Difference between revisions of "R. Lionel Fanthorpe"

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He has written a vast number of [[SF]]/[[fantasy]] books -- during his main writing years, 1954–1965, he may have been the most prolific writer in the field. He wrote under many [[pennames]] and [[house pseudonyms]], including '''Mel Jay, Marston Johns, Robert Lionel, Leo Brett, Karl Zeigfreid, John E. Muller, L.P. Kenton, Pel Torro, Bron Fane, Trebor Thorpe, Victor La Salle, Erle Barton''' and '''Thornton Bell'''.
 
He has written a vast number of [[SF]]/[[fantasy]] books -- during his main writing years, 1954–1965, he may have been the most prolific writer in the field. He wrote under many [[pennames]] and [[house pseudonyms]], including '''Mel Jay, Marston Johns, Robert Lionel, Leo Brett, Karl Zeigfreid, John E. Muller, L.P. Kenton, Pel Torro, Bron Fane, Trebor Thorpe, Victor La Salle, Erle Barton''' and '''Thornton Bell'''.
  
In his peak years, Fanthorpe produced a weekly short (45,000 words) novel or story collection for the [[UK]] [[John Spencer & Co.]] imprint [[Badger Books]], writing -- or rather, dictating -- in his spare time from a full-time job.
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In his peak years, Fanthorpe produced a weekly short (45,000 words) novel or story collection for the [[UK]] John Spencer & Co. imprint '''Badger Books''', writing -- or rather, dictating -- in his spare time from a full-time job.
  
 
To meet this workload, Fanthorpe made relentless and often tongue-in-cheek use of padding, irrelevant digressions, thesaurus variations, and stealing classic plots from such sources as Shakespeare and the ''Odyssey''. The results were much appreciated by [[fandom]] at [[convention]] [[turkey readings]]. Many well-loved excerpts were collected by [[Debbie Cross]] as ''Down the Badger Hole: R. Lionel Fanthorpe: The Badger Years'' (1995). This also included a bibliography that was expanded -- along with further quotes -- in the ''Bibliographic Supplement'' (1999) edited by Cross and [[Brian J. Hunt]]. An expanded ebook edition of ''Down the Badger Hole'', including the supplement and many more Fanthorpe excerpts, was published by [[Ansible Editions]] in 2018. See {{link | website=https://taff.org.uk/ebooks.php?x=BadgerHole | text=here}}
 
To meet this workload, Fanthorpe made relentless and often tongue-in-cheek use of padding, irrelevant digressions, thesaurus variations, and stealing classic plots from such sources as Shakespeare and the ''Odyssey''. The results were much appreciated by [[fandom]] at [[convention]] [[turkey readings]]. Many well-loved excerpts were collected by [[Debbie Cross]] as ''Down the Badger Hole: R. Lionel Fanthorpe: The Badger Years'' (1995). This also included a bibliography that was expanded -- along with further quotes -- in the ''Bibliographic Supplement'' (1999) edited by Cross and [[Brian J. Hunt]]. An expanded ebook edition of ''Down the Badger Hole'', including the supplement and many more Fanthorpe excerpts, was published by [[Ansible Editions]] in 2018. See {{link | website=https://taff.org.uk/ebooks.php?x=BadgerHole | text=here}}

Revision as of 17:56, 4 December 2020

(February 9, 1935 –)

Robert Lionel Fanthorpe is a British pro, priest and entertainer. At various times he has worked as a dental technician, journalist, teacher, television presenter, author, and lecturer.

Born in Dereham in Norfolk, he currently lives in Cardiff in South Wales, where he was Director of Media Studies and lecturer in Religious Studies at the Sixth form college of the Cardiff Academy.

He has written a vast number of SF/fantasy books -- during his main writing years, 1954–1965, he may have been the most prolific writer in the field. He wrote under many pennames and house pseudonyms, including Mel Jay, Marston Johns, Robert Lionel, Leo Brett, Karl Zeigfreid, John E. Muller, L.P. Kenton, Pel Torro, Bron Fane, Trebor Thorpe, Victor La Salle, Erle Barton and Thornton Bell.

In his peak years, Fanthorpe produced a weekly short (45,000 words) novel or story collection for the UK John Spencer & Co. imprint Badger Books, writing -- or rather, dictating -- in his spare time from a full-time job.

To meet this workload, Fanthorpe made relentless and often tongue-in-cheek use of padding, irrelevant digressions, thesaurus variations, and stealing classic plots from such sources as Shakespeare and the Odyssey. The results were much appreciated by fandom at convention turkey readings. Many well-loved excerpts were collected by Debbie Cross as Down the Badger Hole: R. Lionel Fanthorpe: The Badger Years (1995). This also included a bibliography that was expanded -- along with further quotes -- in the Bibliographic Supplement (1999) edited by Cross and Brian J. Hunt. An expanded ebook edition of Down the Badger Hole, including the supplement and many more Fanthorpe excerpts, was published by Ansible Editions in 2018. See here

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person Website 1935
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