Difference between revisions of "Poul Anderson"

From Fancyclopedia 3
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(7 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
(November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001)   
 
(November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001)   
  
−
Poul Anderson, a [[fan]] and a [[pro]], was born Pennsylvania of Scandinavian parents. He grew up in Denmark, but returned to the US at the start of [[WWII]]. He began his writing career in the late 40s and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson wrote [[sf]], [[fantasy]], historical novels, mysteries, and many short stories. He won seven [[Hugos]] and three [[Nebulas]].  While most of his writing was under his own name, he also wrote as '''[[Winston P. Sanders]]''', '''Michael Karageorge'', and '''A. A. Craig''' (for just one story, "Witch of the Demon Seas", in the early 50s).
+
'''Poul Anderson''', a [[fan]] and a [[pro]], was [[GoH]] at [[Detention]], the 1959 [[Worldcon]].
  
−
He received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and married [[Karen Anderson|Karen Kruse]] in 1953. They had one daughter, [[Astrid Anderson|Astrid]], who is married to [[Greg Bear]].
 
  
−
He was president of [[SFWA]], a member of the [[Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America]], the [[Hyborian Legion]], the old [[MFS]] and the [[Little Men]]. He was founder of the [[Alforbundet]], one of the lyricists of "[[Bouncing Potatoes]]", a frequent contributor to [[fanzines]], especially ''[[Amra]]'', an active member of the [[committee]] for [[SFCon]], a Baker Street Irregular, a founding member of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] (where he was known as '''Sir Bela of Eastmarch'''). With [[L. Sprague de Camp]], he translated the minutes from the [[Pittcon]]  [[WSFS Business Meeting]] in 1960 to an alternate English (see the [[1960 WSFS Minutes|meeting minutes]] from ''[[Amra]]'').  
+
==Pro ==
 +
He began his writing career in the late 1940s and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson wrote [[sf]], [[fantasy]], historical novels, mysteries, and many short stories. He won seven [[Hugos]] and three [[Nebulas]]. 
 +
 
 +
He was nominated for and won an astonishing number of [[Hugo Awards]] for his fiction, and many other awards as well.  In a 1985 interview, SF author [[Chad Oliver]], discussing other writers, said: "The guy that amazes me is Poul Anderson. He is so prolific, and the quality is so high, and he has been doing it for so long. Amazing."
 +
 
 +
While most of his writing was under his own name, he also wrote as '''Michael Karageorge''', '''A. A. Craig''' (for just one story, "Witch of the Demon Seas", in the early 50s), and '''Winston P. Sanders''', the last for some short [[SF]] from the late ’50s to the late ’60s, mostly in ''[[ASF]]'' when he sometimes had more than one story per issue.  He selected it because it was on the sign under which Winnie the Pooh lived.  Oddly, it was also an anagram of "P. Anderson's twin."
 +
 
 +
He was president of [[SFWA]] from 1972–73, and a member of the [[Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America]],
 +
 
 +
==Fan==
 +
 
 +
He belonged to the [[Hyborian Legion]], the old [[MFS]] and the [[Little Men]]. He was founder of the [[Alforbundet]], a frequent contributor to [[fanzines]], especially ''[[Amra]]'', an active member of the [[committee]] for [[SFCon]], a Baker Street Irregular, a founding member of the [[Society for Creative Anachronism]] (where he was known as '''Sir Bela of Eastmarch'''). With [[L. Sprague de Camp]], he translated the minutes from the [[Pittcon]]  [[WSFS Business Meeting]] in 1960 to an alternate English (see the [[1960 WSFS Minutes|meeting minutes]] from ''[[Amra]]'').  
 +
 
 +
He wrote a single issue [[fanzine]], ''[[Smorgasbord]]''. He and [[Karen Anderson]] produced the ''[[No Holds Barred]]'' [[liquors|cocktail guide]].
 +
 
 +
==Filker==
 +
Anderson played an important role in early [[filk]] music, especially in establishing the use of the term. His "Barbarous Allen," which appeared in the Winter 1953 issue of ''[[The Zed]]'', was subtitled "A Filk Song." This is the earliest known intentional use in print of the term ''filk''.
 +
 
 +
His "[[Bouncing Potatoes]]," an account of the hotel food at [[Westercon 19]], has regularly been sung at [[filksings]] for many years.
 +
 
 +
=== Mary O'Meara===
 +
"Mary O'Meara," another song written by Anderson, was originally published in his 1967 novel ''World without Stars''. Closely modeled after the Danish song "Anna Lovinda," it presents the tribute of a principal character to his late beloved. She had died shortly before treatments granting extreme longevity became widely available.
 +
 
 +
The song is popular in [[filk circle]]s with the tune written for it by [[Anne Passovoy]]. Occasionally it is heard with the "Anna Lovinda" tune.
 +
 
 +
==Personal Life==
  
−
He wrote a single issue fanzine [[Smorgasbord]].
+
Anderson was born in [[Pennsylvania]] of Scandinavian parents. He grew up in [[Denmark]], but returned to the [[US]] at the start of [[WWII]].  
  
−
He was [[GoH]] at [[Detention]], 1959 [[Worldcon]]. The April, 1971 issue of ''[[F&SF]]'' was a special Poul Anderson issue.
+
He received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and married [[Karen Anderson|Karen Kruse]] in 1953. They had one daughter, [[Astrid Anderson|Astrid]], who is married to [[Greg Bear]].
  
−
He was nominated for and won an astonishing number of [[Hugo Awards]] for his fiction, and many other awards as well. In a 1985 interview, SF author [[Chad Oliver]], discussing other writers, said: "The guy that amazes me is Poul Anderson. He is so prolific, and the quality is so high, and he has been doing it for so long. Amazing."
+
{{SFE|name=anderson_poul}}.
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
Line 17: Line 41:
 
* 1968 -- [[Forry Award]]
 
* 1968 -- [[Forry Award]]
 
* 1970 -- [[Minicon 3]]
 
* 1970 -- [[Minicon 3]]
−
* 1971 -- [[DeepSouthCon 9]]
+
* 1971 -- [[DeepSouthCon 9]], the April issue of ''[[F&SF]]'' was a special Poul Anderson issue
 
* 1972 -- [[Mythcon III]]
 
* 1972 -- [[Mythcon III]]
−
* 1972-1973 -- President of [[SFWA]]
 
 
* 1973 -- [[Balticon 7]]
 
* 1973 -- [[Balticon 7]]
 
* 1974 -- [[MileHiCon 6]]
 
* 1974 -- [[MileHiCon 6]]
 
* 1976 -- [[Boskone 13]], [[Rivercon II]], [[Sampo Award]]
 
* 1976 -- [[Boskone 13]], [[Rivercon II]], [[Sampo Award]]
 
* 1977 -- [[Minicon 12]], [[ConFusion 14]], [[Octocon]] 1
 
* 1977 -- [[Minicon 12]], [[ConFusion 14]], [[Octocon]] 1
−
* 1978 -- [[Westercone]], [[LepreCon 4]], Lifetime Achievement [[Gandalf Award]]
+
* 1978 -- [[Westercone]], [[LepreCon 4]], [[Gandalf Award]]
 
* 1979 -- [[Balticon 13]], [[Norcon 3]], [[Scancon '79]]
 
* 1979 -- [[Balticon 13]], [[Norcon 3]], [[Scancon '79]]
 
* 1980 -- [[AggieCon XI]]
 
* 1980 -- [[AggieCon XI]]
Line 32: Line 55:
 
* 1984 -- [[ConClave X]], [[Earthcon 4]], [[Omacon 4]]
 
* 1984 -- [[ConClave X]], [[Earthcon 4]], [[Omacon 4]]
 
* 1985 -- [[Con-Version II]]
 
* 1985 -- [[Con-Version II]]
−
* 1987 -- [[Xanadu IV]]
+
* 1987 -- [[Xanadu 4]]
 
* 1988 -- [[Tropicon VII]], [[I-Con VII]]
 
* 1988 -- [[Tropicon VII]], [[I-Con VII]]
−
* 1989 -- [[Life, the Universe, & Everything 7]]
+
* 1989 -- [[Life, the Universe, & Everything 7]], [[Philcon 89]]
 
* 1990 -- [[Minnesota Fantasy Award]]
 
* 1990 -- [[Minnesota Fantasy Award]]
 
* 1881 -- [[Cracon]]
 
* 1881 -- [[Cracon]]
Line 40: Line 63:
 
* 1993 -- [[1993 World Fantasy Convention]], [[Silvercon 2]], [[SFRA Conference]]
 
* 1993 -- [[1993 World Fantasy Convention]], [[Silvercon 2]], [[SFRA Conference]]
 
* 1995 -- [[MileHiCon 27]], [[WindyCon XXII]], [[Lunacon 38]]
 
* 1995 -- [[MileHiCon 27]], [[WindyCon XXII]], [[Lunacon 38]]
−
* 1997 -- [[ConClave XXII]]
+
* 1997 -- [[ConClave XXII]], [[MosCon XIX]]
 
* 1998 -- [[SFWA Grand Master Award]]
 
* 1998 -- [[SFWA Grand Master Award]]
−
* 2000 -- [[CopperCon 20]], [[Baycon 2000]] ([[Special Guest]]), [[SF Hall of Fame]]
+
* 2000 -- [[CopperCon 20]], [[Baycon 2000]], [[SF Hall of Fame]]
 
* 2001 -- Special [[Prometheus Award]] for Lifetime Achievement
 
* 2001 -- Special [[Prometheus Award]] for Lifetime Achievement
 
* 2003 -- [[Filk Hall of Fame]]
 
* 2003 -- [[Filk Hall of Fame]]
 +
* Numerous Hugo Nominations and 7 Awards
 +
  
 
{{person | born=1926 | died=2001}}
 
{{person | born=1926 | died=2001}}
Line 51: Line 76:
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 +
[[Category:filk]]

Latest revision as of 18:47, 3 February 2024

(November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001)

Poul Anderson, a fan and a pro, was GoH at Detention, the 1959 Worldcon.


Pro[edit]

He began his writing career in the late 1940s and continued to write and remain popular into the 21st century. Anderson wrote sf, fantasy, historical novels, mysteries, and many short stories. He won seven Hugos and three Nebulas.

He was nominated for and won an astonishing number of Hugo Awards for his fiction, and many other awards as well. In a 1985 interview, SF author Chad Oliver, discussing other writers, said: "The guy that amazes me is Poul Anderson. He is so prolific, and the quality is so high, and he has been doing it for so long. Amazing."

While most of his writing was under his own name, he also wrote as Michael Karageorge, A. A. Craig (for just one story, "Witch of the Demon Seas", in the early 50s), and Winston P. Sanders, the last for some short SF from the late ’50s to the late ’60s, mostly in ASF when he sometimes had more than one story per issue. He selected it because it was on the sign under which Winnie the Pooh lived. Oddly, it was also an anagram of "P. Anderson's twin."

He was president of SFWA from 1972–73, and a member of the Swordsmen and Sorcerers' Guild of America,

Fan[edit]

He belonged to the Hyborian Legion, the old MFS and the Little Men. He was founder of the Alforbundet, a frequent contributor to fanzines, especially Amra, an active member of the committee for SFCon, a Baker Street Irregular, a founding member of the Society for Creative Anachronism (where he was known as Sir Bela of Eastmarch). With L. Sprague de Camp, he translated the minutes from the Pittcon WSFS Business Meeting in 1960 to an alternate English (see the meeting minutes from Amra).

He wrote a single issue fanzine, Smorgasbord. He and Karen Anderson produced the No Holds Barred cocktail guide.

Filker[edit]

Anderson played an important role in early filk music, especially in establishing the use of the term. His "Barbarous Allen," which appeared in the Winter 1953 issue of The Zed, was subtitled "A Filk Song." This is the earliest known intentional use in print of the term filk.

His "Bouncing Potatoes," an account of the hotel food at Westercon 19, has regularly been sung at filksings for many years.

Mary O'Meara[edit]

"Mary O'Meara," another song written by Anderson, was originally published in his 1967 novel World without Stars. Closely modeled after the Danish song "Anna Lovinda," it presents the tribute of a principal character to his late beloved. She had died shortly before treatments granting extreme longevity became widely available.

The song is popular in filk circles with the tune written for it by Anne Passovoy. Occasionally it is heard with the "Anna Lovinda" tune.

Personal Life[edit]

Anderson was born in Pennsylvania of Scandinavian parents. He grew up in Denmark, but returned to the United States at the start of WWII.

He received a degree in physics from the University of Minnesota in 1948 and married Karen Kruse in 1953. They had one daughter, Astrid, who is married to Greg Bear.

Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1926—2001
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.

Retrieved from "https://fancyclopedia.org/index.php?title=Poul_Anderson&oldid=197714"