Alfred Bester

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Alfred Bester (* 18th December 1913 in Manhattan, New York ; † the 30th September 1987 in Doylestown , Pennsylvania ) was an American science fiction - author . In 1953 he won the first Hugo Award for his novel The Demolished Man .

Life

Bester grew up as the son of Jewish, but not very religious parents. In 1926 he first came into contact with science fiction when he read editions of Hugo Gernsback's Amazing Stories at newsstands . His interest in reading the SF remained, but he was rather bored with the stories of the following Pulp era.

Alfred Bester studied science and art history at the University of Pennsylvania . In 1935 he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts , and in 1936 he married. The transition to professional life, however, failed because of personal disorientation, he studied again for several years at Columbia University and then began writing SF texts. He submitted his first story as a contribution to a short story competition at Thrilling Wonder Stories , after a revision by the editors Mort Weisinger and Jack Schiff it was accepted there and published in April 1939 as The Broken Axiom .

He learned some basic writing techniques from authors such as Henry Kuttner , Manly Wade Wellman , Edmond Hamilton and Otto Binder , whom he met at the time. By 1942, 13 more stories had appeared, according to his own statement, qualitatively rather “finger exercises”. Among them is the end-time story Adam And No Eve , published in Astounding in September 1941 , the best known and mostly classified as the best. In it the last person still alive recognizes that his body alone can bring new life to the dead earth by crawling into the sea and thus “fertilizing” it. Weisinger and Schiff then changed the genre in 1942 and turned to comics, Bester followed suit and, after an introduction by Bill Finger, wrote manuscripts for comics such as Superman , Captain Marvel or Green Lantern . From 1946 he wrote for radio play series such as Charlie Chan , Nero Wolfe or Hercule Poirot , and from 1950 also for television.

However, Bester was frustrated due to the severe production restrictions in these series. At the request of Horace L. Gold , he turned back to science fiction for the first time since 1942. After a brief guest appearance at John W. Campbell's “ Astounding ”, he wrote not only over a dozen short stories by 1959, but also the two novels that are now considered to be his main works: The Demolished Man from 1952 and The Stars My Destination from 1957 .

The Demolished Man is a police story in which telepathy is a common and successful method of fighting crime. An important aspect of the story is a jingle with an enormous catchy tune that the protagonist has in his head in order to protect his thoughts from accidental scans and thus avoid the law enforcement officers. The novel - the best of science fiction elements also as a detective novel under the title Who He? published - became the first recipient of the Hugo Award .

The Stars My Destination (published in England and Germany as Tiger! Tiger! ) Is the story of Gully Foyle, a sailor of a spaceship who is not rescued after an accident by a passing ship, but still survives and then seeks revenge for his failure to rescue. The story is based on Alexandre Dumas ' The Count of Monte Christo , but gives it its own character through avant-garde typographical elements that were rare in science fiction at the time.

After these successes, Bester's productivity gradually declined again, instead of fiction, he mainly wrote columns and reviews, including for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and the magazine Holiday , for which he was also an editor from 1967 and which he did not publish until 1970 their sale left.

It wasn't until 1974 that Bester published a new novel, The Computer Connection , which, however, was rated as rather unsuccessful - not least by himself. In the following two years, in addition to two collections of short stories, his autobiographical sketch My Affair With Science Fiction was published . Then in 1980 another novel appeared with Golem 100 . Although it is generally not considered to be of the same rank as his classic novels of the 1950s, it is considered to be better than his other novels, including The Deceivers , which followed in 1982 .

He also published collections of short stories on a regular basis. Bester's short stories established his fame as a writer, and stories like The Men Who Murdered Mohammed (about unsuccessful attempts to change history through time travel) or Fondly Fahrenheit (about a seemingly insane robot who actually mirrors the twisted psyche of its owner) are important parts of his work.

The unfinished manuscript Psychoshop was found in Bester's estate and was given to Roger Zelazny to finish it. After his death, the completed text was discovered in Zelazny's estate and published in 1998 as a co-production.

Awards

0000 Prometheus Award “Hall of Fame” for The Stars My Destination

The asteroid (230765) Alfbester was named after Alfred Bester in 2003. In the science fiction television series Babylon 5, there is a character played by Walter Koenig named Alfred Bester.

bibliography

Novels

  • The Push of a Finger (short novel in: Astounding Science-Fiction, May 1942 )
  • The Demolished Man (1951)
    • German: Storm on the Universe: A utopian detective novel. Translated by Heinz Otto. Goldmanns Zukunftsromane # 3, 1960. Also as: Demolition. Translated by Horst Pukallus . Heyne SF&F # 3670, 1979, ISBN 3-453-30587-6 .
  • Who he? (1953; also: The Rat Race , 1956)
  • Tiger! Tiger! (1956; also: The Stars My Destination , 1959)
    • English: The revenge of the cosmonaut. Translated by Gisela Stege. Heyne SF&F # 3051, 1965. Also called: Tiger! Tiger! Translated by Gisela Stege. Heyne (Library of Science Fiction Literature # 24), 1983, ISBN 3-453-30963-4 . Also called: The Burning Man. Translated by Gisela Stege and Irene Bonhorst. Heyne SF&F # 8210, 2000, ISBN 3-453-16418-0 .
  • The Flowered Thundermug (1964, short novel in: Alfred Bester: The Dark Side of the Earth )
  • The Indian Giver (3 parts in: Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact, November 1974  ff .; also: The Computer Connection , 1975; also: Extro , 1975)
    • German: The computer and the immortals. Translated by Walter Brumm. Pabel (Terra Paperback # 276), 1976.
  • Alfred Bester's The Stars My Destination, Volume One: The Graphic Story Adaptation (1979; with Howard Chaykin)
  • Golem 100 (1980)
    • German: Golem 100. Translated by Michael Kubiak. Bastei Lübbe Paperback # 28110, 1983, ISBN 3-404-28110-1 .
  • The Deceivers (1981)
    • German: all or nothing. Translated by Michael Görden. Bastei Lübbe Science Fiction Bestseller # 22068, 1984, ISBN 3-404-22068-4 .
  • Tender Loving Rage (1991)
  • Psychoshop (1998, with Roger Zelazny )
  • The Starcomber (2013, short novel)

Collections

  • Starburst (1958)
    • German: Hands off time machines. Translated by Uwe Anton . Droemer Knaur (Knaur Science Fiction & Fantasy # 705), 1978, ISBN 3-426-00705-3 . Also as: All the shine of the stars. Translated by Uwe Anton. Suhrkamp (Fantastic Library # 278), 1991, ISBN 3-518-38455-4 .
  • The Dark Side of the Earth (1964)
  • To Alfred Bester Omnibus (collective edition of 2 novels and a volume of short stories; 1967)
  • Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester (1997)
  • Redemolished (2000)

The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Bester

  • 1 The Light Fantastic: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Best Volume I (1976)
  • 2 Star Light, Star Bright (1976)

German compilations:

  • Galathea and other witches. Bastei Lübbe Science Fiction Bestseller # 22096, 1986, ISBN 3-404-22096-X . Contains u. a. the stories:
    • Every beginning is easy.
    • Poor little clone.
    • A witch named Hulda.
    • Mr. Magnus and the electric Zulu.
  • Hell is forever. Translated by Michael Koseler. Suhrkamp (Fantastic Library # 293), 1993, ISBN 3-518-38657-3 .

Short stories

1939
  • The Broken Axiom (in: Thrilling Wonder Stories, April 1939 )
  • No Help Wanted (in: Thrilling Wonder Stories, December 1939 )
1940
  • Guinea Pig, Ph.D. (in: Startling Stories, March 1940 )
  • Voyage to Nowhere (in: Thrilling Wonder Stories, July 1940 )
1941
  • The Mad Molecule (in: Thrilling Wonder Stories, January 1941 )
  • The Pet Nebula (in: Astonishing Stories, February 1941 )
  • Slaves of the Life-Ray (in: Thrilling Wonder Stories, February 1941 )
  • The Probable Man (in: Astounding Science-Fiction, July 1941 )
    • German: The Joker. In: Sam Moskowitz (ed.): The faces of the future. Pabel (Terra Taschenbuch # 220), 1973.
  • Adam and No Eve (in: Astounding Science-Fiction, September 1941 )
    • German: Adam. In: Walter Spiegl (Ed.): Science Fiction Stories 2. Ullstein 2000 # 2 (2773), 1972, ISBN 3-548-02773-3 . Also as: Adam - and not Eve. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
  • The Biped, Reegan (in: Super Science Stories, November 1941 )
1942
  • Life for Sale (in: Amazing Stories, January 1942 )
  • The Unseen Blushers (in: Astonishing Stories, June 1942 )
  • Hell Is Forever (in: Unknown Worlds, August 1942 )
    • German: Des Teufels Mannen. In: Donald R. Bensen (ed.): Five horror stories from Unknown. Ullstein Books # 1183, 1968. Also called: Hell is eternal. In: Alfred Bester: Hell is eternal. 1993.
  • The Push of a Finger (1942)
    • German: A finger pressure. In: Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg (eds.): The best stories from 1942. Moewig (Playboy Science Fiction # 6717), 1981, ISBN 3-8118-6717-2 .
1950
  • The Devil's Invention (in: Astounding Science Fiction, August 1950 ; also: Oddy and Id , 1975)
    • German: Oddy and Id. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
1951
  • Of Time and Third Avenue (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1951 )
    • German: Excuse me - small mistake. In: Bert Koeppen (Ed.): Utopia-Magazin 13. Pabel Utopia Magazin # 13, 1958. Also as: Von der Zeit and Third Avenue. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
1952
  • Hobson's Choice (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1952 )
    • German: Warning against time travel. In: Helmuth W. Mommers and Arnulf D. Krauss (eds.): 7 Science Fiction Stories. Heyne Anthologies # 20, 1966. Also called: Hands off time machines! In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
1953
  • The Roller Coaster (in: Fantastic, May-June 1953 )
    • German: roller coaster. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978. Also called: The roller coaster. In: Karl Michael Armer and Wolfgang Jeschke (eds.): Die Fussangeln der Zeit. Heyne (Library of Science Fiction Literature # 28), 1984, ISBN 3-453-31019-5 .
  • Star Light, Star Bright (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, July 1953 )
    • German: Stern des Glanzes, Stern der Pracht. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
  • Time Is the Traitor (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September 1953 )
    • German: Time is the traitor. In: Alfred Bester: Hell is eternal. 1993.
  • Disappearing Act (1953, in: Frederik Pohl (Ed.): Star Science Fiction Stories No. 2 )
    • German: The number with the disappearance. In: Frederik Pohl and Wolfgang Jeschke (eds.): Titan 3. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3520, 1976, ISBN 3-453-30386-5 . Also as: Vanish bus. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
1954
  • 5,271,009 (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1954 ; also: The Starcomber , 1958)
    • German: A serious decision. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
  • Fondly Fahrenheit (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 1954 )
    • German: Beloved Fahrenheit. In: Anthony Boucher (Ed.): 20 Science Fiction Stories. Heyne Anthologies # 2, 1963.
1958
  • The Die-Hard (1958, in: Alfred Bester: Starburst )
    • German: He didn't want to die. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
  • Travel Diary (1958, in: Alfred Bester: Starburst )
    • German: travel diary. In: Alfred Bester: Hands off time machines. 1978.
  • The Men Who Murdered Mohammed (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1958 )
    • English: The Murderers of Muhammad. In: Robert Silverberg (ed.): The murderers of Mohammeds. Marion von Schröder (Science Fiction & Fantastica), 1970. Also called: The Men Who Murdered Mohammed. In: Josh Pachter (ed.): Top Science Fiction. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 4352, 1987, ISBN 3-453-00431-0 .
1959
  • Will you wait? (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, March 1959 )
  • The Black Nebulea (Quintet, Part 1) (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, September 1959 , as Sonny Powell)
  • The Pi Man (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1959 )
    • German: The Pi Man. In: Anthony Boucher (Ed.): 16 Science Fiction Stories. Heyne Anthologies # 5, 1964.
1963
  • They Don't Make Life Like They Used To (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1963 ; also: They Don't Make Life Like They Used To… , 1964)
    • German: The survivors. In: Charlotte Winheller (ed.): The survivors. Heyne Allgemeine Reihe # 272, 1964. Also as: Life is no longer what it used to be. In: Jürgen vom Scheidt (as Thomas Landfinder) (Ed.): Liebe 2002. Bärmeier & Nikel, 1971.
1964
  • Out of This World (1964, in: Alfred Bester: The Dark Side of the Earth )
1972
  • The Animal Fair (in: The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1972 )
1973
  • Something Up There Likes Me (1973, in: Harry Harrison (Ed.): Astounding: John W. Campbell Memorial Anthology )
1974
  • The Four-Hour Fugue (in: Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact, June 1974 )
1976
  • Ms. Found in a Champagne Bottle (1976, in: Alfred Bester: The Light Fantastic: The Great Short Fiction of Alfred Best Volume I )
1977
  • My Affair With Science Fiction (1977)
    • German: My affair with science fiction. In: Alfred Bester: Hell is eternal. 1993.
1979
  • Galatea Galante, The Perfect Popsy (in: Omni, April 1979 ; also: Galatea Galante , 1980)
    • German: Galatea Galante. In: Heyne Science Fiction Magazin, # 2. Heyne Science Fiction & Fantasy # 3869, 1982, ISBN 3-453-30755-0 . Also as: Galathea Galante. In: Alfred Bester: Galathea and other witches. Bastei Lübbe Science Fiction Bestseller # 22096, 1986, ISBN 3-404-22096-X .
  • MS Found in a Coconut (in: Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact, June 1979 )
1986
  • The Black Hole Pawnshop (unknown)
    • English: The Black Hole Inn. In: Michael Görden (Hrsg.): Fantastic literature 86th Bastei-Lübbe Phantast. Literature # 72044, 1986, ISBN 3-404-72044-X .
1987
  • Frontier Crossings (1987)
1989
  • Never Love a Hellhag (1989, in: Ellen Datlow (Ed.): The Seventh Omni Book of Science Fiction )
1997
  • And 3½ to Go (1997, in: Alfred Bester: Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester )
  • The Devil Without Glasses (1997, in: Alfred Bester: Virtual Unrealities: The Short Fiction of Alfred Bester )
2000
  • The Demolished Man: the Deleted Prologue (2000, in: Alfred Bester: Redemolished )
  • I Will Never Celebrate New Year's Again (2000, in: Alfred Bester: Redemolished )
  • The Lost Child (2000, in: Alfred Bester: Redemolished )

Non-fiction

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g h Uwe Anton: The last Renaissance man in the footsteps of the Count of Monte Christo - On the life and work of Alfred Bester , epilogue in: Alfred Bester: Tiger! Tiger! , 1992, ISBN 3453313046 , pp. 238-251
  2. ↑ a b c d Hans Joachim Alpers , Werner Fuchs , Ronald M. Hahn , Wolfgang Jeschke (Eds.): Lexicon of Science Fiction Literature , Volume 1, ISBN 3-453-01063-9 , p. 184
  3. ↑ 230765 Alfbester (2003 XN15). In: JPL Small-Body Database Browser. Jet Propulsion Laboratory , accessed June 28, 2020 .
  4. ↑ Alfred Bester. In: The Babylon Project. Retrieved June 28, 2020 (English).
personal data
SURNAME Best friend, Alfred
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Powell, Sonny (pseudonym)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American science fiction writer
DATE OF BIRTH December 18, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City
DATE OF DEATH September 30, 1987
Place of death Doylestown , Pennsylvania