Difference between revisions of "Virginia Kidd"

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(1921 -- [[2003]])
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(June 2, 1921 – January 11, 2003)
  
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'''Virginia [Emden] [Blish] Kidd''' was an agent, anthologist, and writer after starting as a [[SF fan]] at the age of nine. Among the many fans with whom she corresponded was [[Robert W. Lowndes]], and she became "engaged" to him at age 16 (by correspondence).  She was a member of the [[Futurians]] of [[New York]], the [[Baltimore SFL]], and of [[Vanguard]]. She was one of the [[Futurians]] who (according to the [[X Document]]) were slated to be purged.
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'''Mildred Virginia Kidd''' (later '''V. K. Emden''', then '''Virginia Blish''') was a [[literary agent]], anthologist, writer and polyglot. One of her clients, [[Gene Wolfe]], modeled Ann Schindler, a character in his 1990 novel, ''Castleview'', in large part on Kidd.
  
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She was a member of [[VAPA]], publishing ''[[Discrete]]'' and ''[[Heeling Error]]'' under the name '''Virginia K. Emden''' (after she married [[Jack B. Emden]]).
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==Fan==
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Kidd discovered [[science fiction]] at age 9, and became an [[actifan]]. Among the many fans with whom she [[corresponded]] was [[Robert W. Lowndes]], and she became "engaged" to him at age 16 (by correspondence).
  
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Kidd published several short stories and poems, including "Flowering Season" in [[Damon Knight]]'s anthology ''[[Orbit]] 1'' (1966), and "On the Wall of the Lodge" (1962) in collaboration with [[James Blish]], to whom she was married from 1947 to 1963.
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She was a member of the [[Futurians]] of [[New York]] and was one of those who (according to the [[X Document]]) were slated to be purged. She belonged to the [[Baltimore SFL]]. She was a member of [[VAPA]], [[publishing]] ''[[Discrete]]'' and ''[[Heeling Error]]'' under the name '''Virginia K. Emden'''. She was a member of [[First Fandom]] both historically and in the [[club]].
  
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Her anthologies included ''Saving Worlds'' (1973, with [[Roger Elwood]]), ''Millennial Women'' (1978), and two co-edited with [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], ''Edges'' and ''Interfaces'' (both 1980). Kidd was best known, beginning in the 1960s, as an agent.
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==Pro==
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Kidd published several short stories and [[poems]], including "Flowering Season" in [[Damon Knight]]'s anthology ''[[Orbit]] 1'' (1966), and "On the Wall of the Lodge" (1962) in collaboration with [[James Blish]]. Her anthologies included ''Saving Worlds'' (1973, with [[Roger Elwood]]), ''Millennial Women'' (1978), and two co-edited with [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], ''Edges'' and ''Interfaces'' (both 1980). Kidd was best known, beginning in the 1960s, as an agent.
  
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The ''Encyclopedia of Science Fiction'' noted that she become known for her feminist views and for representing a highly capable range of feminist authors; at one time the ''SFWA Directory'' listed over two dozen members as current clients of the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.
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The ''[[Encyclopedia of Science Fiction]]'' notes that she become known for her feminist views and for representing a highly capable range of feminist authors; at one time, the ''[[SFWA]] Directory'' listed over two dozen members as current clients of the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.
  
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At the time of her death she was a member of [[First Fandom]] and resided in Milford, PA.
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==Personal Life==
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A [[Philadelphia]] native, Kidd resided for many years in [[Milford, PA]]; her house there was called Arrowhead, from which she operated her namesake literary agency, and where it continues as her legacy.
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From 1943–47, she was married to Major '''Jacob Bernard “Jack” Emden''' (ca. 1921–2003), a baritone opera singer and possibly a descendant of a [https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/112038/jewish/Rabbi-Jacob-Emden.htm famous 18th-century rabbi]; they had a daughter, Karen Anne Emden (1944–1984). After divorcing Emden, Virginia married sf [[critic]] and [[author]] [[James Blish]] in 1947; they had three children: Asa Benjamin (December 10, 1947–January 13, 1948), Dorothea Elisabeth (b. 1954; married name, Genly) and Charles Benjamin Blish (b. 1956). Virginia divorced Blish in 1963, and resumed her maiden name.
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'''More Reading:'''
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* {{SFE|name=kidd_virginia}}.
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* {{link | website=http://www.vk-agency.com/arrowhead.html|text=Kidd Agency history.}}
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* [https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/clients-agent-virginia-kidd/ “The Clients of Agent Virginia Kidd”] by Andrew Liptak, Kirkus Reviews, February 27, 2014.
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* [https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/literary-cultural-heritage-map-pa/bios/Kidd__Virginia Biography] at Pennsylvania Center for the Book.
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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20100129165608/https://www.ursulakleguin.com/VirginiaKidd.html “About Virginia Kidd”] by [[Ursula K. Le Guin]] (archived).
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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20030118042849/www.sfwa.org/News/kidd.htm Obituary] at [[SFWA]] (archived).
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* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118247953/virginia-kidd FindaGrave entry.]
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{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[Cretin]]'' [1940s]
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* ''[[Discrete]]'' (for [[VAPA]])
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* ''[[Heeling Error]]'' (for VAPA)
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
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* 1983 -- [[Paracon VI]]
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* 1983 — [[Paracon VI]]
  
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{{link | website=http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/kidd_virginia | text=SF Encyclopedia entry}}
 
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{{person | website=http://www.vk-agency.com}}
 
  
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{{person | born=1921 | died=2003}}
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:fan]]
 
[[Category:first_fandom]]
 
[[Category:first_fandom]]
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:pro]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]

Latest revision as of 08:01, 27 September 2023

(June 2, 1921 – January 11, 2003)

Mildred Virginia Kidd (later V. K. Emden, then Virginia Blish) was a literary agent, anthologist, writer and polyglot. One of her clients, Gene Wolfe, modeled Ann Schindler, a character in his 1990 novel, Castleview, in large part on Kidd.

Fan[edit]

Kidd discovered science fiction at age 9, and became an actifan. Among the many fans with whom she corresponded was Robert W. Lowndes, and she became "engaged" to him at age 16 (by correspondence).

She was a member of the Futurians of New York and was one of those who (according to the X Document) were slated to be purged. She belonged to the Baltimore SFL. She was a member of VAPA, publishing Discrete and Heeling Error under the name Virginia K. Emden. She was a member of First Fandom both historically and in the club.

Pro[edit]

Kidd published several short stories and poems, including "Flowering Season" in Damon Knight's anthology Orbit 1 (1966), and "On the Wall of the Lodge" (1962) in collaboration with James Blish. Her anthologies included Saving Worlds (1973, with Roger Elwood), Millennial Women (1978), and two co-edited with Ursula K. Le Guin, Edges and Interfaces (both 1980). Kidd was best known, beginning in the 1960s, as an agent.

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction notes that she become known for her feminist views and for representing a highly capable range of feminist authors; at one time, the SFWA Directory listed over two dozen members as current clients of the Virginia Kidd Agency, Inc.

Personal Life[edit]

A Philadelphia native, Kidd resided for many years in Milford, PA; her house there was called Arrowhead, from which she operated her namesake literary agency, and where it continues as her legacy.

From 1943–47, she was married to Major Jacob Bernard “Jack” Emden (ca. 1921–2003), a baritone opera singer and possibly a descendant of a famous 18th-century rabbi; they had a daughter, Karen Anne Emden (1944–1984). After divorcing Emden, Virginia married sf critic and author James Blish in 1947; they had three children: Asa Benjamin (December 10, 1947–January 13, 1948), Dorothea Elisabeth (b. 1954; married name, Genly) and Charles Benjamin Blish (b. 1956). Virginia divorced Blish in 1963, and resumed her maiden name.

More Reading:

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1921—2003
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.

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