive.org/details/Astounding_v43n01_1949-03_cape1736/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater Opening Doors]", novelette, ''Astounding Science Fiction'', March 1949
* 1949, "Opening Doors," short story
* 1950, "[https://archive.org/details/sim_astounding-science-fiction_1950-03_45_1/page/4/mode/2up?view=theater New Foundations]", novelette, ''Astounding Science Fiction'', March 1950
* 1949, "New Foundations," short story
* 1953, ''[[Children of the Atom]]'' novel, [[Gnome Press]]
* 1953, ''[[Children of the Atom]]'' novel, [[Gnome Press]]
* 1946 [[Slow Dawning]] (by Howes, Jane Pseud. Shiras, Wilmar House)
* 1946 [[Slow Dawning]] (by Howes, Jane Pseud. Shiras, Wilmar House)
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* ''[[The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two|The Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]''
* ''[[The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Volume Two|The Science Fiction Hall of Fame]]''


The [[Science Fiction Book Club]] named ''Children of the Atom'' at #14 on their list of "The Most Significant SF & Fantasy Books of the Last 50 Years, 1953-2002."<ref>[http://www.sfbc.com/doc/content/sitelets/FSE_Sitelet_Theme_2.jhtml?SID=nmsfctop50 Top 50 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books], list by the Science Fiction Book Club</ref>
The [[Science Fiction Book Club]] named ''Children of the Atom'' at #14 on their list of "The Most Significant SF & Fantasy Books of the Last 50 Years, 1953-2002."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 50 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books at the Wayback Machine, list by the Science Fiction Book Club |url=http://www.sfbc.com/doc/content/sitelets/FSE_Sitelet_Theme_2.jhtml?SID=nmsfctop50 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703052426/http://www.sfbc.com/doc/content/sitelets/FSE_Sitelet_Theme_2.jhtml?SID=nmsfctop50 |archive-date=3 July 2007 |access-date=3 July 2007}}</ref>


==Influence==
==Influence==
Shiras's stories "In Hiding," "Opening Doors," and "New Foundations" became the first three chapters of ''Children of the Atom'',<ref name=":0" /> and they have been credited, but never confirmed, as a source of inspiration for [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]]’s world-famous comic book creation, ''[[X-Men|The Uncanny X-Men]].''<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=David |date=5 March 2022 |title=Science Fiction & The X-Men, Part 1: The Golden Age Origins of Marvel's Heroes & Mutants |url=https://www.comicbookherald.com/science-fiction-the-x-men-part-1-the-golden-age-origins-of-marvels-heroes-mutants/ |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=Comic Book Herald |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Trushell |first=John M |date=5 July 2004 |title=American Dreams of Mutants: The X-Men-"Pulp" Fiction, Science Fiction, and Superheroes |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0022-3840.2004.00104.x |journal=Journal of Popular Culture |volume=38 |issue=1 |pages=149–168 |doi=10.1111/j.0022-3840.2004.00104.x |via=Wiley Online Library|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
The story "In Hiding" has been credited—though never officially confirmed — with providing the inspiration for [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]]’s world-famous comic book creation, ''[[X-Men|The Uncanny X-Men]].''{{Citation needed|date=August 2007}}


==Notes==
==Notes==
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[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni]]
[[Category:Holy Names University alumni]]
[[Category:Holy Names University alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Boston]]
[[Category:Novelists from Boston]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century women writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:Women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:American women science fiction and fantasy writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American short story writers]]

Latest revision as of 05:18, 7 April 2024

Wilmar House Shiras (September 23, 1908 – December 23, 1990), born Wilmar Alberta House in Boston, was an American science fiction author, who also wrote under the name Jane Howes.[1] Her most famous story was "In Hiding" (1948), a novella included in the anthology, The Science Fiction Hall of Fame.

Biography[edit]

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Shiras attended Boston University, but dropped out in her freshman year to get married, at the age of 18. Her husband Russell became the research supervisor for chemical engineering for Shell Development Company. Shiras attended the University of California at Berkeley, studying history. She and her husband Russell raised five children, two boys and three girls,[2] and it was for her family that Shiras began creating stories.

Her story "In Hiding" was submitted in 1948 to John W. Campbell, Jr.'s influential magazine Astounding Science Fiction, where it was published in the November issue. The story, about extraordinarily gifted children who were struggling to find their place in the world, struck a chord with readers and became a classic, rapidly appearing in multiple anthologies.[2] Shiras published two sequels in the magazine: "Opening Doors," and "New Foundations." The three stories then became the first three chapters in the novel, Children of the Atom.[3] It was published during her later-in-life sophomore year in college, attending the College of the Holy Names. Shiras also worked part-time as a translator for a New York publishing house. The book, about "the inevitable adjustments and maladjustments of minority genius to majority mediocrity", was hailed as another step in science fiction's coming of age, as it focused more in intellectual analysis and less on gadget-driven "space opera"[4] She was credited for writing which showed a deep knowledge of people, and also demonstrated a foundation of Thomistic philosophy.[5]

Works[edit]

Recognition[edit]

The story "In Hiding" was included in:

The Science Fiction Book Club named Children of the Atom at #14 on their list of "The Most Significant SF & Fantasy Books of the Last 50 Years, 1953-2002."[6]

Influence[edit]

Shiras's stories "In Hiding," "Opening Doors," and "New Foundations" became the first three chapters of Children of the Atom,[3] and they have been credited, but never confirmed, as a source of inspiration for Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s world-famous comic book creation, The Uncanny X-Men.[3][7][8]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Wilmar H. Shiras". The Future is Female!. Library of America. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  2. ^ a b Nancy Barr Mavity (July 12, 1953). "Oakland Author Has Busy Life". Oakland Tribune. pp. 2C. (note: Article includes photo)
  3. ^ a b c "Wilmar Shiras: Author of Children of the Atom". Red Jacket Press. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  4. ^ Nancy Nye (July 12, 1953). "How Orphaned Child Prodigy Reacts to Mediocre World". Oakland Tribune. pp. 2C. (note: Article includes photo)
  5. ^ Anthony Boucher (September 24, 1953). "Berkeley Center of Gravity for the Fantasy Fictioneers". Reno Evening Gazette. p. 5.
  6. ^ "Top 50 Science Fiction and Fantasy Books at the Wayback Machine, list by the Science Fiction Book Club". Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 3 July 2007.
  7. ^ Bowen, David (5 March 2022). "Science Fiction & The X-Men, Part 1: The Golden Age Origins of Marvel's Heroes & Mutants". Comic Book Herald. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  8. ^ Trushell, John M (5 July 2004). "American Dreams of Mutants: The X-Men-"Pulp" Fiction, Science Fiction, and Superheroes". Journal of Popular Culture. 38 (1): 149–168. doi:10.1111/j.0022-3840.2004.00104.x – via Wiley Online Library.

References[edit]

  • "New Creative Writers", Library J, 78:452, March 1, 1953

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wilmar_H._Shiras&oldid=1217669837"