Man of Two Worlds:: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics

Man of Two Worlds:: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics
by Julius Schwartz, Brian M. Thomsen

Man of Two Worlds:: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics
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Book Summary Information

Author: Brian M. Thomsen, Julius Schwartz
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 2000-06
ISBN: 0380810514
Number of pages: 197
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks

Book Reviews of Man of Two Worlds:: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics

Book Review: A GLIMPSE OF THE GOLDEN AGE
Summary: 5 Stars

I confess I didn't knew much about Julius Schwartz.And I don't know much,either,about History of Comics.But I know a little about American Science Fiction lore:the so-called "Golden Age",Early SF Fandom,Hugo Gernsback,AMAZING STORIES,FRANK R. PAUL,the first Fanzines,and so on...And, suddenly,I was listening to an old voice,the voice of a person who knew,personally ,Howard Phillips Lovecraft.HPL himself!The Managing Editor (Allen Glasser was THE EDITOR) of THE TIME TRAVELLER-Science Fiction's only(then) Fan Magazine(the premier issue was dated January 1932).The man who was Stanley Weinbaum's agent.Who actually sold stories like "FLIGHT ON TITAN","PARASITE PLANET" and"THE LOTUS EATERS" to the Pulps.The guy who was Mort Weisinger's friend.Schwartz writes: "I remember the first time I cast my eyes on ASTOUNDING("Astounding Stories of Super Science").It was love at first sight!" He was simply there,an eyewitness of that glorious period.It`s uncanny for us,science fiction lovers ,to hear (or to read)something like this: [Mort(Weisinger)and I loved going up to the editorial offices of the various science-fiction magazines and getting the "hot news" on forthcoming issues(for THE TIME TRAVELLER) .We were always in awe of the editors.To us ,they were the closest things to gods on Earth.On one occasion while interviewing editor Harry Bates,the earthbound god turned the tables and started to interview me,inquiring what were my favorites stories from ASTOUNDING(Bates was the magazine's Editor).I quickly thought about it and replied,"The ones about the space pirate Hawk Carse by Anthony Gilmore ," then immediately jumped at the opportunity to add,"and I'd really like to know more about him." Harry Bates smiled and revealed that there really wasn't anyone named Anthony Gilbert.It was the collaborative pseudonym of two science fiction writers,and he hastened to add that he wasn't free to reveal their true identities.] "Anthony Gilmore" was,in reality,two persons, Harry Bates and his assistant editor,Desmond Hall.And folks,don't forget,HARRY BATES wrote "FAREWELL TO THE MASTER",the notable science fiction story which was the blueprint for the classic SF film "THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL"(20th Century Fox,1951).
In 1933, Julius Schwartz actually met Dr. T.O'Connor Sloane,the then octogenarian editor of Amazing Stories(owned then by TECK Publications or by Bernarr MacFadden).It's unbelievable!This man Schwartz was a time gate to that golden past.
Julius knew and was friendly with Otto Binder,Edmond Hamilton,Leigh Brackett,Robert Bloch,Henry Kuttner,a very young Ray Bradbury,Anthony Boucher,all of them science fiction legends today.All of them heroes(and heroines)of mine.
As an agent,Julius Schwartz and his Solar Sales Service represented (in different periods)the following writers:Ray Bradbury,Alfred Bester,Otto Binder,Edmond Hamilton and his wife Leigh Brackett,Stanley Weinbaum,Henry Kuttner,Manly Wade Wellman,John Taine,Ralph Milne Farley,Peter Schuyler Miller,Raymond Z. Gallun,Robert Bloch and,last,but not least,Robert Heinlein!And from England,John Russel Fearn and Eric Frank Russell.A veritable science fiction "who's who"of that epoch.
After reading Julius Schwartz's "MAN OF TWO WORLDS" I was really moved.For the text provide me with a real glimpse of that fabulous period of the History of Science Fiction(Literature,Art ,etc)and of the 20th Century :the late 1920's,the 1930's and the 1940's.I would gladly escape from my own time to that Golden Shangri-La.

Summary of Man of Two Worlds:: My Life in Science Fiction and Comics

Before there was Superman or Batman, before Ray Bradbury or Harlan Ellison ever picked up a pen, before there were science-fiction fans and conventions, there was Julius Schwartz -- a man who would have an indelible effect on all this and more.

One of the inventors of science-fiction fandom in the thirties and publisher of the first SF "fanzine" (one of its early subscribers was Superman's cocreator Jerry Siegel), Julius Schwartz became the world's first SF specialty literary agent while still in his teens. During the "Golden Age" of science fiction, he represented a distinguished roster of authors, including H. P. Lovecraft, Alfred Bester, Robert Bloch, and Ray Bradbury. But that was only the first chapter in Schwartzs amazing career, for he is also one of the most influential editors in comic-book history.

Besides working on both the Superman and Batman character she created much of the mythology we now take for granted. Schwartz was also responsible for revitalizing nearly every important DC Comics character, highlighted by the mighty Justice League of America, in what has since become known as comics' beloved "Silver Age." Over more than forty years, Schwartz captained such blazing talents of the comics industry as Bob Kane, Bill Finger, Curt Swan, Neal Adams, Denny O'Neil, Alan Moore, and many others.

Here, in "Julie's" own words, is a behind-the-scenes look at a life spent having fun and making sure readers did, too -- the incredible story of a true hero of American pop culture.

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